Estoril is a sophisticated and stylish resort town, famed for its beautiful sandy beaches, grand 19th-century villas, and glamorous casino. For visitors travelling to this highlight of the Portuguese Riviera, the main international gateway is Lisbon Airport.

The airport is located 28km from Estoril. To help you choose the best way to get to your accommodation, here is a summary of your main transfer options:

• Uber/Bolt (Best Balance): The most popular option, offering a great mix of price and convenience. It typically costs €25-€35 and takes around 35-45 minutes.
• Public Transport (Cheapest Option): The ideal choice for budget travellers. The journey involves the metro and train, costs just €4.25 per person, and takes 60-80 minutes.
• Pre-booked Transfer (Easiest Option): A completely hassle-free method, perfect for families. The driver meets you at arrivals. The cost is €40-€50 and the journey takes around 35 minutes.
• Taxi (Most Expensive): A taxi hailed at the airport will be the costliest choice at €45-€55. This should be considered only if you cannot book an Uber or Bolt.

This guide will detail how to travel from Lisbon Airport to Estoril, explaining all of the options to help you choose the best one for your trip.
Related articles: Introduction to Estoril - Estoril beach guide

The train to Estoril

For most visitors, the easiest way to travel from the airport to Estoril is by using a ride-hailing app like Uber or Bolt. This option offers a great balance of cost and convenience, especially if you are travelling as a group of three or four, or with children and heavy luggage.

A typical fare from Lisbon Airport to Estoril will cost between €25 and €35. This price is dependent on demand, traffic, and the time of day. Fares can increase during rush hour or late at night, and you may experience longer waits for a driver to connect.

At Lisbon Airport, follow the signs for ‘Pré-Reservas Online’ (Online Pre-Bookings) which will direct you to the designated pick-up area. This is located on the ground floor of the short-stay car park (P2), just to the north of the arrivals hall. This is the only location where Uber or Bolt drivers can collect passengers. You may see a queue of people here, all waiting for their cars to arrive.

At peak times (such as rush hour or summer evenings), it can be difficult to connect to a driver. You may find the app continually searching, or a driver may accept and then cancel. This is often because they prefer to take easier fares within the city.

For a journey of this length, we recommend booking a 'Comfort' car (available on both apps). This costs about 15% more but ensures you get a more spacious, higher-quality vehicle and may reduce your waiting time during peak periods.

Bolt is often slightly cheaper than Uber, but we find the standard of Uber cars and drivers to be generally higher.

Insight: It is highly recommended to have the Uber or Bolt app downloaded and set up on your phone before arriving in Portugal. Fares are charged in euros, so it's a good idea to link the app to a bank account that doesn't charge currency conversion fees.

The Uber and Bolt pick-up is on the ground level of the short-stay car park (signed as P2), just to the north of the arrivals hall. This is the only location for a pick-up from Uber and Bolt, and the long queue is people waiting for their drivers

Travelling from Lisbon Airport to Estoril using public transport is a great low-cost option and is not difficult. The journey involves two stages:
Stage 1: Metro from Lisbon Airport to Cais do Sodré train station.
Stage 2: Train from Cais do Sodré to Estoril.

The total journey will take between 60 and 80 minutes, and the travel fare is €4.25. This consists of €1.80 for the metro and €2.45 for the train to Estoril.

Note: These fares are charged to the reusable 'Navegante' card. The card costs €0.50 for its initial purchase, and each traveller must have their own.

This public transport option is recommended during the day, but if you are arriving late at night (after 9pm), it is better to take an Uber or taxi for the entire journey.

The Cais do Sodré railway station in Lisbon

Lisbon Airport has a metro station that is on the Red Line. Cais do Sodré train station is the final stop on the Green Line. Therefore, a connection is required from the Red to the Green Line at Alameda station.

The transfer at Alameda is well-signposted and involves a walk of around 200 metres, with two sets of stairs. Lifts are available if you are travelling with heavy luggage.

A single metro fare costs €1.80 and is charged to your Navegante card. The journey from the airport to Cais do Sodré takes around 35 minutes (including the connection).

Lisbon metro is safe, clean and efficient

Cais do Sodré is the departure station for the popular urban railway that connects Lisbon to Cascais, serving all the beaches and towns along the coast, including Estoril. The train journey is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), the national train company.

The train to Estoril is a four-zone journey, and a single ticket costs €2.45 for an adult or €1.25 for a child. This fare is charged to the same Navegante card used for the metro.

The Lisbon-Cascais railway is a busy commuter route, with departures every 20 minutes throughout the day. The journey to Estoril takes 34 minutes. The last trains depart from Cais do Sodré at 12:30am, 1:00am and 1:30am (correct for July 2025). The latest timetable can be seen on the CP website:
www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/timetables/lisbon-cascais-urban-trains.pdf
(Note: the above link opens a new window)

Tickets must be purchased before boarding and can be bought from the ticket office or the ticket machines at Cais do Sodré station. The station can get very busy in the summer, so expect queues.

Insight: To avoid the queues, you can use the "Zapping" feature. This involves loading credit onto your Navegante card at any metro station. You can then simply tap your card at the train station barriers to pay for the fare, which is also slightly cheaper at just €2.00.

The train journey is very scenic, passing through the Belém district before running alongside the Tejo Estuary and the Atlantic coast. For the best views, sit on the left-hand side of the carriage (the south-facing side).

The Estoril in Cais do Sodré train station

The train station in Estoril is perfectly situated for tourists (GPS: 38.703, -9.398). It is located on the edge of the Jardim do Estoril and directly opposite the popular Praia do Tamariz beach. The famous Casino Estoril is just a short, 5-minute walk up through the gardens from the station.

Upon exiting the station, you will find a taxi rank immediately outside, which is convenient if your accommodation is further up the hill or in the surrounding area. Estoril is the second-to-last stop on the line, with the final station being Cascais, a pleasant 20-minute walk away along the coastal promenade.

A taxi from Lisbon Airport is the most expensive travel option and will cost significantly more than Uber or Bolt. A fare hailed from the taxi rank outside the arrivals hall will cost between €45 and €55.

Lisbon taxi drivers have a reputation for overcharging tourists, especially on airport runs. Always insist that the meter is used to avoid being ripped off. A better option is to use a ride-hailing app.

If you want a seamless transfer arranged before you land, a pre-booked private transfer is a great option. This is particularly convenient for families with young children or larger groups.

The driver will meet you in the arrivals hall, help with luggage, and take you directly to your accommodation in Estoril. A transfer will cost around €40-€50 and can be booked in advance online. This provides peace of mind and removes any uncertainty about finding transport upon arrival.

Discover more of Estoril and the Lisbon region