I have a few last minute questions. The first is did anyone find anything to do with a long layover in Lisbon. I have about 5 hours which doesn’t seem like a lot of time.
Canadians: did you have trouble with your debit cards or were they ok?
Did you carry your passport or just driver’s licence? Am I correct that one has to have id on them at all times?
Any last minute tips most welcome!
Thanks so much!
If you have 5 hours from landing to takeoff, you don't have enough time to leave the airport. It takes time to get off the plane and through passport control, then walk through the large airport to the metro. If you have any cabin baggage you will have that with you all the time. You have to buy a metro card at a machine (there are often lines). Then you have to take the metro back to the airport, possibly go through passport control again, definitely go through security and get to your departure gate. You need to allow time to walk through the airport and be at the gate before it's closed which could be as much as 30 minutes before takeoff. The entire time you'll be on pins and needles to be back in time. It could easily take an hour to get into the city and you should be back at the airport 2 hours before takeoff. That gives you at best 2 hours to see something and travel back to the airport.
There are plenty of shops and eateries. Relax and wait.
I agree that staying at the airport is the wisest thing to do.
This question puzzled me. "Did you carry your passport or just driver’s licence?" What did you mean?
As far as I know, even Canadians have to carry their passports when traveling to another country.
@Lo I read somewhere that it is necessary to carry your id with you in Portugal. I usually leave my passport in the hotel.
You could possibly leave the airport and go a couple of stops to the Parque do Nações area, but I don’t think I would suggest going all the way to the city center. The metro is pretty reliable, but I wouldn’t risk it. There is the usual plethora of places to eat and shop at the airport, but five hours is a long time to kill.
Regarding carrying your passport - after living here for almost four years, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked for an ID unless I was at the airport. If you want a senior discount in buying tickets, it’s possible they might want proof of your age.
And, as long as your debit card has a chip, it should be fine to use - if the store or restaurant takes credit cards - some of the smaller places, don’t.
You can go and show around for something. Most probably two hours will not be enough to go around and come back on time. You can visit something close by like to shop for souvenirs. Safe journey
Why would you leave your most valuable possession at your hotel?
We carry our passports in our money belts. Technically it is your only legit ID while in Europe. If anything should happen and you can’t get back to hotel to get it you have no way of even getting home.
Thanks for all your responses. I will stay at the airport. A good book and a lot of coffee.
Hey, somebody's actually taking our conservative (and sound) advice.
Very good!
I don't want to tempt fate~
Hi Victoria,
Regarding your Debit card. We had used a global payment card, from a credit union, but it was unfortunately discontinued recently. I'd check with your bank. I think I have heard that RBC debit will work, so suspect others will as well. We have never had to show our passport when travelling around in Portugal, only at the airport.
I am hoping I haven’t forgotten anything.
Would anybody recommend doing a tour as opposed to doing the port caves alone?
travelled in Portugal last year with CIBC and BMO debit cards. Worked in every ATM we tried them in.
