Reaching Lisbon

As one would expect of a large European capital city, Lisbon is very easy to reach. There are multiple options by land, sea and air to travel to Lisbon, to suit all budgets.

Reaching Lisbon by Plane
The largest international airport in Portugal is located in Lisbon, the Aeroporto da Portela (LIS). It is located just outside the greater Lisbon area, on the road to Loures.

Aeroporto da Portela is a major European travel hub for local international airlines, with direct International routes to Europe, North America, South America and Africa. Additionally, other major long haul providers including Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM and United Airlines offer direct flights to almost every major city round the globe. Wherever you happen to be in the world, it is a safe bet that you can book a direct flight to Aeroporto da Portela.

Getting to and from the airport is very easy. There are several local busses (22, 44, 83, 705, and 745) which run to various parts of the city. Additionally, there is an Aerobus which runs from the airport to the Parque das Nações, Sete Rios and Oriente coach terminals.

Reaching Lisbon by Train
There are two main rail stations in Lisbon. Gare do Oriente Station is located on the edge of the city and is used by high speed, international trains. Santa Apolónia Station is the second, located close to the city centre and is used by national trains. There are several other stops along these incoming routes; visitors may find it preferential to disembark at one of the smaller statins closer to the final destination.

There are two regular international train services running into and out of Lisbon each day. The first is the Sud Express, which runs between Lisbon and Irun on the border of Spain and France each day. The second is the Lusitania service which runs between Lisbon and Madrid daily.

Reaching Lisbon by Car
Lisbon is very easy to reach by road, although it should be noted that congestion during peak times can be very heavy indeed. It is worth travelling outside of peak hours, this can shave hours off the journey time as some parts of Lisbon become gridlocked on busy days at peak times.

There are five main highways leading into and out of Lisbon. The A2 to the south opens up the Southern part of Portugal including Estoril, Cascais and Sintra. To the north is the A12, which is the main highway heading north/east across the Vasco da Gama Bridge. To the true north, out towards the airport is the A1, connecting the city to Santarém, Fátima, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro and Porto. Also, the A8 heads in a northern direction but out to Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça and Leiria. The west of Lisbon is served by the A5, connecting it with Estoril and Cascais.

Other Options

Lisbon is a sea port, so there are cruise liners which dock regularly in the city. However, most people who intend to use these ships will already have a ticket as part of a cruise package; spare berths are few and far between.

There are some international coach and bus options, but these tend to be very seasonal, many of them do not run in winter months. Check with a local travel agent to find out what is currently available and if reservations are open.