In short
Lisbon is a small but convenient starting port: about three hours' flight from the Netherlands and Belgium, and around 20 minutes by taxi from the airport to the terminal by Alfama. There are sailings all year, but not many, and most are one-way voyages of 10–14 nights. The most choice is from April to September.
Port at a glance
Lisbon
Portugal
- Where ships go
- Western Mediterranean · British Isles and Western Europe · Canary Islands and Madeira
- Usual length
- 6–9 or 10–14 nights
- Terminal
- Lisbon Cruise Terminal by Alfama, next to Santa Apolónia station
- Getting there
- About a 3-hour flight; 20 minutes by taxi from the airport
Good to know: most sailings from Lisbon end in another port, so only book your flight home once you have checked the end port and arrival time.
Pick a month in the cruise finder →Why Lisbon
- A terminal in the historic centre. Alfama is 5–10 minutes' walk away and Praça do Comércio about 20. It is a rare port where the city starts at the gangway.
- A one-way voyage. Fly into Lisbon and finish in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, Northern Europe or across the ocean — a journey rather than the usual there-and-back.
- A mild climate. About 15°C by day in winter, hot in summer but with an ocean breeze — the city is pleasant in any month.
- A city worth arriving early for. Trams, viewpoints, Belém and custard tarts (pastéis de nata) — a couple of days before the cruise are never wasted here.
Where cruises from Lisbon go
Lisbon is more often a port of call than a starting port: there are not many departures, and most of them are one-way. These are the main options:
| Route | Typical length | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Mediterranean | 7–14 nights | Almost all year, busiest from June to September | The main direction: through the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain, France and Italy; usually ending in another port, such as Barcelona |
| Northern Europe and Britain | 7–14 nights | Spring, April to June | Ships head north for the summer season, usually one-way |
| Canary Islands and Madeira | 7–14 nights | Autumn and winter | The nearest winter sun; some sailings are round trips back to Lisbon |
| Atlantic crossings | 15 nights or longer | November | One-way to the Americas for the winter season; you fly home |
Based on cruise line schedules for 2026–2027. Ships, ports and dates change; always check the specific sailing and where it ends.
Which season to choose
Spring and sailing north
Around 20–25°C and the city in bloom. This is when ships move to Northern Europe for the summer, so you can sail north from Lisbon.
Cruises in May →Summer and the Mediterranean
The most sailings to Spain, France and Italy, including the rare round trips. Lisbon is hot, around 28–30°C, but with an ocean breeze.
Cruises in September →Autumn and the ocean
Few sailings, but November brings Atlantic crossings, plus trips to the Canary Islands and Madeira for some sun.
Cruises in November →A quiet winter
The quietest months: a few sailings to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean. About 15°C by day — weather for exploring the city rather than the beach.
Cruises in January →Getting to the terminal
Most ships berth at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, a modern building on the Jardim do Tabaco quay between Alfama and Santa Apolónia station. When the port is busy, some ships use neighbouring quays or the Alcântara terminal in the west of the city, near the 25 de Abril Bridge. Your boarding documents show exactly where.
- From the Netherlands and Belgium. Direct flights from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Brussels take about three hours. Fly in the day before: a morning flight on embarkation day is an unnecessary risk.
- From the airport. Lisbon airport is almost in the city: the terminal is about 8 km away, around 20 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app. By metro it takes 35–40 minutes: the red line to São Sebastião, then the blue line to Santa Apolónia and a 5–10 minute walk.
- From Santa Apolónia station. The terminal is a few minutes' walk away — handy if you spend a few days in Porto or elsewhere in Portugal first and arrive by train.
- If your terminal is Alcântara. It is about 3 km west of the centre: 10–15 minutes by taxi from town, and not a walk with luggage.
- By train from the Netherlands. Possible, but the journey via Paris and Spain takes about two days with a night on the way — only for those who want the journey to be part of the holiday.
The night before: where to stay
Flying in on embarkation day turns every delay into stress. A night in Lisbon means a relaxed ride to the port in the morning — and an evening for some fado.
Alfama
The oldest quarter, with fado and viewpoints. The terminal is 5–10 minutes away, but cars often cannot reach the door and the streets are steep.
Baixa and Chiado
The flat streets of the Baixa, Praça do Comércio and the cafés of Chiado. About 10 minutes to the terminal by taxi.
Avenida da Liberdade
A wide boulevard with the metro and the airport bus. About 15 minutes to the terminal by taxi.
Parque das Nações
A modern riverside district near the airport and Oriente station. 15–20 minutes to the terminal by taxi in the morning.
If you have half a day in Lisbon
Most of this is within walking distance of the terminal, so it fits before boarding or after you disembark:
- Alfama and São Jorge Castle. Climb from the terminal through the oldest quarter to the castle on the hill, passing the Portas do Sol viewpoint.
- The Sé and Praça do Comércio. The 12th-century cathedral and the vast square by the river — 15–20 minutes' walk from the terminal.
- Tram 28. The famous yellow tram through Alfama and the Baixa. It is packed during the day, so keep your bag close: pickpockets work here.
- The Tile Museum. The national museum of azulejos in the Madre de Deus convent, about 20 minutes' walk east of the terminal.
- Belém. The Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and the original pastéis de Belém — about half an hour on tram 15 from Praça do Comércio.
The day you come back
If your cruise ends in Lisbon, the ship usually docks early in the morning, and guests leave in groups until around 9 or 10 a.m. The airport is only about 20 minutes away, but it is often crowded, so avoid flights before midday. If you fly in the evening, leave your bags at a luggage storage and head out to Belém. And if your sailing is one-way and ends elsewhere, plan your flight home from there in good time.
Practical tips
- End port first, then flights. On a one-way sailing you fly out and back from different cities. Book flights once you know the end port and arrival time for certain.
- Check your boarding time. Cruise lines give each guest a time slot; arriving much earlier usually means waiting.
- Comfortable shoes. Hills and smooth Lisbon cobbles, slippery after rain — trainers beat sandals.
- Tourist tax. Lisbon charges a city tax per night in hotels, paid separately from your booking.
- ID for everyone. Portugal is in Schengen, but northbound sailings often call in Britain, where most visitors, including EU citizens, need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). If you do not hold a European passport, check entry rules for every country on the route. Documents and visas →
Sail home?
In spring some ships leave Lisbon for the summer season in Northern Europe. If such a sailing ends in Rotterdam or Amsterdam, you come home without flying — check the end port in the itinerary. One-way cruises →
Common questions
Which cruises leave from Lisbon?
There are not many, and most are one-way: to the Western Mediterranean in summer, north to Britain and Northern Europe in spring, to the Canary Islands and Madeira in autumn and winter, and across the Atlantic in November.
Where is the cruise terminal in Lisbon?
Most ships berth at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal on the Jardim do Tabaco quay, between Alfama and Santa Apolónia station. When the port is busy, some ships use neighbouring quays or the Alcântara terminal in the west of the city. Your boarding documents show exactly where.
How do I get from Lisbon airport to the cruise terminal?
About 20 minutes by taxi. By metro it takes 35–40 minutes: the red line to São Sebastião, then the blue line to Santa Apolónia and a few minutes on foot.
Where should I stay the night before a cruise from Lisbon?
Alfama is closest, but its streets are steep and cars cannot always reach the door. Baixa and Chiado or Avenida da Liberdade are easier, and Parque das Nações near the airport suits a late arrival. From any of them the terminal is 10–20 minutes by taxi.
Why are so many cruises from Lisbon one-way?
Lisbon lies on the route ships take between Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, so many start or finish a move between seasons here. Round trips back to Lisbon are few.
Can I cross the Atlantic from Lisbon?
Yes, mainly in November, when ships head to the Americas for the winter. These are one-way voyages of 15 nights or longer, so you fly home.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Lisbon that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Lisbon dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.