Portugal · LIS
Flights to Lisbon
The closest transatlantic gateway in Europe, and an airport inside the city
Lisbon is the shortest transatlantic flight from the US east coast to continental Europe, which makes it an easier first European trip than most people realise. The airport sits inside the city boundary, so the journey from landing to your hotel is unusually short.
The city's defining physical feature is its hills, and they matter to planning in a way that sounds trivial and is not. Distances that look short on a map involve serious climbs, and the trams and funiculars exist because walking is genuinely hard work in places.
Getting to Lisbon
Airports
Humberto Delgado (LIS) is the only airport, within the city itself. Terminal 1 handles all arrivals and most departures; Terminal 2 handles departures only for some lower-cost carriers and is reached by a free shuttle bus.
Flight time
Roughly 7h 15m non-stop from New York, around 6h 50m from Boston, about 8h 30m from Chicago, near 8h 50m from Miami, and approximately 10h from Dallas.
Into the city
The Metro red line runs from Terminal 1 and reaches the centre in twenty to thirty minutes with one change for most destinations. The Aerobus is more expensive but has luggage space and fewer stairs. A taxi takes fifteen to thirty minutes and is inexpensive by Western European standards.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Best balance
March to May, September to October
Warm without the summer heat, long days and manageable crowds. Autumn in particular holds its warmth well into October.
Busiest and hottest
June to August
Hot, dry and very busy, with the highest prices of the year. The tram queues in high summer are their own form of sightseeing.
Quietest
November to February
Mild by northern European standards but genuinely wet, with the lowest demand of the year. Rain in Lisbon combined with steep tiled pavements is slipperier than it sounds.
Good to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Portuguese; English is widely spoken in the city
- Time zone
- WET, or WEST from late March to late October — an hour behind most of continental Europe
- Power
- Type F plug, 230V
- Entry for US passports
- Short visits are visa-free, but the EU is introducing an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. Confirm the current requirement with Portuguese or EU authorities before you fly.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Pack shoes with grip
The calçada pavements are polished limestone and become genuinely slippery when wet. This is the most practical piece of advice anyone gives about Lisbon and the most often ignored.
The hills are not a figure of speech
A short distance on a map can involve a substantial climb. The funiculars and Tram 28 exist for a reason, and using them is not laziness.
Terminal 2 is departures only
Some lower-cost carriers depart from T2, which has no arrivals facility and is reached by a landside shuttle. Check your terminal before travelling out.
Sintra needs a full day and an early start
It is close enough to feel like a half-day trip and busy enough that it is not. Go early, buy tickets ahead, and accept it will take the whole day.
Other destinations
FAQ
Lisbon — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
How long is the flight from the US to Lisbon?
It is the shortest transatlantic crossing to continental Europe from the US east coast: roughly seven hours from New York and under seven from Boston. From Chicago it is about eight and a half, and from Dallas around ten. That shorter flight is a genuine reason to consider Lisbon as a first European trip.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
Spring and autumn, from March to May and September to October. You get warm weather without the summer heat and crowds, and October in particular holds its warmth well. Summer is hot and very busy with peak prices, while winter is mild but wet, which matters more here than elsewhere because the tiled pavements get slippery.
Do I need to worry about which Lisbon terminal I use?
Only on departure. Terminal 1 handles all arrivals and most departures, while Terminal 2 handles departures only for some lower-cost carriers and has no arrivals facility. A free shuttle bus connects them landside, taking five to ten minutes, so check your departure terminal and add that time.
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