Lisbon's red metro line starts inside Terminal 1 and costs EUR 1.90 plus EUR 0.50 for the card; Uber and Bolt pick up from level 2 of car park P2, not the kerb. Porto's violet line E runs to Trindade for EUR 2.25 in about 30 minutes.
- Lisbon's red metro line starts inside Terminal 1 - EUR 1.90 a single plus EUR 0.50 for the rechargeable card, about 20 minutes to Saldanha.
- Uber and Bolt pick up from level 2 of car park P2, not the kerb - turn left past the Starbucks and take the lift up.
- That P2 zone is heavily congested and drivers frequently cancel; if the wait is long, take the metro one stop to Gare do Oriente and order from there.
- Porto's violet line E runs to Trindade in about 30 minutes for EUR 2.25 plus EUR 0.60 for the card, every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Neither metro runs between 01:00 and 06:00, so a late arrival means ride-hailing or an official taxi - where invented baggage surcharges are a recurring complaint.
Humberto Delgado airport (Lisbon)
Lisbon's airport sits roughly 7 km north of the historic centre.
- Metro: The red line (Linha Vermelha) starts at Terminal 1 itself. It runs from 06:30 to 01:00. The ride to the Saldanha interchange takes about 20 minutes. A single Carris/Metro fare is EUR 1.90 under the tariff that took effect on 1 January 2026, plus a one-off EUR 0.50 for the rechargeable Navegante card. Tapping a bank card directly costs EUR 1.92.
- Ride-hailing (Uber / Bolt): The official pick-up zone for Uber and Bolt is in car park P2 (Level 2). Leaving the arrivals hall, turn left past the Starbucks and take the lift or escalator up to level 2 of the P2 garage. A ride into the centre (Baixa/Chiado) runs between EUR 10 and EUR 16 depending on demand.
- Official taxis: Ranks are outside both the arrivals and departures halls. A trip into the centre costs EUR 15 to EUR 25. Drivers must run the meter.
- What to watch out for: Travellers on r/LisbonPortugalTravel report that the P2 zone for Uber/Bolt is heavily congested. The barrier system allows vehicles only 10–15 minutes of free entry, so queues build up outside the garage and drivers frequently cancel. If you are facing a long wait, take the metro one stop to Gare do Oriente, or walk to the nearby Star Inn hotel and order your car from there. With regular taxis, there are recurring cases of invented baggage surcharges.
Francisco Sá Carneiro airport (Porto)
Porto's international airport is about 11 km north-west of the city centre.
- Metro: Line E (Violeta, violet) connects the airport with the central Trindade station. Trains run every 15–20 minutes and the journey takes about 30 minutes. You need a Z4 zone ticket at EUR 2.25 plus EUR 0.60 for the Andante card. Service runs from 06:00 to 01:00.
- Ride-hailing (Uber / Bolt): Cars stop in marked areas of the car park in front of the terminal. A ride into central Porto costs EUR 12 to EUR 18.
- Official taxis: The rank is outside the arrivals hall. The average fare into the centre is EUR 20 to EUR 35, with a 20% night surcharge between 21:00 and 06:00.
Which option suits which traveller
- Solo traveller: The metro is the best value in both Lisbon and Porto at under EUR 2.50, and it takes traffic out of the equation.
- Family with children and luggage: Ride-hailing (Uber/Bolt) is worth it for a door-to-door drop-off - no hauling suitcases over cobblestones and staircases.
- Night arrival (01:00–06:00): The metro does not run, so ride-hailing or an official taxi is the only option.
- Budget: Metro only, using a rechargeable card that then covers the rest of your travel around the city.
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