Whether you are an experienced airport sleeper or new to the game, this sleep guide will give you the essential information to better prepare you for sleeping in Lisbon Airport.
Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Lisbon Airport. If you have a tip to share, write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!
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Sleeping in Lisbon Airport Overnight
Lisbon Airport technically stays open 24-hours, but the Security checkpoints for each terminal close nightly. Depending when you arrive at the airport, travellers staying the night may have to stay in the pre-Security, public area.
Locations & Seating
The more modern Terminal 1 is by far the more highly recommended of the two terminals, particularly for sleeping options. The seating is a mix of seats with armrests and some armrest-free benches. If you prefer sleeping on the floor, you won’t be the only one – bring along some extra layers for some added cushion. If you’re not able to stay inside Security for sleeping, you’ll have to head to the pre-Secure, public zones, which tend to have harder furniture and colder floors, so be prepared.
Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:
- Terminal 1’s food court has some benches, though they may fill up quickly!
- In Terminal 1, there maybe a couple couches near Gate 16.
- The international gates in Terminal 1, around Gates 40-50, tend to be quieter when not in use.
- In the pre-Security areas of Terminal 1, the Burger King has several cushioned benches.
Rest Zones
not available
Temperature
The airport is reportedly chilly, particularly overnight. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting
At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise
We have conflicting reports from travellers as to the noise levels in Lisbon Airport. It’s likely that if you’re staying overnight in the pre-Secure, public zones, the noise will be fairly high with other travellers and security staff, and occasional announcements and cleaning crews. If you’re inside Security, gates that are not in used may be much quieter. Either way, come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones. The airport noise seems to pick up significantly around 4:00 AM as more travellers arrive for morning flights.
Pro-tip: If you chose a spot near any eateries, keep in mind that the staff arrive early and they can get pretty loud in the kitchen.
Showers
Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Locations: pay-to-use ANA Lounge and ABC Business Center. See our Lisbon Airport Guide for details.
Food & Drink
When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors:
- Terminal 1, pre-Security: Go Natural, Go To Cafe, and Grab It
- Terminal 1, inside Security: 1st Cafe (2 locations), Cockpit, and Express Market, a new vending machine concept.
Hotels
Prefer the privacy and comfort that a hotel provides? There are several hotels within a 10-minute drive of the airport, and some offer shuttle services. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Lisbon Airport.
Lounges
While Lisbon Airport has a few lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Lisbon Airport Guide that you can pay to access.
Security & Safety
Airport staff and security guards seem to be quite tolerant of airport sleepers, both pre- and inside Secure zones. Do expect security staff to check your ID and tickets, especially if you’re sleeping in the pre-Secure areas.
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Lisbon Airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:
- Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport alone or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras where you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you, and they will direct you to a safe spot.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone, we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
- Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with only earphones and a laptop bag strap, but without the iPods or laptops that were attached. The same goes for important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body so no one can get them without waking you up.
- Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall so that it would be hard for someone to access it.
- Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee, stay alert, and stay awake. You can always sleep on the plane!
Pro-tip: If you are sleeping in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds waking people up as travellers begin to arrive for morning flights.
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