Flights to Lisbon

From the airport into town

Lisbon's airport is one of the closest to a capital city centre in Europe. The red metro line runs from the terminal to Saldanha, where you change for the city centre, and the whole trip takes about 25 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing cars reach the Baixa in 20 minutes outside rush hour. Hills and cobbles make wheeled cases hard work in Alfama, so check how close your hotel is to a metro stop or taxi drop-off.

Trams, viewpoints and old quarters

Tram 28 rattles through Graça, Alfama, the Baixa and Estrela, though it's busiest late morning, so ride early. São Jorge Castle crowns the oldest hill, and miradouros, or viewpoints, such as Senhora do Monte and Portas do Sol look across terracotta roofs to the river. The Baixa was rebuilt on a grid after the 1755 earthquake, and Rua Augusta leads through a triumphal arch to Praça do Comércio on the waterfront. Evenings in Alfama often mean fado, the city's mournful folk music.

Belém and the riverside

West along the Tagus, the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower are both UNESCO-listed and are fine examples of the ornate Manueline style from Portugal's age of exploration. The Monument to the Discoveries stands between them, and the original custard tarts, pastéis de Belém, are sold nearby. Trams, buses and trains from Cais do Sodré reach Belém in around 20 minutes.

Day trips and timing

Trains from Rossio reach Sintra in about 40 minutes, and those from Cais do Sodré run along the coast to Cascais. Spring and autumn are comfortable for walking the hills, while July and August regularly pass 30°C. Winter is mild but wetter.

Want Lisbon with a few days in the Algarve? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll price flights into Lisbon and home from Faro.