By Plane
Portugal is easily accessible by plane from Germany — Lisbon and Porto are served year-round by numerous airlines, Faro (Algarve) and Funchal (Madeira) seasonally. Flight times are pleasantly short: 2.5–3 hours from southern Germany, 3–3.5 hours from northern Germany.
✈️ Lisbon (LIS) — Humberto Delgado — THE Hub
Portugal's main airport and by far the most important hub, only 7 km from the city center — one of the closest major airports to a city in Europe. Excellent connections year-round: Direct flights from Munich (2:50h), Frankfurt (2:45h), Berlin (3:15h), Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart, Vienna, Zurich. Airlines: Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal (Star Alliance — collect Miles&More!), Eurowings, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Condor. TAP is the national airline and offers the most frequencies from DACH.
Transfer to the center: Metro (red line to Alameda, then green line, or red line directly to Oriente/São Sebastião; 1.65 €, 20–30 min). Aerobus 1 to Cais do Sodré via Marquês de Pombal and Rossio (4 €, 30–40 min, every 20 min). Taxi/Uber to the center: 10–15 € (fixed taxi price: about 15 €, Uber usually cheaper). Note: The airport has only one terminal. Baggage claim can be slow — plan 30–45 minutes after landing.
✈️ Porto (OPO) — Francisco Sá Carneiro
Northern Portugal's main airport, 11 km northwest of the old town, modern and efficient. Direct flights from Munich (2:40h), Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg. TAP Air Portugal, Lufthansa, Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Wizz Air. Porto is the perfect starting point for northern Portugal, the Douro Valley, Braga, and Guimarães.
Transfer: Metro line E (purple) directly to the center (Trindade, Aliados: 2.60 € with Andante card, 30 min, every 20–30 min). Taxi 20–25 €. Uber 12–18 €.
✈️ Faro (FAO) — Algarve
The gateway to the Algarve. Strongly seasonal (April–October) with many charter flights and low-cost carriers from Germany: Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Condor, TUI fly, Wizz Air. In summer, direct flights from almost all major German cities. In winter, only limited (Ryanair year-round from some cities). Located 7 km west of Faro and optimally located to explore the entire Algarve.
Transfer: Bus 16 to the center of Faro (2.35 €, 20 min). To the Algarve coast, you need a rental car (rental car counters directly in the terminal) or a shuttle transfer. Taxi to Lagos: 80–100 €, to Albufeira: 40–50 €.
✈️ Funchal (FNC) — Madeira
Notoriously famous airport with a short runway on stilts over the sea — flights are diverted or canceled in strong winds (happens a few times in winter). Direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Hamburg (Condor, TUI fly, Eurowings, TAP via Lisbon). Flight time 4–4.5 hours from Germany. Alternatively via Lisbon with TAP (1:40h Lisbon → Funchal, from 50 € one-way).
Transfer: Aerobus to Funchal (5 €, 30 min). Taxi 25–30 €. Hotel shuttles available.
Flight prices (indicative from Germany, one-way)
| Period | Lisbon/Porto | Faro/Funchal |
|---|---|---|
| Low season (Nov–Mar) | 30–70 € | 50–100 € |
| Shoulder (Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct) | 50–120 € | 70–150 € |
| High season (Jul–Aug) | 80–180 € | 120–250 € |
Flight saving tips: Ryanair and easyJet offer the cheapest prices to Lisbon and Porto (from 25 € one-way in the low season!), but note the surcharge for luggage. TAP Air Portugal, as a Star Alliance member, is ideal for Miles&More collectors and usually includes 23 kg of free luggage in the basic fare. Open-jaw flights save backtracking: flight in to Lisbon, return from Porto (or vice versa) — often even cheaper than round trips to the same airport.
💡 Tipp
The best flight hack for Portugal: Book an open-jaw flight — in to Lisbon, out from Porto (or vice versa). This way you see both cities, save the return trip, and avoid backtracking. With Ryanair and TAP, open-jaw flights often cost the same as regular returns.