Taxis in Lisbon

I used Uber in Lisbon, they’re very cheap there.

We used Bolt and Uber without issue in Lisbon and Porto. Be surprised if the cab driver turns on the meter on airport trips.

I have relatives living in Lisbon (near Praça Duque de Saldanha) and go often.
I use Uber in Lisbon (also Bolt is big there) since it's generally cheaper than a taxi.

However I've used taxi FROM the airport, because many Uber drivers are often foreign immigrants who speak neither Portuguese nor (or not much) English (many from the Indian subcontinent like Bangladesh), and occasionally they can't find you in the airport mess, I don't know why, maybe the congestion at the airport gets them confused, and because of the language barrier, I can't guide them to me. If you pick up Uber/Bolt from the airport, there is a designated spot, a bit farther than the taxi stand.

But I've never had issues going TO the airport from whichever location, even if they don't speak any language I know. So generally I use the taxi when I come FROM the airport to wherever, and use UBER anywhere else, including TO the airport. Uber is cheaper than taxicabs, in general, but not necessarily by much.

My experience with taxicabs has been mixed. Sometimes from the airport to my relatives' (around 5km, or 3 miles, about 10 min ride) taxi cabs charged me 25€ sometimes only 10€, even though there was no difference in traffic. Go figure. Taxi drivers are all Portuguese, in my experience, I guess it's hard for immigrants to get a taxi license. Uber drivers are nearly all Brazilian or from the Indian subcontinent, obviously the former speak Portuguese well, the latter often not at all.

Thank you all, I will keep watching all the replys.

Actually, we had better luck with taxis than Uber and Bolts. We waited almost an hour for an Uber that accepted our ride to the airport and she kept telling us she was close. There were some one way streets around our hotel which obviously can cause some difficulty but we were in a very touristed area in the Baixa so the driver should have been familiar. Eventually, we practically ran about three blocks to a square that we knew the taxis waited at, got us a driver who quoted a rate and got us to the airport in the fastest (and safest way possible). Further he dropped us at the door closest to where we needed to be. We were very lucky to make our flight.

I had my hotel arrange transportation for me.

Bolt is usually slightly less expensive than Uber in Lisbon, but both are less than taxi. And often you can find discount codes for Bolt either online or sometimes on billboards around the airport.

Another possibility -- depending on your priority -- save money or save hassle, is to take the Metro from the airport to a station closest to your final destination, then get a Bolt/Uber from there.

Manuel,

Thank you for your response to the OP.. I do have a question - once we get in the official taxi line and secure the taxi, should we verify the cost before the driver even starts the journey? We know to make sure the meter is on. For a short run to our hotel ( The Ivens) we would probably pay cash - but do we ask for receipt prior to offering payment?

Honestly - I am confused by so many posters on this and other travel forums about taxi/Uber/Bolt it makes my head spin!

Any suggestions you might have will be appreciated.
Thank you