So you’re flying to Portugal and you’ll be landing at Lisbon airport, AKA Humberto Delgado airport. What’s the story, what’s there for travellers, and how do you get to the city centre and onwards from there? Let’s take a good look at Lisbon airport and what it offers in the way of Lisbon transfers for holidaymakers.
Lisbon Humberto Delgado airport – why the name?
Humberto Delgado, AKA the Fearless General, was a controversial figure. Born in 1906, he was the infamous fascist military general who founded Portugal’s national airline, TAP. Mellowing with age, he ran for president in 1958 as a democratic candidate. In exile during 1964 he set up the Portuguese National Liberation Front. Then, in 1965, he was captured trying to get into his home country via Spain and assassinated by the sinister Portuguese secret police.
Lisbon airport facts
Humberto Delgado Airport comes with the IATA code LIS and the ICAO code LPPT. Delgado’s creation, TAP Air Portugal, is still based here and there’s a strong holiday flight presence from low cost package holiday airlines like Ryanair and easyJet.
Previously called Portela Airport, it’s convenient for the city centre at just 4 miles away. Portugal’s main airport, in 2022 it became the 14th biggest European airport according to passenger numbers. The crowds are partly explained by the fact it’s Europe’s main air hub for flights in and out of Brazil, where they speak Portuguese and have close links with the country. It’s also important for flights to and from Africa.
All these people flooding in and out makes it a very crowded place at times, which and can be an uncomfortable experience. And that’s just one good reason why Lisbon transfers are a boon for your peace of mind and salve for your sanity! Just find your way to the luggage pick-up, grab your bags, and wait at a pre-arranged place for your driver to come find you. No running around lost in space and stressed, trying to find the taxi rank, bus or whatever.
As well as being one of the EU’s most congested airports, Huberto Delgado is one of the rare places where aircraft fly right above the city. It makes a flight in and out a fun thing, with brilliant city views, but safety-wise it isn’t ideal. There are plans for a new airport and for this one to be expanded, but climate change means it might never happen.
Lisbon airport history
Opening for the first time in 1942, during the Second World War – through which Portugal remained neutral – Lisbon’s airport was used by both the Germans and the Allies. As you can imagine it was thick with spies from both sides throughout the war years. Famous for smuggling people in and out of Europe to safety, this is the airport that stars in the movie Casablanca, where safety lies.
The end of the war saw it adopted by household-name airlines including Air France, KLM, Pan Am and Trans World, and by 1954 it was serving around 100,000 passengers a year. From then onwards it grew, expanded, and developed into what we see today with its air bridges, shopping, parking, restaurants and the underground Metro de Lisboa station, opened in 2012.
The latest expansion is mired in delay. In early 2019 the government announced a complex plan to expand the current airport and build another at the ex-military airfield in Montijo, just under 19 miles from Lisbon city centre. In the same year Humberto Delgado became the busiest one-runway airport in mainland Europe.
Twenty nine million passengers make it an urgent upgrade but we’ll see whether it gets off the ground… pun intended. The original deadline was 2022, now it’s 2030.
Know before you go – Lisbon airport terminals
Would you rather arrive with no clue about what’s where? Or know the score before you fly? There’s nothing worse than having to run for the gate with your luggage, feeling cross and sweaty and breathless.
Being prepared makes the whole travelling experience so much better. You know where to go and what to look for, sailing through to your pre-booked transfer driver. It matters at an airport like this, which is not just crowded but has loads of departure gates to deal with.
It’s nice to know the terminals are close enough to walk between, but if that’s no good there are free buses running between them.
Terminal 1
- Terminal 1 is the biggest, equipped with the varied shops and services you’d expect
- It’s used for international flights
- There’s a free airport shuttle service every ten minutes from here to Terminal 2, but it’s within easy walking distance
- There are two check-in areas, one for TAP Air self-checkins and the other with 68 desks split 37 to 89 and 90 to 106
- 17 of the 47 departures gates have jet bridges, the covered tunnels that take you right to the plane doors
Terminal 2
- Smaller, newer Terminal 2 is for low-cost airlines and internal flights
- There are fewer shops and facilities, just the basics
- It has 22 check-in desks numbered 201 to 222
- There are 15 departure gates numbered 201 to 215
- Either walk or grab a bus to board your flight
- There’s a free airport shuttle bus every ten minutes to Terminal 1
Public transport from Lisbon airport to the city centre
Maybe you decide not to pre-book Lisbon transfers and DIY instead. If so, here’s how you get from the airport to the city centre and beyond.
Trains, buses, aerobuses and shuttles from and to Lisbon airport
You’ll need to make your way to Gare do Oriente railway station in Lisbon to get to your final holiday destination by train. The Metro takes you there, and it runs from Arrivals in Terminal 1 every ten minutes: look for the signs to the Aeroporto Metro station. To use the Metro and bus, buy a 7 Colinas/Viva Viagem travel card and top it up with enough cash for your journey there and back. It takes 20 minutes to get to the Gare do Oriente station by Metro.
The bus from the airport into Lisbon takes longer. Called Carris city buses, you pick them up at Terminal 1 Arrivals. Just bear in mind the buses only take luggage to a maximum of 50 × 40 × 20 cm. If you’re taking more than that, you’ll have to take an aerobus.
Aerobuses are available in both terminals, running from 7.30am to 11pm every day. As well as designed for big luggage they’re easy-access if your mobility isn’t great. The route drops passengers off at the Sete Rios bus and train terminal, and the Entrecampos, Cais do Sodré, and Rossio rail stations, where you can pick up transport links to wider Portugal.
Airport shuttles are internal, taking you to the places aerobuses don’t reach and popular for whizzing people and luggage around the airport itself.
Taxis and hire cars from and to Lisbon airport
Lisbon city taxis are yours 24/7 for a fast 15 minute drive to the city centre. There are cab ranks outside both terminals. Or hire a car or posh chauffeur limousine at the airport if you like.
Book airport transfers to Lisbon here
Last but not least, it’s good to know that even though it’s incredibly busy and has been busy for decades, there hasn’t been an accident or incident out of Lisbon airport since 1980. Here are some great deals on airport transfers from Lisbon airport. See which fits your plans best.