Taxi in Lisbon and Lisbon Airport

You’ll have absolutely no problem finding a cab in Lisbon. The Portuguese capital has a lot of taxi stops, a lot of taxis and they are all the same color cream or black and green. Where things get more complicated is if you want to take a taxi in Lisbon but you don’t speak the language or if you want to take a taxi at Lisbon airport. The queue is endless most of the time. Taxi fares in Lisbon are also among the lowest in Europe, so it is sometimes cheaper to call a taxi company than to use public transport.

Generally speaking, taking a taxi in Lisbon is safe, but as in any other country, there are also malicious people who try to cheat tourists and if you do not speak Portuguese you will certainly find it difficult to argue and justify yourself. Below you will find a guide to taxis in Lisbon, with information about taxis, taxi companies and everything related to them. This will give you some knowledge before your visit to Lisbon about the approximate prices of taxis for different places in Lisbon like the city center or the oceanarium but also some useful information to not get fooled. You will also be able to know the phone numbers of some taxi companies in Lisbon and information about where the biggest taxi stops are in the Portuguese capital.

Alternative to taxis in Lisbon

You should be aware that there are many alternatives to Lisbon taxis today. Some of these alternatives are just as accessible as taxis and others are private transport with driver, which this time are a little more expensive but which will allow you to have someone waiting for you as soon as you get off the plane, help you with your luggage, drop you off wherever you want in Lisbon and speak English to give you if you ask for it a few tips before you start your visit of Lisbon.

Below you will find a selection of means of transfer between Lisbon airport and your hotel or the city centre of the capital. If you would like a transfer from the airport to more distant cities like Ericeira, Obidos, Peniche, Nazaré or other cities on the Silver Coast, then you can also use the link below to find your happiness. Being well prepared is important!

Taxi in Lisbon: general information

Taxis in Lisbon are among the cheapest in Europe, so there is no reason to worry about the cost of a taxi in the Portuguese capital, it’s a far cry from Paris prices. Below you will find all the taxi fares and their prices on the most popular routes, so that even before arriving in the capital of Portugal you can know the prices you will have to pay. Taxis in Lisbon are marked “TAXI” and are cream or black, often also with green roofs. The makes of cars are very often Mercedes, Ford and Volkswagen. You can take a taxi in Lisbon :

• Directly from the street with a wave of the hand, like in New York (if there is a green light on its roof, it means the taxi is free, if it’s red, it means it’s busy).
• At the various taxi stops in all train and bus stations, Lisbon city centre or shopping centres
• By phone, you will find the list of taxi companies in Lisbon below. Some stations can speak English but it is less likely for taxi drivers.

Taxi use in Lisbon is safe, with a few exceptions. So don’t be afraid of being systematically fooled, whether the driver charges you more or takes numerous detours to extend the journey. It’s like everywhere else, these things can happen, but overall you are more likely to be completely honest and friendly, but without speaking any other language than Portuguese.

However, you should be particularly careful with the taxi drivers who come to approach you directly at Lisbon airport in the lobby. They tend to want to mislead customers and take advantage of their unfamiliarity with the country. It would still be a shame for your first visit to Lisbon to be fooled.

Taxi at Lisbon airport: attention

The Lisbon Airport taxi stand in the arrivals hall is located in front of the terminal, just opposite the exit of the baggage reclaim hall. There is a long queue of taxis there and, as I have often told you, a long queue. Sometimes the crowd of visitors is directed by a police officer who will direct you to certain taxis.

Here are some examples of things to be careful of if you take a taxi at Lisbon airport : 

• You may come across Portuguese taxi drivers who are a bit insistent, loading your suitcases in the trunk without you having time to say phew, it’s a bit of a war sometimes.
• It can also happen that some drivers, instead of a 10 to 15 minute taxi ride to downtown Lisbon (time normally needed to get from Lisbon airport to a downtown hotel), offer you a 30 minute city tour, which you must of course pay for.
• Sometimes you might face fraudulent fare changes and drivers who do not give you a bill, so you have no idea how much a taxi in Lisbon costs.

In order to avoid these problems, here is a list of tips that will help you to be more informed:

• In the age of smartphones, use applications such as Google Maps or even a traditional map to see if your destination is 500 meters from Lisbon airport or 5 km away Take a look at the approximate fares to see if the taxi driver doesn’t charge 500 meters as 5 km.
• Always make sure that the taxi light is on, this indicates that the taxi is starting the journey.
• Never get into a taxi that does not have a meter.
• Ask for a bill when the trip is over. Check that your bill includes the taxi’s registration number.
• If you think you have been cheated or there are other problems with the taxi driver, you can contact the tourist police on (+351) 21 342 16 23. They are based in Lisbon at the Palácio Foz na Praça dos Restauradores in the city centre.
• Don’t forget the fares and fees that are charged in addition to the cost of the trip. There will be additional charges for luggage in the trunk (€1.60) or departure (from €2) or taxi call by phone (€0.80).
• Consult taxi fares on the most popular routes in Lisbon
• To take a taxi from Lisbon airport, it is best to take a taxi not in the arrivals hall but in the departures hall, where frauds occur much less often.

Taxi prices in Lisbon

In Portugal, each taxi must have a label indicating the current fare, which you will also find below. It shows prices per kilometre and driving time according to the tariff in force and the time of day (daily rate from 6.00 am to 10.00 pm, night rate from 9.00 pm to 6.00 am) as well as additional charges. The most important additional costs, which will most often be added to the invoice, are as follows:

• The cost of taking charge of the race, which depends on its duration and price.
• The cost of €0.80 to call the taxi on the phone.
• The cost of extra luggage in the boot 1.60€ (regardless of the size, quantity or weight of the luggage).
• The prices indicated are valid for taxis for max. 4 people. With larger taxis, prices are higher.

In the city, tariff 1 applies, outside the city it is 3 or 5. You pay for the kilometres driven. The taxi fares applicable in Lisbon are as follows:

The image above is a sticker that you should normally find in all taxis in Lisbon.

Taxi prices from Lisbon airport

• Lisbon Airport Taxi – Marques de Pombal roundabout, where many Lisbon hotels are located: about 10 €.
• Taxi Lisbon Airport – Chiado: about 13-16 €.
• Taxi Lisbon Airport – Bairro Alto: about 11-15 €.
• Taxi Lisbon Airport – Baixa: about 12-14 €.
• Taxi Marques de Pombal – Cais do Sodre: about 6 €.
• Taxi Baixa – Oriente: about 7 €.
• Taxi Lisbon centre – Sete Rios station: about 6-8 €.
• Taxi Lisbon airport – Sete Rios train station: about 10 €.

Contacts of Taxi Companies in Lisbon

• Rádio Táxis de Lisboa : +351 218 119 000 / +351 969 531 660
• Taxiking lisboa : +351 218 598 693 / +351 967 973 321
• Teletaxis lisboa : +351 218 111 100
• Táxis David & Laurinda Lda: +351 210 452 951 
• Táxis de Lisboa CRL: +351 210 452 951