Metro to Cais do Sodré.
A practical public-transport route when you are comfortable making a transfer and walking the final stretch. Use the current network map, not an old airport guide, to check your route.
The practical side
Lisbon airport to Santos & Cais do Sodré
Metro with a light bag, a car with tired children, or a late-night arrival: choose the journey that makes the last stretch comfortable, not just the first stretch cheap.
In short
For the Cais do Sodré side of Santos, take the Red line from Aeroporto to Alameda, then the Green line towards Cais do Sodré. With heavy bags or a late arrival, compare a licensed taxi or an app-booked car to your actual accommodation address.
Choose for the bags you have.
There is no single door-to-door time or fare that works for every arrival. Passport control, baggage collection, queues, traffic and your final address all change the journey.
The Metro route, one step at a time.
- Aeroporto → AlamedaFollow the airport Metro signs. Take the Red line towards S. Sebastião and get off at Alameda.
- Change at AlamedaFollow the Green line signs for Cais do Sodré. Stay inside the paid area for the transfer.
- Get off at Cais do SodréCheck your accommodation’s final walking route before leaving. Santos is an area, not one shared doorstep.
Check the official Metro diagram ↗ · Tickets & validation ↗
Normal Metro hours are 06:30–01:00. Allow time for the transfer and check service notices before choosing a late two-line journey. If step-free travel matters, check the live lift status as well as the accessibility map.
Operating hours ↗ · Line & lift status ↗
A naming trap
Santos railway station and the planned Santos Metro station are not the same thing. The Metro operator’s August 2026 update places the new circular line, including Santos, in the first quarter of 2027. Do not assume that new station is already open; recheck the network for your travel date.
Tickets before the gates
The pickup is part of the journey.
Uber or Bolt
ANA currently directs app-booked pickups to P2, Level 2, at arrivals level. Follow the airport signs and the pickup instructions in your app; match the driver and number plate before getting in. Don’t wait at a taxi rank for an app car. If the app changes your assigned pickup point, follow its current instructions and the airport signs rather than an old screenshot.
A licensed taxi
Use the official airport taxi queue. Make sure the meter is running and ask for a receipt. Avoid offers from people approaching you inside the terminal.
ANA’s taxi & app-pickup guidance ↗
Enter the exact address from your accommodation confirmation, rather than just “Santos”. If you need a child seat, accessible vehicle or room for oversized luggage, arrange the right vehicle before relying on a standard pickup.
Make the last few minutes easy.
Lisbon’s hills and cobbles can be the awkward part with a suitcase. Check whether your final route climbs, and whether your accommodation has steps or a lift. A shorter map distance is not always an easier walk.
Before you set off
Is Santos on the airport Metro line?
No. Take the Red line from Aeroporto to Alameda, then the Green line towards Cais do Sodré for the river side of Santos. Check the current network and the final walk to your actual address; Santos railway station is not a Metro interchange.
Is the Metro the best choice after midnight?
Not automatically. Normal Metro hours are 06:30–01:00, and you still need to leave the airport and change lines. Compare a licensed taxi or app car if the timing is tight.
Can two people use one bank card on the Lisbon Metro?
No. Each traveller needs their own accepted card or device. Use the same physical card or the same device at entry and exit; do not tap in with a phone and out with its plastic card. Keep the device charged until you leave.
Where do I meet an app car for Santos?
ANA lists pickup at P2, Level 2, arrivals level. Use the exact destination address, follow the app’s assigned pickup point and match the driver and number plate. Arrange a child seat, accessible vehicle or extra bag space specifically if needed.
Can I use the same guide for the return journey?
Yes. The Metro route reverses via Alameda, but check your airline’s departure terminal and allow for airport procedures. A Terminal 2 departure also needs the inter-terminal shuttle. For an app car, follow departure drop-off instructions rather than the arrivals pickup point.
Visiting information
Selected arrival details checked 13 October 2026. Use the operator links above for your travel date.