Cheap flights to Lisbon

Lisbon offers a convenient blend of old and new for travellers. The city was once a meeting ground for traders and settlers, but today adds a mix of restaurants, nightlife and shopping areas to the charming city centre. Portugal’s capital city is also one of the country’s major transportation hubs – flights to Lisbon are packed with travellers heading to Portugal wine country, the beaches of the Algarve, business expos or just some quality time in one of Portugal’s young-at-heart cities.

The city itself is sprawled across seven hills and situated on the River Tagus. Art nouveau buildings and sidewalk art line the streets of Lisbon. Open-air cafes offer a great view of the city – both architecturally and socially – and ancient churches and museums help pass the time while waiting for Lisbon flights.

Lisbon climate

Lisbon has warm summers with temperatures often around 30 degrees Celsius, and wet, windy winters with temperatures around 10 degrees. Even in the coldest months of December and January the city rarely sees freezing temperatures, although the rain can make it feel colder. The hottest months are July and August, and the coolest are December through February. 

Getting around Lisbon

You can get to Lisbon’s centre by boarding a bus, taxi or metro train at one of the terminals at Lisbon International Airport. You’ll quickly discover that Portugal’s capital city is built on seven hills surrounding the Bay of Lisbon. Unless you’re an extremely fit walker, you’ll want to avoid the streets that go out from the city centre and curve up and down hills, often at steep angles.

What is good to know if travelling to Lisbon?

• Lisbon is a treasure trove of unusual museums and art galleries, and the Museu do Marioneta is the showpiece of its collection. Housed in a former church, the Museu do Marioneta (Puppet Museum) has an impressive array of marionettes, shadow puppets, and puppet show sets from around the world. Take time on your flight to Lisbon and read-up on family-friendly activities.The Museu do Marioneta will captivate visitors of every age.
• As the city’s Bohemian neighbourhood, Bairro Alto is the perfect location for a good drink, whether you’re partying hard or mellowing out after your flight to Lisbon. Even when the winds off Lisbon Bay keep the winter nights cool, the streets of Bairro Alto fill up on the weekends with the voices of revellers and performers.
• If you’re dying to get your feet wet after your flight to Lisbon, the beach is just minutes away from the centre of the city by train. Take the commuter train or a local bus to Cascais, a popular seaside resort that allows the city dwellers of Lisbon to enjoy the surf on a sunny day without heading too far out of town.
• Lisbon is one of the hundreds of cities throughout the world that has its own variation of the Arch of Triumph; the Arco do Triunfo in Baixa is one of the most popular sites in the Portuguese capital. The arch, which boasts a carved clock and intricate stonework, opens up onto the Terreiro do Paço, which is where the Royal Palace stood before the catastrophic earthquake of 1755. The vast plaza should be one of your first stops after your Lisbon flight for its gorgeous sea views and impressive monuments, and the multitude of quaint cafes and shops that shoulder up to the Arco do Triunfo are perfect places to people watch from.
• Before Portugal’s explorers arrived in the Americas and Africa, they loaded their ships and set sail from Belem. Today, some of Lisbon’s most recognizable tourist attractions are located in Belem. Visit the Ajuda Palace, or head over to Belem Tower to gaze at the stunning “Gateway to Lisbon” just like Columbus, Vasco de Gama and other great explorers whose historic expeditions had sailed from this point. The majority of Belem’s sites are closed on Mondays, so make sure that you plan your Lisbon trip accordingly after your flight to Lisbon touches down.
• Craving some quality vintage shopping? Aching to splurge your last Euros on funky, out-of-the-ordinary souvenirs to keep you busy on your return Lisbon flight? Reserve the Tuesday or Saturday of your trip for a lengthy mosey through the Feira da Ladra (Thieves Market) up near São Vicente do Fora.

Lisbon airport overview

Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) is located 4.3 miles (7km) 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 disorganized, 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.