Lisbon, Portugal — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
Flights to Lisbon are offered by a number of different airlines from the UK, including British Airways and TAP Portugal. Low cost airline easyJet means there are cheap flights to Lisbon outside of the peak travel holiday periods. If you are looking for Lisbon flights, make sure you book in advance to secure cheap fares.
Aeroporto de Lisboa (LIS)
Tel: (021) 841 3500.
Website: www.ana.pt
Lisbon (Portela) airport has undergone a massive renovation over the last decade to bring it up to the standard of a major modern European gateway and there are now two terminals. The airport is located 7km (4 miles) north of the city.
Airport facilities
First aid, bureau de change, post office, left luggage, a mobile phone shop, restaurant and bar are all open 24 hours. There are also duty-free and other shops, tourist information and a bank. Car hire is available from Avis, Europcar, Sixt, National, Alamo and Hertz, as well as local operators.
Transport to the city
The Carris AeroBus (tel: (021) 361 3000; www.carris.pt), bus 91 or 96, services the city center and the Cais do Sodré rail station. A one-day ticket includes further transport for that day on all Carris trams, buses and metros. The AeroBus is free for TAP Portugal passengers, on presentation of used boarding passes when arriving, and flight tickets when departing. Carris' local buses 5, 22, 44, 45 and 83 also service the airport.
Taxis are available 24 hours a day. The airport tourist information office, located in the Arrivals Hall, also sells set fare vouchers for taxi rides to all areas of the city.
Approximate flight times to Lisbon
From London - 2 hours 15 minutes; from New York - 6 hours 45 minutes; from Los Angeles - 12 hours; from Toronto - 9 hours 30 minutes; from Sydney - 22 hours 30 minutes.
Getting There By Road
Traffic drives on the right in Portugal and international traffic signs are used. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in towns. Both International Driving Permits and national driving licenses are accepted. A Green Card and third-party insurance are compulsory, as is a warning triangle. In general, road conditions in Lisbon are quite good. However, the overall standard of driving is poor with many reckless speeding motorists who contribute to the worst road safety record in Europe. The national motoring association is Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), Rua Rosa Araújo 24 (tel: (21) 318 0100; www.acp.pt (Portguese only) ), which can offer assistance to motorists belonging to an automobile club with whom the ACP has a reciprocal agreement.
Emergency breakdown services
ACP (tel: 707 509 510).
Routes to the city
The A1, Auto-estrada do Norte, extends from Porto to Lisbon and the A8 arrives from destinations to the north and west of the city. The A9 bypasses Lisbon, connecting the A1 and A8, as well as the A5, which links Lisbon with Cascais and the beaches. The A2, Auto-estrada do Sul, arrives from Faro and the Algarve via Almada and the Ponte 25 de Abril. The A2 also links to the A6, which continues on for connections to Madrid. The A12 crosses the Ponte Vasco da Gama, offering a less congested route into the city.
Driving times to the city
From Porto - 3 hours; from Faro and the Algarve - 4 hours; from Madrid - 9 hours.
Coach services
The main bus terminal is the Terminal Rodoviário de Sete Rios, Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado, Estrada das Laranjeiras. Eva (tel: 707 223 344; www.eva-bus.com) and Rede Nacional de Expressos (tel: 213 581 472 or 707 223 344; www.rede-expressos.pt) provide coach services from hundreds of Portuguese destinations and work with other operators, such as Eurolines (tel: (021) 895 7398; www.eurolines.com.), on pan-European routes, though some of these operate from Gare do Oriente.
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
Lisbon is served by five major railway stations, as well as a number of suburban stations. Santa Apolónia, Avenida Infante D Henrique, serves an ever-decreasing number of routes. The gleaming modern Oriente station, at the Parque das Nações, on the city's eastern approach, has become an increasingly important long-distance train station. Rossio (currently in the process of being revamped), between Praça dos Restauradores and Rossio, serves Sintra, while Cais do Sodré, near the Praça Duque da Terceira, serves Cascais and Estoril. The Barreiro station, on the south bank of the River Tagus, serves the south, though direct high-speed trains to Faro depart from Oriente station.
Rail Operators
Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses - CP (tel: 808 208 208; www.cp.pt) is the Portuguese national rail service provider. Over the last decade, CP's reputation has improved, with more efficient, modern, high-speed train services introduced on the Porto-Lisbon-Faro service. Travelers should contact CP direct for all national rail enquiries. Intercity trains connect Lisbon to almost all of Portugal's major cities. Comfortable high-speed Alfa services connect Lisbon with both Porto and Faro. There are also overnight trains to and from Madrid and Paris.
Getting Around in Lisbon, Portugal
Public Transport
Lisbon's continually expanding metro system, the Metropolitano de Lisboa (tel: (021) 3500 115; www.metrolisboa.pt), is an efficient way to get around the city. There are four lines (A-D or Blue, Yellow, Green and Red) and trains run every three to 10 minutes daily.
Single tickets and carnets are available from station ticket office and self-service machines. Passes can be purchased from the special offices at certain stations including Cais do Sodré, Campo Grande, Marquês de Pombal, Oriente and Restauradores.
Complementing Lisbon's metro is the city's network of buses, trams and elevadors (funiculars/street lifts), which are run by the Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (tel: (021) 361 3000; www.carris.pt). Most bus and tram services operate daily. There are also eight night bus routes, which converge at the Cais do Sodré. Tickets for buses and funiculars are available on board or at kiosks.
Passes valid for bus, tram and metro services are available for one day, three days, four days and seven days. These are all available for purchase at Carris kiosks. The Lisboa Card tourist pass offers unlimited travel on public transport.
If you want t take the ferry to Lisbon, most cross-Tagus ferries are operated by Transtejo (tel: 808 203 050; www.transtejo.pt) and arrive at Belém, Cais do Sodré and Terreiro do Paço. CP (Portuguese Railways) runs the ferry link from Barreiro (where the CP trains terminate) to Praça do Comércio - the fare is included in the ticket price for rail travelers. You can buy tickets at the ferry pier.
Taxis
Taxis can easily be hailed on the street, at ranks or by telephone from Rádio Táxis (tel: (021) 811 9000) and Teletáxis (tel: (021) 811 1100). Caution should still be exercised with regards to overcharging. Taxis are metered. A supplement is payable for luggage carried in the boot or on the roof. A tip of 10% is expected and appreciated.
Driving in the City
Driving in Lisbon should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Not only do you have reckless motorists to contend with but also inadequate road signs. The A9 outer ring road, known as the CREL (Cintura Regional Exterior de Lisboa), and the inner ring road, CRIL (Cintura Regional Interior de Lisboa), move traffic efficiently around the city, except during rush hour weekdays from 1700-1900. Despite the arrival of the Vasco Da Gama bridge across the River Tagus, the Ponte 25 de Abril can still take an hour to cross during rush hour and summer weekends. Over the last few years, increasing pedestrianization and traffic calming measures in the city center have added to the trauma of driving in Lisbon.
Pay-and-display parking is in effect Monday to Friday 0800-2000 in many areas of central Lisbon with a four-hour maximum stay. Parking is also available at the larger shopping centers. A network of underground car parks is currently being built - these are indicated by large blue 'P' signs and are far more expensive than metered street parking, although convenient, seeing as all-day and 24-hour parking is available.
Car Hire
Drivers must be at least 21 years old to hire a car and a valid national driving license is required. Insurance is mandatory. Third party liability is always included in the hire price with reputable operators, although visitors should always check. Comprehensive insurance is essential.
Car hire companies include Avis (tel: (021) 843 5550; www.avis.com) and Europcar (tel: (021) 353 5115; www.europcar.pt). Both have branches at the airport and downtown.
Bicycle Hire
Bicycles are available for hire at Bike Iberia (tel: (021) 347 0347; www.bikeiberia.com), Lisbon is not a cycle-friendly city but Bike Iberia leads guided tours around picturesque, safe locations.
