Lisbon Cruise Terminal to the centre: walk, metro, taxi
Most ships dock at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal on the Jardim do Tabaco quay beside Santa Apolónia station, about 2.5 km from Rossio. Alfama starts a few minutes from the gangway and Baixa is a 25 to 30 minute walk along the river. If you would rather ride, the Blue line from Santa Apolónia and bus 759 both reach the centre, and a taxi costs roughly EUR 6 to 9. Some ships use the older Alcântara berths at the Rocha Conde de Óbidos terminal instead, which is about 6 km west by road; check your cruise line's port notes.
- Cheapest
- €2.30Carris bus 759 · 22 min
- Fastest
- 15 minTaxi · €6–€9
- Taxi
- €6–€9Taxi · 15 min
With 2 travelling, take a taxi: €6–€9 for the group, about 15 min, straight to your door.
Taxi
Taxi
15 min
For the group€6–€9estimate
Taxi
Metered · up to 4 passengers
- Per person
- €6–€9 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 15 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank at the terminal
- Board at
- Taxi rank at the terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Bus
Carris bus 759
22 min
For the group€4.60
Carris bus 759
Carris · riverfront to Restauradores
- Per person
- €2.30
- Door to door
- 22 min
- Runs
- 05:41–00:40
- Frequency
- every 12-16 min
- Board at
- Alfândega (Terminal Cruzeiros) stop on the riverfront road
- Suitcases
- Fine
Metro
Metro Blue line
25 min
For the group€4.80
Metro Blue line
Metropolitano de Lisboa · from Santa Apolónia
- Per person
- €2.40
- Door to door
- 25 min
- Runs
- 06:30–01:00
- Frequency
- every 7 min
- Board at
- Santa Apolónia station, 5-10 minutes' walk from the terminal
- Suitcases
- Fine
Private car
Pre-booked private car
20 min
For the group€16estimate
Pre-booked private car
Fixed price · meet and greet
- Per person
- €16 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 20 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked
- Board at
- Driver meets you at the terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
MetroMetro Blue line
- €2.40
- 25 min
- 06:30–01:00
- → Baixa-Chiado or Restauradores
Santa Apolónia station is the end of the Blue line and the walk from the terminal is 5 to 10 minutes. Buy a Navegante occasional card (EUR 0.50) and load a Carris/Metro single (EUR 1.90), so EUR 2.40 the first time. A contactless bank card also opens the gates at EUR 1.92 per trip. Baixa-Chiado is two stops away and Restauradores three; from Restauradores it is a 3 minute walk to Rossio. The line is direct, so there is no change, but the Baixa-Chiado platforms are deep and you ride escalators.
BusCarris bus 759
- €2.30
- 22 min
- 05:41–00:40
- → Rossio and Restauradores
The 759 runs from the Alfândega stop by the cruise terminal through Praça do Comércio and Rua do Ouro to Rossio and Restauradores. Pay the driver EUR 2.30 in cash, by bank card or with MB Way; a ticket bought on board is only valid on that bus. On the winter timetable the first bus toward Restauradores leaves at 05:41 and the last at 00:40. The ride takes about 12 minutes. Bus 728 serves the same stop and carries on to Cais do Sodré and Belém.
TaxiTaxi
- €6–€9 per vehicle (estimate)
- 15 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door
Taxis wait at the terminal when ships are in, and ride-hailing pickup points are signed there too. The trip to Rossio is about 2.5 km and usually comes to EUR 6 to 9 on the meter, plus a EUR 1.60 luggage supplement until the new national tariff starts on 14 October 2026. In heavy riverfront traffic the fare drifts toward the top of the range. Ask for a receipt.
Private carPre-booked private car
- €16 per vehicle (estimate)
- 20 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door
A standard sedan for up to 3 passengers booked ahead has a fixed price agreed at booking. For this short hop we could not confirm a published platform price, so EUR 16 is an estimate; the same platform lists EUR 22.14 from the terminal to the airport. It makes more sense for the airport run or for a group heading beyond the centre than for the 2.5 km to Rossio.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
Cruise passengers rarely arrive in the dark, but an overnight call or a late return does happen. The Blue line runs until 01:00 and bus 759 leaves the terminal stop toward Rossio until 00:40. The night buses 206 and 210 also call at the Alfândega stop. A taxi is always available at the terminal. The walk to Alfama is short and well lit, but with a bag and after dark most people choose a taxi.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on the metro pay 4 x EUR 2.40 = EUR 9.60 the first time, or 4 x EUR 1.92 = EUR 7.68 by contactless bank card. Four on bus 759 pay 4 x EUR 2.30 = EUR 9.20. A single metered taxi at roughly EUR 6 to 9 holds four people and the bags, so it is cheaper than any public option for a group. For a trip this short, a pre-booked car at about EUR 16 only pays off when you need the airport or a hotel across town.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- The Port of Lisbon lists three cruise facilities: the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, the Santa Apolónia terminal and the Rocha Conde de Óbidos maritime station at Alcântara. Check which berth your ship uses before planning.
- To reach the airport from the terminal, take the Blue line from Santa Apolónia to São Sebastião, then the Red line to Aeroporto. The port quotes 30 to 40 minutes on the metro plus the 5 to 10 minute walk to the station. A taxi takes 15 to 20 minutes; the port quotes EUR 10 to 15, so allow a bit more with luggage. A pre-booked sedan is about EUR 22 for up to 3 people.
- Alfama starts just up the hill from the terminal. The riverfront walk to Praça do Comércio is about 2 km and to Rossio about 2.5 km, and it is flat.
- The Carris tram 15E does not call at the terminal; it starts at Praça da Figueira. Trams cost EUR 3.30 on board against EUR 2.30 for a bus.
- At Alcântara, Carris bus 728 has a stop at Cais Rocha and runs to Cais do Sodré, where you can change to the Green line metro.
- Hop-on hop-off buses and tuk-tuk operators also work from the terminal, but they are tours rather than a way to get into Baixa.
Questions travellers ask
How far is the Lisbon cruise terminal from the city centre?
About 2.5 km from Rossio. Alfama is a few minutes on foot and Baixa is a 25 to 30 minute flat walk along the river. The Port of Lisbon describes the terminal as near the historic centre.
How do I get from the Lisbon cruise terminal to the airport?
Take the Blue line from Santa Apolónia to São Sebastião, then the Red line to Aeroporto. The port quotes 30 to 40 minutes on the metro for EUR 2.40, plus a 5 to 10 minute walk to the station. A taxi is 9 km and 15 to 20 minutes, quoted by the port at EUR 10 to 15, and a pre-booked sedan is about EUR 22.
Is there a metro at the Lisbon cruise terminal?
Santa Apolónia station on the Blue line is 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the terminal. The metro runs from 06:30 to 01:00 and a ticket costs EUR 1.90 plus a EUR 0.50 card, or EUR 1.92 with a contactless bank card.
How much is a taxi from the Lisbon cruise terminal to Rossio?
Usually EUR 6 to 9 on the meter for the 2.5 km, plus a EUR 1.60 luggage supplement until 14 October 2026. The ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Which bus goes from the Lisbon cruise terminal to the centre?
Carris bus 759 from the Alfândega stop runs to Praça do Comércio, Rossio and Restauradores, from 05:41 to 00:40. A ticket on board is EUR 2.30. Bus 728 goes the other way to Cais do Sodré and Belém.
