How to get to Lisbon Airport by Taxi

Lisbon Airport is also commonly referred to as the Portela Airport, due to its location nearby Portela, and has the official airport code of LIS. It is the largest airport serving Portugal, with over 29 million passengers per annum, and is located between Loures and Lisboa, on the western coast of the country. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal, and also the largest city in the region, and Lisbon Airport is a very important international air gateway. For arriving and departing passengers, buses and taxis provide transport to and from the airport, and the Lisbon Airport taxis can be found nearby the terminal facilities.

Lisbon Airport is located approximately 7 km, or 4.3 miles from the city centre of Lisboa, and also nearby to the areas of Oeiras, Cascais, Estoril, Sintra, Almada and Alcochete. It is an airport surrounded by urban development, and therefore a taxi is a convenient form of transport to any nearby area. Lisbon Airport has two terminal buildings, referred to as Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Arrivals take place in both terminals, with Terminal 1 handling all international flights, and Terminal 2 used for scheduled domestic flights. Passengers will find one taxi rank nearby the arrivals area, and another at departures, and Lisbon Airport taxis are always available for passengers at both taxi ranks. It is therefore not necessary to pre-book a taxi from the airport.

Although bus services are available at Lisbon Airport, taxis are often preferred for a number of reasons. Taxis are generally a much quicker form of road transport, as there are no additional stops along the way as in the case of buses, and they will take you directly to the curb side of your residence, hotel or place of business. When travelling on a bus, you may still end up quite far from your desired destination. A taxi is also often considered easier for people with many luggage items to transport, or for families with young children. Kids and luggage can be hard to manage on and off buses! However, taxis are a great deal more expensive than bus or train services, and there are a number of things to consider in order to get a good price for a taxi journey.

Unfortunately, Lisbon Airport can be known for its unreliable and dishonest taxi drivers, which can actually be the case at many airport locations. This is especially true for unsuspecting tourists who do not speak the Portuguese language. It is therefore a recommendation to learn a few words regarding taxis in Portuguese before your holiday. Passengers are also recommended to rather use the taxi services at the departures area of Lisbon Airport, and not the drivers outside the arrivals area. Those on the departures side tend to be more honest. If possible, always find out the approximate fare to your destination before approaching the driver, and let him know that you are expecting such a price. Always discuss the taxi fare with your driver before leaving the airport as well.

It is wise to know the shortest route to your destination, as it isn’t uncommon for the taxi driver to purposely take the longer journey, in order to increase the kilometers of the ride, and to then charge more for his services. All taxis in Portugal operate on a metered system, which means that there is a device in the vehicle which records the number of kilometers traveled. The taxi fare is then calculated accordingly. It is the passenger’s right to ensure that the meter is turned on at the start of the journey, and from Lisbon Airport, should start at €2.50 for a daytime pick-up. Fares are approximately 20% more expensive when travelling later at night, between 21:00 and 06:00, or on weekends and public holidays. The average cost per kilometer outside the city limits is €0.42. There is also a small extra charge for the transportation of luggage or animals. Although the taxi drivers at Lisbon Airport are not permitted to refuse any customers, many will not take you to a destination which is within a mile from the airport. Be careful of being ‘ripped-off’ if you manage to persuade the driver to take you to nearer destinations.

Passengers who are concerned about the fare they will be charged, and are travelling to Lisboa, can purchase a taxi voucher from the Lisbon Airport information desk, for about €18.00. The voucher will allow for travel to any area within the city center, with luggage. However, this price is more expensive than the average metered rate to the city, which is about €10.00. Passengers who experience any signs of fraud can make a complaint to a policeman, and should provide a taxi number and receipt.

Taxis in Lisbon can be spotted by their beige colouring, and ‘taxi’ sign on the roof. They can be called to come and collect you from any location, or taxi ranks can be found in various areas around the city. There is one around the westerly Rossio area, and another at the Sul e Sueste ferry dock.

Passengers are advised to only use the services of official Lisbon Airport taxis, and to be careful in regards to charges when arranging the journey. However, regardless of all negative aspects, taxis from Lisbon Airport remain a very popular and convenient way to travel.