Here is some useful information on how to reach Lisbon by plane, car, bus and train and also on transfer from airports to conference venue (IST Congress Centre, Alameda campus).
BY PLANE
To help you with the flight search you can use sites like:
Portugal's largest international airport is the Aeroporto da Portela (IATA: LIS) located between Loures and Lisboa (just 7 km from the city centre).
It is the main air hub for TAP Portugal, a Star Alliance member airline that covers an extensive network throughout Europe, Africa (Morroco, Algeria, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Cape Verde, S. Tome e Principe) and the Americas (US, Venezuela and Brazil). SATA (Air Açores) provides regular service to eastern North America (Boston, Montreal and Toronto).
There are also several other airlines flying into Lisbon, such as United Airlines, US Airways, Emirates, Easyjet, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Aigle Azur, Air Berlin, Air France, Air Transat, German Wings, TAAG Angolan Airways, STP Airways, Swiss, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Finnair, Iberia, Vueling and KLM, amongst others.
Website: www.ana.pt / www.lisbon-airport.com
Airport Transfers
Lisbon Airport can be reached directly by underground train. The Airport Metro Station operates from 06:30 to 01:00. This connection takes you from the city centre (Saldanha) to the airport in about 20 minutes.
From Lisbon Airport (Portela) to IST Alameda campus is a 10 minutes' drive. Lisbon Airport is very close to the city centre – it is located 7 km from the centre - and there are different alternatives to get there, namely by Metro to Aerobus, city bus (Carris) or by taxi. If you choose the metro to go from the airport straight to IST, you have the red line (linha vermelha) and you should exit in Alameda or Saldanha station. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes and costs €1,40 plus €0,50 for the "viva viagem" rechargeable card. 24 hour ticket costs €6.
All public transportation options are available on the website of the airport.
You can also use a taxi, typically, a taxi from the airport to the city center should cost 7.00 € – 10.00 € (depending on traffic and distance). There are two taxi stands within the perimeter of the airport, one at arrivals and the other at departures. The fare on the taxi meter should read 3.25 € (daytime) or 3.90 € (night time).
BY BUS
In terms of bus connections, Lisbon is fairly well linked to virtually the entire Portugal by means of the bus lines made available by the Rede Nacional de Expressos. The main bus station in Lisbon, at least as far as domestic bus trips are concerned, is the Sete Rios Bus Station (metro: Jardim Zoológico).
Complete and updated information on the bus trips, arrivals and departures, as well as ticket prices and the like can be found on the following link.
For international bus connections between Lisbon and other European destinations, Eurolines seems to provide the most extensive offers.
BY TRAIN
There are two main stations, Santa Apolonia in the city centre and the Gare do Oriente, a bit further out and used by the high-speed trains. However, if you are entering Lisbon from the south, you may want to get off at the smaller stations of Entrecampos or Sete Rios. Their metro stations are a few stops closer to the central and old town.
The Santa Apolonia Train Station (Estacao da Santa Apolonia) is the largest of all, being located in the vicinity of the Alfama district. It is the main terminal for trains which ensure the connection between Lisbon and north and east Portugal, as well as between Lisbon and international destinations like Madrid and Paris. Visitors who get off the train at Santa Apolonia can also spot a tourist information office here, which is highly reassuring for newcomers in particular.
For complete information on the trains arriving/departing, schedules, connections, ticket prices and the like, please visit Comboios de Portugal.
BY CAR
Depending on the direction from where you are heading to Lisbon, you can resort to several motorways and national and European roads. People who come from the south can take the A 2 Motorway, whereas the A 6 Motorway is recommendable for tourists coming from the east. Drivers who turn to these alternatives must be aware that they must also cross the 25 Abril Bridge in order to eventually reach Lisbon. Traffic can get quite sluggish on this bridge, especially weekdays.
You can use Viamichelin web site to plan your trip from your home to Lisbon.
