Lisbon Cruise Terminal: walking into the city, transport and luggage

Cruise ships in Lisbon tie up right below Alfama, the oldest part of the city, so you can walk into town from the gangway. Here is where your ship docks, how long the walk to each sight really is, the Metro, buses and trams outside the terminal, and what to know on the day you board or leave the ship.

Distances are walking routes measured on OpenStreetMap. The times assume an even pace on the flat, so the uphill walks take longer, especially in summer heat.

Where cruise ships dock

Lisbon Cruise Port, the company that runs the city's cruise terminals, lists two of them, both on the river at the edge of Alfama:

• The Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Doca Jardim do Tabaco, opened in November 2017. It is the main terminal, with about 1.5 km of quay, check-in halls and a guest information centre.
• The Santa Apolónia passenger terminal, a smaller building across the avenue from Santa Apolónia station, used for extra ships at the busiest times. It is about 10 minutes' walk east of the main terminal, so everything on this page applies to it too.

Older guides also name cruise terminals at Alcântara and Rocha do Conde de Óbidos, further west. Lisbon Cruise Port does not list them today. If your cruise line's documents name another berth, ask the line how you get into town from there.

In 2025 the port had 335 ship calls and 705,437 passengers, of whom 206,226 began or ended their cruise in Lisbon. Several ships are often in port on the same day, so the old town gets busy from mid-morning. Which ships are due when is on Lisbon Cruise Port's schedule.

Walking into the city

To the Baixa, the flat way: head west along the river. Praça do Comércio, the big square at the foot of the Baixa, is about 1.1 km away, and from there the Rua Augusta arch leads into the shopping streets. Cais do Sodré is another kilometre further on.

Up into Alfama: the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and the Largo das Portas do Sol, two viewpoints over the river, are only about 550 m from the terminal, and the cathedral about 700 m. The castle is about 900 m away, but at the top of the hill above Alfama, so allow 20 minutes or more for the climb. The streets are steep, often stepped and paved with polished stone that gets slippery, so wear shoes with grip.

For a route that fits your time ashore, see our plans for 4, 6 and 8 hours.

Metro, buses and trams

• Metro: Santa Apolónia, the end of the blue line, is a 5–10 minute walk from the terminal. The blue line runs to Terreiro do Paço (Praça do Comércio), Baixa-Chiado, Restauradores and on north through the city.
• Buses: lines 206, 210, 728, 735, 759 and 794 stop outside the terminal. The 728 is the useful one for visitors: it runs west to Praça do Comércio, Cais do Sodré and on to Belém, stopping at the Jerónimos Monastery. Some 728 trips end at Cais do Sodré, so check that the destination shown is Restelo if you are going to Belém.
• Trams: the 15E runs from Praça da Figueira and Praça do Comércio to Belém, about every 10 minutes in the daytime. The 28E, the classic yellow tram, climbs through Alfama, stopping at the cathedral and the Largo das Portas do Sol.
• Taxis: there is a taxi desk at the terminal. Lisbon Cruise Port advises using licensed taxis only and noting the car's registration number.
• Sightseeing: several tour operators, among them hop-on hop-off bus and tuk-tuk companies, have desks on the ground floor of the main terminal.

Carris and Metro fares in 2026 (Carris prices from 1 January 2026):

• a single Carris/Metro ticket, €1.90, valid for one hour on buses, trams and the Metro, loaded on a reusable Navegante card that costs €0.50;
• a 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket, €7.25, or €11.40 including CP trains, such as the train to Belém;
• paying on board costs more: €2.30 on a bus and €3.30 on a tram, for a single ride.

If you would buy four or more single tickets in a day, the 24-hour ticket costs less.

At the terminal

• Free Wi-Fi, and a guest information centre inside the main terminal.
• Lockers at the main terminal, booked online through the luggage-storage app Bounce. For other places to leave bags, see luggage storage in Lisbon.
• A Tourism Police station next to the terminal, on +351 931 143 199, for theft or anything else you need to report.
• Wheelchair assistance on request from the security staff at the entrance.
• Cafés and restaurants, and tax-free shopping refunds for non-EU residents.

Boarding or leaving your ship in Lisbon

If Lisbon is where your cruise starts or ends:

• Bag drop: the terminal usually accepts bags from 9:00, but only for the ship that is boarding at the time, and each bag must carry your ship's luggage label.
• Check-in: it is in the embarkation lounge. Lisbon Cruise Port suggests arriving at least 1–2 hours before boarding.
• Parking: there is a car park at the main terminal, booked through Telpark.
• The airport: it is about 8 km away. By Metro, take the blue line from Santa Apolónia and change at São Sebastião to the red line to the airport: Lisbon Cruise Port puts the trip at 30–40 minutes, which is a lot of stairs and platforms with cruise luggage.

Practical tips

• Be back early. Aim to be at the terminal an hour before your all-aboard time. The hills, crowded trams and traffic in the Baixa all slow you down.
• Check for strikes. A Metro or Carris strike changes your options, so check our strike list before your port day.
• Mondays: the Jerónimos Monastery and the National Pantheon are closed on Mondays. The castle opens every day of the year except five.
• Keep your bag in front of you on crowded trams and at the busy viewpoints.