Lisbon Airport Transfers

Lisbon Airport is the main international airport of Portugal, found in the capital city of Lisbon. It is considered a main gateway to and from Europe, and one of the largest airports not only in the country, but also in Southern Europe. Lisbon Airport is also known as Portela Airport, having been named after a nearby parish, Portela de Sacavém. In Portuguese, the airport is known as Aeroporto da Portela de Sacavém, or simply Aeroporto da Portela, and of course, Aeroporto de Lisboa.

The Lisbon Airport was first inaugurated in October 1941 and serviced Portugal with four runways, each 1000 meters long. Today, these runways have been extended, as well as facilities for parking airplanes, allowing more than 120,000 departures and arrivals per year. An additional domestic terminal for departures was built in 2007.

Getting to Lisbon Airport

Lisbon Airport is only 7 km or 4 miles from Lisbon's city centre. The 2ª Circular is the main road that will lead right to the airport from any location. Northerners reach the 2ª Circular via the A1 Oporto/Lisbon motorway, while you may access the 2ª Circular from the south with the Vasco de Gama bridge. If you will be coming from Cascais or Estoril, the route would be the A5 motorway to the CRIL (IL 17) to the 2ª Circular. From Parque das Nações to the 2ª Circular, the best route is Marechal Gomes de Acosta avenue, then Rotunda do Relógio, then the Alameda das Comunidades Avenue Dr Alfredo Bensaúde.

Lisbon Airport Parking

There are parking lots found at Lisbon airport for both short-term drop-offs and pick-ups, one parking lot each by the Departures and Arrivals area, as well as an outdoor, long-term parking lot. Although found a little bit further from the main terminal, there are convenient, complimentary shuttle transfers that will take passengers between the parking lots and the terminal. There are also several car rental companies that offer transport from the airport and during your stay in Lisbon, with service centres found at the Arrivals area.

Lisbon Airport Transfers

If you would rather take a bus to and from the airport, the CARRIS Aerobus 91 has regular trips to both the city centre and the Cais do Sodré railway station. The bus trip to the centre of the city only takes 20 minutes, and there are other buses available to take passengers throughout several spots in Lisbon. Metered taxis also have their own queue at Lisbon Airport, with several taxis waiting at all hours of the day.

A better option is to pre-book Lisbon airport transfers and have a driver waiting for you on arrival to take you to your city centre hotel or alternative destination.

Lisbon Airport Terminals

Lisbon airport now has two terminals, the main building, now called Terminal 1, which has been in service since 1942, and a new terminal for domestic flights, completed and opened in August 2007. Terminal 2 is located at the south of Terminal 1, and can be accessed by its own road connecting to the Alameda Comunidades das Portuguesas, right next to the departure area. The new terminal only accommodates departures, so there are no parking lots nor transportation terminals in the immediate vicinity. Drop-offs through private or rented cars, taxis and tourist buses at Terminal 2 are allowed, and there are complimentary shuttle buses that regularly transfers passengers to the main terminal and back.

Terminal 2 is more of a temporary solution to a bigger expansion project rather than part of the main airport expansion project itself. Because of its increasing activity and traffic, and the fact that the city is steadily growing up all around the airport, the government and airport officials had decided to transfer the Lisbon airport to another venue, still debating on whether Ota or Alcochete is a better location. This new airport is estimated to be completed in 2017. In the meantime, improvements to the current Portela Airport are being implemented, one of the first of which was the construction of Terminal 2. Other improvements include the building of new airbridges, parking facilities and an underground metro station.

Airport Facilities

Aside from many cafés and restaurants to choose from in both terminals, there are many stores which offer shopping opportunitiess, from jewellery and clothes to books and Portuguese souvenirs. The Departure area has its own bank and post office, as well as ATMs and currency exchange desks in both Departure and Arrival halls. The airport also has its own massage service and pharmacy. There are three business lounges at the second level of the Arrivals hall, which provide internet access, phone lines and faxing services.