Travel advice

There are many ways to get to Lisbon and all of them are easy to use. With the airport just a few minutes from the centre of the city, stations with international rail links and various ports for cruise ships, there are many options for getting to the capital of Portugal. If you prefer to come by car, there are excellent roads from various points north and south along the border with Spain.

Air

Land at the Lisbon international airport which is just a mere 7 km from the centre of the city. Served by the main international airlines and just 3 hours away from the main European capitals, it is very easy to reach.

Humberto Delgado Airport

Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas
1700-111 Lisboa
Portugal
W: www.aeroportolisboa.pt

Train

It is just as easy to reach the centre of the city. National and international trains arrive every day at Santa Apolónia station, which is very close to all the traditional neighbourhoods and Terreiro do Paço. But if you would like to add a unique architectural experience to your arrival, get off at Gare do Oriente, whose Calatrava-designed lines impress even those who see it every day.

Santa Apolónia station
Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1
1100-105 Lisboa
Portugal
W: www.cp.pt

Sea

Those arriving by sea have one of the best views of Lisbon – from the river – and can moor in 3 different places, all near the centre. If you come by cruise ship, you can dock at Alcântara, Rocha Conde de Óbidos or Santa Apolónia. If you arrive by yacht, there are several marinas as you sail up the river.

Car

The best ways to enter Lisbon are via the A1 and A2, which both have national and international connections along their course. The landscape is beautiful and mobility around the region compensates the long hours of driving. After all, there is more to Lisbon than just city.

Low emission zone:
Lisbon has a low emission zones (ZER = Zona de Emissoes Reduzidas) in place that is divided in Zone 1 and Zone 2 with different Euro standards.

© Municipal de Lisboa

Zone 1: dark green area on the map to the right - Axis Av. Liberdade/Baixa.
Minimum standard required: Euro 3

Zone 2: light green area on the map to the right - limited to the south of Avenida de Ceuta | North-South axis | Avenida das Forças Armadas | Avenida EUA | Avenida Marechal António Spínola | Avenida Infante Dom Henrique. Minimum standard required: Euro 2 

Vehicles >7.5 tonnes are not allowed to enter when the LEZ is active; Working days from 07:00 - 21.00

Driving documentation:
For those driving in Portugal, the following documentation is required: 

• Passport or ID-card
• Driving license
• Valid insurance policy
• Insurance registration certificate 

Good to know: 

• Traffic moves on the right-hand side of the road.
• A valid insurance policy required.
• After dark, the main headlights must be switched on.
• Street signs can be missing, so make sure you have a map or GPS to avoid getting lost
• Electronic tolls.
• Speed limits are as follows, unless marked otherwise: 
  In residential areas: 30 or 50 km/h 
  In built-up areas: 50 km/h 
  Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h
  Motorway: 120 km/h