Lisbon Layover and Stopover Guide

Flying between Europe and the Americas or Africa via Lisbon? Instead of waiting at the airport, turn your connection into a stopover and spend a day or a few days in the city. Lisbon’s airport is only about 20 minutes from the centre. Here’s how to plan a Lisbon layover or stopover.

Quick answer: with 6 hours or more between flights (and no visa issues), you can take the metro into town for a few hours. For a longer stop, TAP Air Portugal has offered a stopover programme letting you break your trip in Lisbon or Porto for several nights at no extra airfare. Check current terms when booking. Even 24 hours is enough for Alfama, Belém and a fado night.

Can I leave the airport?

• Arriving from outside the Schengen area: you’ll go through passport control. The EU’s EES entry-exit system now registers non-EU travellers at the border, so allow extra time. See Portugal entry requirements.
• Bags: if your bags are checked through, you don’t need to collect them.
• Allow time: passport queues can be long at peak times. Be back at the airport 2 to 3 hours before a long-haul flight.

Getting into the city

The red metro line runs from the airport to the centre in about 20 to 25 minutes, with a change for the Baixa. Taxis and Uber take about 20 minutes outside rush hour. See Lisbon airport to the city centre.

Layover of 6 to 10 hours

1. Metro to the Baixa and walk to Praça do Comércio.
2. Walk up through Alfama to a viewpoint. See Alfama.
3. Eat a pastel de nata and a proper Portuguese lunch.
4. Head back with plenty of time to spare.

A tuk-tuk is a quick way to see a lot in a short time. See Lisbon tuk-tuk tours.

A 24-hour stopover

Follow our Lisbon in one day plan: Alfama in the morning, Belém in the afternoon, sunset at a viewpoint and dinner with fado. See Lisbon city tours.

A 2 to 5 day stopover

Add Sintra, Cascais and more. See 2 days in Lisbon and 5 days in Lisbon.

Where to stay

• One night with an early flight: see Lisbon airport hotels.
• To explore: stay in the Baixa or Chiado. See where to stay in Lisbon.

Leaving bags

Luggage storage is available at the airport and at lockers around the city centre, so you can explore hands-free.

More: things to do in Lisbon and Lisbon for cruise passengers.

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