Airport Guide to Aeroporto da Portela de Sacavem (LIS)

Airport Overview

Terminal Transfer | Getting into Town | Car Parking | Information Desks | Airport Facilities

Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) is located 7km (4 miles) north of Portugal’s capital and is a pleasant introduction to this historic city.

With daily flights to Lisbon Portela Airport from all over the world, it is one of the largest airports in Southern Europe and acts as the main gateway to Portugal’s many attractions. Recent improvements include a second terminal, additional lighting and baggage claim refurbishment.

Lisbon Portela offers a number of shopping and dining options in its original terminal, although there’s less choice in the new terminal. At about ten minutes on foot, getting from gates to baggage claims and immigration can be a tiring affair. Check-in desks are sometimes disorganised, often resulting in long queues and frustrated passengers.

Overall, the airport is clean and modern, and with plans to develop the airport over the next few years, it can only get better.

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Terminal Transfer

Lisbon Portela Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 serves international flights and arrivals, while Terminal 2 only handles domestic departures. A complimentary shuttle service runs between the terminals.

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Getting into Town

Train: The closest metro stations, namely Gare do Oriente and Areeiro, are about 15 minutes from the airport and may be reached via bus. The fare is €0.80 to the city centre, but it’s necessary to purchase an additional electronic pass (€0.50) from any ticket booth in order to board.

Taxi: There are taxi stands outside both the arrivals and departures areas. A trip to central Lisbon costs around €10, but additional charges may apply for luggage or for weekend and after-hour service.

Bus: The No. 22 bus travels to the city centre every day. Tickets can be purchased on board for €1.50. Alternatively, the Aerobus travels between Lisbon Portela Airport and most of the main tourist areas of the city. Tickets can be purchased on the bus for €3.50.

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Car Parking

There are three car parks to choose from. Situated close to the terminal building, car park P1 is suitable for short-term parking, with rates of €0.80 for 30 minutes and €2.15 for the first hour and each hour thereafter. Car park P2 is slightly cheaper but further from the terminal building, while car park P3 serves long-term parking at a daily rate of €15.30.

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Information Desks

All flight-related enquiries can be directed to the information desk, while travel- and tourism-related information may be acquired at the Lisbon Tourism Desk. Both desks are in the arrivals section.

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Airport Facilities

Money and communications: ATMs, currency exchange and post office.

Luggage: There is a lost-and-found desk and left-luggage facility.

Conference and business: An assortment of meeting rooms cater for groups of up to 30 people, while the large auditorium seats 90 guests. Several lounges offer telephone, fax machine and Internet facilities.

Other facilities: There are Internet access points in the departures and arrivals areas. A children’s play area and child care rooms allow parents to entertain and tend to their little ones, while disabled facilities and first aid centres in both terminals cater to passengers’ medical needs.

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi access is available throughout the airport. Access to internal, flight-related content is free, but for full Internet access you’ll need to make use of one of the airport’s operators, namely HotSpot Portugal, PT wi-fi, Vodafone, Vex or novaspot.

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