Air

Lisbon's small, modern airport, sometimes known as Aeroporto de Portela, is 7 km (4½ miles) north of the center. Getting downtown is simple and inexpensive thanks to a metro extension that goes via the Gare do Oriente rail station, and to the special Aerobus shuttles. Line 1, which departs every 20 minutes between 7 am and 11:20 pm, drops passengers off near major downtown hotels at the Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade, and Rossio stops. Line 2 departs every 20 minutes from 8:10 am to 9:10 pm, passing near tourists areas at the Martim Moniz and Rossio stops. A third line serves a direct route to Sete Rios train station, departing every hour on the hour between 9 am and 5 pm.

Tickets from the driver cost €4, or you can buy them online for €3.60; these are valid for all local buses for the next 24 hours. Two 24-hour Aerobus tickets cost €6 (or €5.40 online). The cheaper (€1.80) city Bus 744 departs every 15–30 minutes between 5 am and 1:40 am from the main road in front of airport arrivals. At night, Bus 208 plies a route between Oriente station and Cais do Sodré that takes in the airport.

For a taxi, expect to pay €20 to €30 to get downtown, plus a €1.60 surcharge for each item of luggage in the trunk. To avoid hassle, a prepaid taxi voucher (from €16 for downtown in daytime) may be bought at the tourist desk in the airport: you’ll pay a little more but won't be taken for an extra-long ride. Uber users will find it quick and easy to order a ride from the airport, and most drivers speak English. Uber is often a cheaper alternative for getting around downtown, and many Lisboetas use this and similar apps in place of regular cabs.