Lisbon Airport Taxi

When traveling to any city it is important to get to know all the facts. One of the first encounters you will have is with the airport taxis. If you are traveling to Lisbon, you are going to want to know all of the information about the airport taxis. We are going to answer all your questions from the cost of taking an airport taxi, to whether or not they are safe.

Lisbon Taxi Fares And Surcharges 

Lisbon’s taxi fare during the day will cost you .47 euros per kilometer. No matter where you are going, there is a 3.25 euro minimum. At night, fares increase by 20%. That ends up being .56 euros per kilometer with the minimum being 3.90. The night waiting rate is the same.

A waiting fee is charged for every hour of waiting at 14.80 euros per hour. For every minute the cab is stuck in traffic there is an addition .25 euro charge every minute.

Larger taxis that seat more than 5 people have a 20% upcharge. This charge does not change based on the number of occupants. If the first taxi in the line is a larger cab you can opt to go to the first smaller cab in the line. The taxi driver just has to offer you the larger cab first because he is first in line.

The average charge for luggage to be transported in a Lisbon taxicab is 1.60 euros in total. The charge cannot be applied per item of luggage. Luggage fees also max out at 2 euros. A driver cannot charge more than that. Further, luggage fees apply to any large luggage, regardless of where you place it in the cab with the exception of wheelchairs.

For booking a cab via a hotel phone you will have an additional surcharge of .80 euros.

Your trip from the airport to downtown Lisbon will cost you an average of 12.50 euros, give or take a couple of euros depending on the exact location, traffic, and luggage.

One of the great ways to ensure that you are getting these prices is by looking at the window. All fares should be displayed clearly in the window. If they are not, be warry of the cab.

Lisbon Airport Taxi Locations

There are two main locations that you can get a taxi at the Lisbon Airport. An upper point of the airport has one area to get a taxi as does the lower one. The upper airport taxi area is for departures and the lower point is for arrivals.
Per experienced travelers, the best place to go for a taxi is departures or the upper area. These taxi drivers tend to be more honest. Anonymous taxi drivers have also supported this claim.

Are Lisbon Airport Taxis Safe?

People always want to know if taxis are safe when they travel. It is true that some countries have unsafe taxis but Lisbon isn’t one of them. Lisbon taxis are safe and you can ensure that by taking a few measures to protect yourself. Look in the car for a taxi registration card. This card should be clearly displayed, usually on the dashboard, and include a photo of the driver.

Taxi drivers have to be regularly inspected by the local Lisbon regulatory body.

If for some reason you feel unsafe or want to be extra cautious it can help to write down the registration and cab number for your cab. This will give you an identifier for the cab should something happen. And if you do happen to get in an argument with your cabbie, it is important to get your luggage before you start fighting. The most common taxi safety issue in Lisbon is for a taxi driver to leave with your luggage if you are in an argument.

Do Lisbon Taxi Drivers Scam You?

Most Lisbon taxi companies set a quota for their drivers to reach and like most quotas, it is near impossible to reach. For this reason, Lisbon taxi drivers sometimes try to pull a fast one on customers. Any number of scams have been tried by taxi drivers, especially from the airport as people are tired and paying less attention. Here are some of the common scams.

It isn’t uncommon for a taxi driver to state a price upfront and then when you get to your destination, they try to charge you something else. This is why it is important to make sure fares are listed on the window of the cab. Taxi drivers are only supposed to follow the fare meter in their car. Drivers that carry a fare sheet for common locations are breaking the law.

Taxi drivers will also sometimes try to drive you around the city or take very obscure routes to raise the cost of a trip. Tell your driver that you want to go straight from the airport to your destination. If they try to do anything else, tell them you aren’t interested.

Another common scam is for a driver to try and charge you more for luggage than the 2-euro max. Sometimes they will try to charge 2 euros per item or a larger flat fee. Knowing that the max they can charge for luggage per policy is only 2 euros will help you prevent this kind of scam.

There are two good ways to ensure that you don’t get scammed when taking an airport taxi in Lisbon. The first is to be an informed customer. Knowing common scams and what to do to prevent them is your best weapon. The second is to make sure that you only take an official Lisbon Airport taxi. A marked cab with the prices on the cab is the best route to go.

Helpful Tips For Lisbon Airport Taxis

Here are some helpful tips to help you get from the Lisbon Airport to your destination.

Meet The Taxi At The Upper Taxi Line

Don’t let a taxi driver solicit you. Taxis are supposed to pick you up at the taxi stand and those that solicit customers are usually illegal taxis. You should meet the taxi at the upper taxi line. This line has the most reputable drivers and there are always taxis there to take you to your destination.

Consider Taking Uber

Uber has come to the Lisbon Airport and you are always free to take an Uber to your destination. The rates are controlled by the app and not by a meter in the car. Payment is also handled by the app. Lisbon taxis offer prices similar to that of an Uber which is hard to find in many other cities.

Lisbon Airport Taxi Tips

Like in most parts of the world, tipping isn’t a requirement for taking a taxi. A tip of 1 to 2 euros though will make your driver much happier. It also helps them to make that extra money.

Share A Ride

Sharing your taxi from the Lisbon Airport can be a great way to keep the cab fare down. You can split the cost. It is also the easiest way to avoid scams and increase your safety. There is no extra fee for sharing a cab or for the number of people in a cab. Don’t let your driver tell you otherwise.

Lisbon Airport Taxi Prepaid Vouchers

Some taxis offer a prepaid voucher for your ride if you schedule it in advance. Your hotel or travel company can help to arrange this. You find a cab when you get to the airport and hand them the voucher. This will cover your ride.
A prepaid voucher can also be purchased from the information desk at the airport. These cost slightly more than a regular ride but they are prepaid and include luggage. No need to worry about scams.

Learn Some Basic Portuguese

Not only will basic Portuguese skills help you to get around, but they can also help to prevent you from being scammed. Numbers will help you to ensure that you have the fare right. There are several apps that can help you to gain rudimentary language skills that you might need.

Lisbon taxi drivers are like taxi drivers anywhere else in the world, they struggle to make ends meet. Competitors like Uber have made it even harder for them. While many cabbies are honest there are always those who want to scam riders to make extra money. By following this guide you can get to and from the Lisbon Airport with minimum cost and minimum hassle.