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Layover in Lisbon: Worth Heading Into the City?

To exit ³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s airpot or to hang around the terminal until your next flight, that is the question.

Is a layover in Lisbon worth heading into the city? My answer is absolutely yes, provided the layover is at least five hours or longer.

Here is everything you need to know about optimizing your layover time and making way for a quick city adventure.

Lisbon Portela Airport to Lisbon City Center

³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s airport is situated in the northern suburban area that surrounds the city center. It is one of the closest airports in proximity to the city center in all of Europe, located just 6km away.

³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s airport is considered a minor travel hub that merges the east of Europe with countries in the west of the world. For example, it is a popular stopping point for journeys between eastern Europe and South America.

The airport itself is not a bad place to spend a layover if you really have to. The terminals contain enough retail and dining options to keep one entertained for at least a few hours.

by MGA73bot2 –

The seating in Lisbon airport is also not divided with armrests between chairs, meaning one can lay down, spread out and get some sleep if need be. This might seem like an unnecessary piece of information, but if you’re a frequent traveler you’ll recognize the importance.

To put it simply, ³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s airport is absolutely fine if you have a few hours of waiting to do. The close proximity of it, however, also gives you the option of venturing out.

Bare in mind that you will need to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to your next flight. Which is why I recommend no less than 5 hours of layover as a minimum. 3 hours of exit time is enough to get to the center and do some exploring until venturing back — let’s break it down further.

Luggage Storage at Lisbon Portela Airport

First things first, you will not be able to move through ³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s city center if you are holding onto luggage of any kind. I would not even recommend keeping small hand luggage suitcase with you even if they have wheels.

³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s center is a combination of hills, uneven staircases and cobblestones . The most efficient way to get around when you’re strapped for time is by foot, and lugging bags along will make it highly unpleasant.

by Tomáš Gal –

Just next to the arrivals terminal at Lisbon airport, on level 2 of carpark P2, there is a luggage hold facility.

It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they will keep your belongings safe for a small fee.

• • €2.90 for 10kg or less
  • €4.30 for 10kg to 30kg
  • €8.60 for more than 30kg

Prices are per piece, per day.

Transport Into Lisbon City Center

Now that you’re free of bulky luggage you can start making your way into the center. There are three main ways of getting from the airport, into the city, and back again. Each one is time sensitive and suitable to different layovers.

5 Hour Layover or Less

A 5 hour layover essentially means 3 hours of city time, given the 2 hours needed for airport re arrival.

Since time is of the essence you need to get into the city and back as efficiently as possible; in Lisbon this is via taxi or Uber. Taxis can be caught from right outside the arrivals terminal and it costs €20 to go to the center.

The journey takes just 20 minutes, leaving ample time for city exploration.

More Than 5 Hours Layover

If your layover is greater than 5 hours (15 hour layovers in Lisbon are not uncommon for some airlines) then you have more time to play with and more costs to cut.

³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s metro and bus system run directly between the airport and the city center. Follow the signs from arrivals and you’ll be able to catch them quite easily. A ride to the center will set you back around €4 for the bus, and just €1.45 for the metro.

The bus journey takes roughly 45 minutes. The metro is faster and will get you there in under 30 minutes.

Lisbon Metro – by vanessa lollipop –

I am partial to the metro as it is cleaner, cheaper, faster and always on time. ³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s metro system is also incredibly easy to use as there are only four lines and they are identified using colors rather than names.

As you can see from the image below, the red line (also known as the Linha Vermelha) is the one that will take you between the airport (last stop) and the city. You will get off at either Saldanha or Alameda, depending on what neighborhoods you’d like to explore. Heading directly south from either of these stops puts you in the heart of the city.

Lisbon Metro –

Best Neighborhoods in Lisbon to Explore During a Layover

Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto is known as being the food and drinking hub of Lisbon. It’s a party town comprised of a cluster of interlocking alleys in which restaurants, bars and fado venues are open for business all night long.

Evening layovers would be best spent exploring this part of Lisbon. You’ll be able to dine and enjoy a real Portuguese celebration vibe before you head back to the airport.

Metro: Take the red line to Saldahna // Change to the yellow line to Marques de Pombal // Change to the blue line and get off at Restauradores

Bairro Alto – by Manuel Menal –

Chiado

Chiado is ³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s center of centers. It’s a hub for restaurants, cafes, shopping, landmarks, bookstores and architecture.

The streets are busting both day and night. This is ideal for any time of day layovers and for travelers whoa are looking for a neighborhood to walk through where they can eat, shop, see historical attractions and get a holistic feel for Lisbon in a short space of time.

Note: Chiado has a handful of public luggage storage on offer for those who prefer not to leave anything at the airport. Prices are higher at the city storage.

Metro: Take the red line to Alameda // Change to the green line and get off at Baixa-Chiado

Chiado – by Rehman Abubakr –

Mouraria

Mouraria, also known as the Moorish Quarter, is a tiny Portuguese neighborhood that is ideal for travelers with a really short layover!

The district is just a few streets in capacity, and they offer beautiful authentic aesthetics in terms of Lisbon architecture and life.

Mouraria is the birthplace of all the best fado singers that emerge from Lisbon. This was once the home of fado itself, but performers have been forced to move south to the venues in Bairro Alto as there is more money to be made here.

Mouraria is filled with street art and small cafes that will refresh you during your brief airport exit.

Metro: Take the red line to Alameda // Change to the green line and get off at Martim Moniz — Mouraria is right by the station

Mouraria – by Andreas Manessinger –

The Alfama

³¢¾±²õ²ú´Ç²Ô’s Alfama is the oldest and most historic part of the city center. Ancient buildings, exquisite tile art and rustic viewpoints overlooking the city are what make up the Alfama and it’s a beautiful place to explore with just a few hours in Lisbon.

You’ll do a lot of walking here, you absolutely cannot have luggage with you.

A free guided walking tour through the Alfama would be a great way to make the most of a layover period in the city. This is the neighborhood best visited by individuals who aren’t concerned with being in the tourist hustle and bustle; those who are happy to see authentic and local parts of the land.

Metro: Take the red line to Alameda // Change to the green line and get off at Martim Moniz — work your way south by foot through the Alfama

Lisbon’s Alfama – by Sberlazza –

Belem

A lot of people like to spend their layovers exploring significant museums of the country in which they have landed. Lisbon has many great art museums, two of the most well known being the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian and the MAAT in the town of Belem.

Belem is also famous for it’s landmarks like the Tower of Belem that marks the old port of entry and fortress into the land.

Belem is further west of Lisbon and quite far from the city center. You will have to take the metro about 40 minutes into the far south of the city, and then another train a further 10 minutes.

Be sensitive with time if you have decided to venture to Belem. A taxi ride would be the best way of accessing this part of town. Only risk public transport if you have time to waste.

Metro: Take the red line to Alameda // Change to the green line and ride it all the way to the last stop, Cais do Sodre // Purchase a Belem train ticket here and find the corresponding train // Get off at the Belem stop