The best way to reach the center of Lisbon from the airport is taking the Metro from the new airport station inaugurated on 17th July 2012, or the AeroBus.

Once in the city, the Metro is the most efficient way to get around, especially to go between downtown and uptown. For daytrips, consider the regular trains or the excellent express bus services.

Lisbon Airport is located almost in the center of the city, so you can be in your hotel just within minutes of your arrival.

There are several cheap professional transport services available, with prices comparable to a taxi. Of course, taxis are also a fast way to reach the city center. They are lined up outside the terminals, and even with luggage, it should cost you between 10 and 15 Euros. Be sure to ask for a receipt.

As from 17th July 2012, there is now a Metro (underground) station at the airport. This is a continuation of the red line which first stops at the new stations of Encarnação and Moscavide on its way to the Oriente stop, where it’s possible to quickly connect with the Gare de Oriente train station. The line then continues via several stops towards the final station of São Sebastião.

Several buses also stop right outside the arrivals terminal, and if you don’t have large luggage, you can take buses 44, 745, or 83 that run past the major avenues uptown and end up in the old city center.

Those with luggage should take either the AeroBus or AeroShuttle bus services, which run between the airport and the city center. A ticket may be purchased directly from the driver and currently stands at €3.50. The buses run every 20 or 30 minutes and stop at important points in the city such as Entrecampos, Campo Pequeno, Avenida da Republica, Saldanha, Picoas, Fontes Pereira Melo, Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade, Restauradores, Rossio, Praça do Comercio and Cais do Sodré. On board, there are screens showing each stop as the bus approaches the area, and a list of nearby hotels, which is extremely convenient if you’re not entirely sure which stop you need to get off at for your hotel.

If you are staying outside the city in Cascais or Estoril, there are also shuttle buses running every hour between 7am and 10:30pm.

If you rent a car at the airport, you will need to go down Avenida Cidade do Porto, from where you soon reach the Rotunda do Aeroporto, from which you should take Avenida do Brasil, leading you into the center of the city.

METRO (Subway/Underground)

Lisbon’s metro (subway or underground) is modern, clean, and efficient. It runs from 6:30AM to 1:00AM, and many of its stations are decorated with contemporary art, making it a tourist attraction in itself.

Some stops to note:

• Cais do Sodre: For trains to Cascais and Estoril, trams for Belem, and ferries to the Monument to Christ.
• Entrecampos: For trains to Sintra.
• São Sebastião: For the Gulbenkian Museum.
• Jardim Zoologico: For the Sete Rios bus terminal for express buses to all over Portugal.
• Colegio Militar-Luz: For the Colombo shopping mall and the Benfica stadium.
• Oriente: For national and international trains, city buses, and all the Parque das Nações attractions.