Arriving after the metro closes and staying near Entrecampos?
Carris Bus 744 runs from T1 at Humberto Delgado Airport into town along Avenida do Brasil, Entrecampos and toward Marques de Pombal, and it’s the cheap way in if your hotel sits on that line. The fare on a Viva Viagem card is low, while a single ticket bought from the driver costs noticeably more. Regulars on r/Lisbon call it “cheap and reasonably quick,” but also mention it’s not great if you’re wrangling a big suitcase.
The route is a standard Carris city bus, not an airport coach, so it stops constantly in local neighborhoods like Campo Grande and around Entrecampos station. That’s why Reddit users say it can feel slow in traffic even though it’s theoretically frequent. At rush hour, headways can stretch and buses bunch, so a supposed 10–15 minute frequency can turn into a 25-minute wait followed by two buses at once.
Boarding rules catch some visitors off guard: regular Carris routes like 744 officially don’t want large piles of luggage blocking aisles, and drivers sometimes refuse boarding if the bus is already full. Locals on Reddit say they simply let an overcrowded 744 go and wait for the next rather than squeeze in, especially in the peak periods around 08:00–10:00 and 17:00–19:00. With a single carry-on or backpack, you’re usually fine as long as you keep it tight to you.
Payment is another trap. You either tap a preloaded Viva Viagem card at the front reader or buy a single ticket in cash from the driver, which is slower and more expensive per ride. Lisbon residents complain that tourists fumbling for coins at the airport stop outside T1 back up the line. If you already bought a Viva Viagem in the metro under T1 earlier in the trip, use it here to keep the queue moving.
Step-by-step: using Carris 744 from LIS
- 1. Land at T1 and exit arrivals; follow signs for “Autocarros / Buses” to the city bus stands outside the terminal.
- 2. Check the stop pole for route “744” and confirm the direction toward Marques de Pombal / city center rather than toward the outer end of the line.
- 3. Decide on payment: if you already hold a Viva Viagem card with balance, keep it handy; otherwise, get small euro notes/coins ready for a driver ticket.
- 4. When the 744 arrives, size up the crowd; if the aisle is jammed and you have luggage, skip it and wait for the next bus, which usually shows within 15–20 minutes outside peak disruption.
- 5. Board at the front door, tap your Viva Viagem once on the reader or pay the driver for a single ticket, then move down the bus and park your bag where it doesn’t block doors.
- 6. Watch the stop display or a maps app; get off at your closest stop along Avenida do Brasil, Entrecampos, or near Marques de Pombal, then walk the remaining few hundred meters to your accommodation.
One tip: before you leave wifi at T1, save the 744 route map and your target stop in your phone so you’re not guessing which side of Entrecampos to bail out on a crowded bus.