Pro tip: skip the $45 airport train and take the $3 city bus instead, I did it in Lisbon last week

Uma Bailey · 2026-09-23T01:00:04.874905+00:00

Everyone in the travel groups keeps saying you have to take the airport express train or a taxi when you land in a new city, and I just do not buy it. Last Tuesday I landed in Lisbon around 9pm and the airport metro wanted 45 euros for a two zone pass, which is wild for a 20 minute ride. A guy at the info desk pointed me to the 783 bus outside arrivals instead, and it cost me 3 euros cash, dropped me right at Marques de Pombal, and took about 35 minutes in light traffic. The bus was full of locals going home from work, not tourists, and I had a seat the whole way. I get that trains are faster and easier with luggage, but 42 euros saved buys me two real dinners here. Has anyone else found a city where the cheap bus beat the train, or am I just getting lucky with how close my hostel is?

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Pro tip: skip the $45 airport train and take the $3 city bus instead, I did it in Lisbon last week | Budget Travel Hacks - Discusd