Lisbon Airport Guide — LIS Terminals, Transport, Lounges & Layover Tips 2026

Humberto Delgado Airport — universally known as Lisbon Airport (IATA: LIS) — sits just 7 km north of the city centre. It is Portugal’s busiest airport by far, handling over 32 million passengers per year and serving as the main hub for TAP Air Portugal. If you are arriving in Portugal for the first time, or transiting through on a layover, this guide covers everything you need from the moment you land.

Terminal Layout: T1 vs T2

LIS has two terminals, and knowing which one you are using saves a lot of stress.

Terminal 1 (T1) is the main terminal and where the majority of flights arrive and depart. It is split into two landside concourses separated airside:

• Concourse A/B — TAP Air Portugal mainline, Star Alliance carriers, most European and intercontinental routes
• Concourse C/D — Schengen and domestic flights from various carriers

T1 has full facilities: duty-free retail, cafés, pharmacies, ATMs, the Metro station, taxi rank, and all ground transport connections.

Terminal 2 (T2) opened in 2018 to handle low-cost carrier overflow. Ryanair, some Wizz Air routes, and a handful of seasonal charters use T2. The terminal is functional but noticeably smaller — fewer dining options, no Metro access, and shorter security queues. A free shuttle bus runs between T1 and T2 every 10–12 minutes, and the journey takes around 10 minutes. Walk-time from T2 to the shuttle stop is 3–4 minutes. If you are connecting between T1 and T2 flights, factor in at least 45 minutes.

Getting to Lisbon City Centre

Metro — Red Line (Linha Vermelha)

The Metro is the fastest, cheapest option and drops you directly into central Lisbon. Aeroporto station is on the Red Line and located beneath T1 Arrivals — follow the blue Metro signs after collecting bags.

• Journey time: approximately 20–25 minutes to Alameda (change for Green Line) or 30 minutes to Baixa-Chiado with a transfer at Alameda
• Fare: approximately €1.85 per trip with a Viva Viagem card (the card itself costs €0.50 to buy at station machines)
• Hours: 06:30 to 01:00 daily
• Luggage: no restrictions, but avoid peak hours (08:00–09:30 and 17:30–19:00) with large bags
• Card payment: ticket machines accept Visa/Mastercard — no cash required

If you plan to use public transport beyond your airport transfer, buy a 24-hour or 48-hour Lisboa Card at the airport — it covers Metro, buses, and trams city-wide, plus free entry to key attractions.

Aerobus

The Aerobus is a private express bus service designed specifically for airport passengers. It runs two routes:

• Line 1 — airport to Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade, Restauradores, Rossio, Praça do Comércio (waterfront)
• Line 2 — airport to Sete Rios and Belém

Tickets cost approximately €4–5 single as of 2026, with luggage included and no extra charge. Buy at the dedicated desk in Arrivals or via the Aerobus app before you travel. Frequency is every 20–30 minutes. Journey time to Rossio runs about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic — slower than Metro in morning rush hour but useful if your hotel is on the bus route.

Taxi

Taxis from LIS are metered and licensed. The official rank is directly outside T1 Arrivals — follow the green taxi signs. Never accept unlicensed touts inside the building.

• To Lisbon city centre (Baixa, Chiado, Alfama): approximately €15–22 as of 2026, depending on traffic and time of day
• To Bairro Alto / Príncipe Real: approximately €16–22
• Night surcharge (21:00–06:00): 20% above the meter rate, plus a luggage surcharge of approximately €1.60 per large bag
• Tip: not mandatory but rounding up to the nearest euro is standard

Uber and Bolt both operate at LIS and are generally €2–5 cheaper than taxis for airport routes. Pick-up is from the designated rideshare area on Level 0 of T1.

See our dedicated Lisbon airport transfers guide for a full comparison of private transfers and shared shuttles, including pre-booked options.

Car Hire

All major rental companies (Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Sixt, Budget) have desks in T1 Arrivals. Independent operators like Goldcar and Guerin are usually cheaper but read the excess waiver terms carefully. Expect to pay approximately €25–45/day for a compact in shoulder season. For full details on tolls, insurance, and driving rules, see our Portugal car hire guide.

Lounges

Several lounges are available at LIS regardless of your class of travel:

• TAP Executive Lounge (T1, Concourse A/B, Schengen): Access for TAP Business passengers and Star Alliance Gold cardholders. Showers available on request.
• TAP VIP Lounge (T1, Concourse C/D, non-Schengen): Quieter, with hot food and a dedicated shower suite.
• ANA Lounge / Lemon & Soul Lounge (T1, Concourse A/B): Pay-per-use lounges accessible to any passenger regardless of airline. Day passes approximately €35–45 as of 2026; book in advance via Priority Pass or LoungeBuddy. Both offer hot food, showers, and fast Wi-Fi.

T2 has no lounge access. If your flight departs from T2, use the T1 lounge before shuttling over — allow 30 minutes before your boarding gate opens.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi branded ANA-Airport is available throughout T1 and T2. Connect and enter your email to activate — no time limits as of 2026. Speed is adequate for messaging and video calls; it slows noticeably during morning and evening peaks when the terminal is busy.

For reliable connectivity in Portugal beyond the airport, see our Portugal SIM card guide.

SIM Cards at Arrivals

Three of Portugal’s main carriers have retail points in T1 Arrivals:

• NOS — tourist SIM from approximately €15 including 20 GB as of 2026; available at the NOS kiosk near baggage reclaim
• MEO — tourist prepaid from approximately €20 including 30 GB; stand near the Arrivals exit
• Vodafone — tourist SIM from approximately €20 including 30 GB; kiosk near exit

All three carriers provide 5G coverage across central Lisbon and most of the Algarve, with MEO generally rated strongest for rural and island coverage. eSIM options are available for compatible phones — see our SIM card guide for a full comparison including Airalo eSIM plans that you can activate before you board.

Luggage Storage

Left-luggage facilities are available in T1 Arrivals (ground floor, near exit 5). You can use:

• Coin-operated lockers: small and medium sizes from approximately €3–5/day as of 2026; available 24 hours
• Staffed storage counter: accepts bags of all sizes from approximately €5–8/day as of 2026; operates 06:00–24:00

During July and August, lockers fill quickly by mid-morning. Pre-booking via Bounce or Stasher is available online and typically includes a small discount.

Layover Tips

If you have a tight connection, note that Lisbon Airport is entirely within Schengen for EU-internal flights, meaning you will not clear customs between Schengen legs. For non-Schengen arrivals connecting to a Schengen departure, allow at least 90 minutes — passport control queues can run 40+ minutes in peak season.

For a genuine city visit on a long layover (5+ hours), the Metro makes it feasible. Aeroporto to Baixa-Chiado takes under 30 minutes each way, leaving you time for coffee in Chiado or a tram ride in Alfama. Budget €3–4 for Metro return plus entry costs. Keep baggage light — the Metro has no storage facilities.

The airport also has a 24-hour pharmacy in T1 Arrivals and a Bureau de Change (rates are poor — withdraw from the ATMs instead, which accept all major cards with no airport surcharge).

For all ground transport options beyond the airport, including train connections to Porto and the Algarve departing from Oriente Station (one Metro stop away), see our Lisbon day trips guide.