The Two Terminal Buildings Forming the LIS Complex

Lisbon Airport’s passenger traffic is split between two terminal buildings, located approximately 1 km / 0.62 miles apart. In general terms, Terminal 1 (T1) is the main terminal of the airport, handling the vast majority of flights and hosting most services and amenities, while Terminal 2 (T2) is dedicated exclusively to low-cost carriers.

Terminal 1 of Lisbon Airport

Terminal 1 is the primary and most important terminal at Lisbon Airport. It handles all domestic and international flights, as well as charter services, and is equipped with around 100 check-in counters and 47 gates, 21 of which serve non-Schengen destinations.

All major airlines operate from T1, including TAP Air Portugal, Star Alliance members, and Oneworld airlines. Additionally, some easyJet flights also depart from and arrive at Terminal 1.

Terminal 1 is spread across two levels. The lower level is dedicated to Arrivals and is the only Arrivals area of the airport. This means that even passengers landing on low-cost flights at Terminal 2 must transfer to T1 to collect their luggage, complete arrival procedures, and exit the airport.

At the Arrivals level, passengers will find baggage carousels, information desks, car rental offices, and access to parking facilities.

The upper level of T1 is dedicated to Departures. It is divided into a public zone, where security screening and some shops and cafés are located, and a post-security zone, which includes boarding gates, duty-free areas, restaurants, and passport control.

Two check-in areas operate in Terminal 1. The newer zone features 68 check-in desks, while the older section hosts TAP Air Portugal’s self check-in counters.

Our Tip: At Lisbon Airport, bus boarding is very common. On many flights, passengers are transferred to the aircraft by bus rather than via jet bridges.

Terminal 2 of Lisbon Airport

Terminal 2 is significantly smaller and offers far fewer services and amenities. Originally built in 2007 to handle domestic flights, it eventually became the dedicated terminal for low-cost carriers.

Today, Terminal 2 serves airlines such as Eurowings, Norwegian, Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Wizz Air. It has only 22 check-in desks and 15 gates and consists of a single level, handling Departures only.

All Arrivals and customs procedures are handled exclusively at Terminal 1. As a result, passengers flying from Terminal 2 must first go through passport control at T1 and then transfer to T2 using the airport shuttle bus.

Terminal 2 operates daily but remains closed between 00:30 am and 03:30 am. Due to its limited facilities, passengers often find the experience at T2 basic and somewhat confusing, especially during peak hours.

Our Tip: In Portugal, passport control takes place just before boarding. Make sure you allow enough time at the airport to clear immigration.

Transfer Between Terminals

Although the two terminals are only 1 km apart, there is no pedestrian connection between them. Transfers between T1 and T2 are carried out exclusively by a free airport shuttle bus.

The shuttle operates daily from 03:30 am to 00:30 am, with a scheduled frequency of approximately every 12 minutes. The journey itself takes about 3 minutes.

Passengers departing from Terminal 2 must arrive at Terminal 1 first, pass through passport control, and then take the shuttle bus to T2 to complete check-in and boarding procedures.

Our Tip 1: Although the official frequency is every 12 minutes, the shuttle often waits until it is full, which can increase waiting times.

Our Tip 2: Terminal 2 is not connected to the city center by public transport. The only ways to reach it are via the free shuttle bus from T1 or by taxi.