How to Get to Lisbon: Plane, Train, Bus

Ways to Get to Lisbon at a Glance

Flying to Lisbon

Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport is Portugal's main international gateway. It handled 36.1 million passengers in 2025, more than twice as many as Porto, and around 149 airports have direct flights to it.

Nonstop Flights from the United States

In late 2026, nonstop flights to Lisbon leave from these US airports:

Some routes are seasonal or run only on some days of the week, so check the airline's schedule for your dates. The nonstop flight from New York takes about 8 hours.

Nonstop Flights from Canada

Air Canada, Air Transat and TAP Air Portugal fly nonstop to Lisbon from Toronto and from Montreal. The flight from Toronto takes about 7 hours.

Flights from Europe

Lisbon has direct flights from most major European cities, both on full-service airlines and low-cost carriers, so it is easy to combine with another European destination.

From Lisbon Airport to the City

The airport is about 7 km from the center.

• Metro. The red line leaves from in front of the arrivals building. Change to the green or blue line for the Baixa, Alfama or Cais do Sodré.
• Taxi and ride-hailing. Taxis wait outside arrivals, and Uber and Bolt also operate. They are the easiest option with heavy luggage or late at night.
• Bus. Several Carris bus lines also stop at the airport.

Getting to Lisbon by Train

From Porto and the Algarve

Portugal's trains, run by CP, connect Lisbon with the rest of the country. Trains from Porto take about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes and arrive at Oriente or Santa Apolónia. From Faro, in the Algarve, the fastest trains take about 3 hours.

From Spain

There is no direct train between Madrid and Lisbon at the moment. The old Lusitânia night train was discontinued, and a direct service is not expected before about 2030. Today, the rail journey from Madrid needs three trains, via Badajoz and Entroncamento, and takes about 8 hours or more. For most travelers, a bus or a short flight is more practical.

Getting to Lisbon by Bus

Long-distance buses link Lisbon with the rest of Portugal and with Spain. From Madrid, companies such as FlixBus and Alsa take about 7 to 9 hours. Most buses arrive at the Gare do Oriente, next to the metro and train station, or at the Sete Rios bus terminal, both connected to the center by metro.

Driving to Lisbon

Lisbon is reached by motorway from the north, on the A1 from Porto, and from the south and east, on the A2 from the Algarve and on routes from Spain. Driving is a good way to tour Portugal, but you do not need a car in Lisbon itself: traffic, steep narrow streets and parking make driving in the center hard work. If you rent a car, pick it up when you leave the city.

Arriving by Cruise Ship

Lisbon is a popular cruise port. The main Lisbon Cruise Terminal is at Santa Apolónia, by the river, within walking distance of Alfama and the Baixa, which makes it easy to explore the city on foot during a port call.