Ever had that sinking feeling when joining a taxi queue abroad, knowing you were about to be taken for a ride, quite literally, only to have your fears confirmed by an exorbitant fare? Or been refused a ride altogether?
Lisbon is now trying to put an end to such practices and has introduced, on 15 October, fixed fares for taxi journeys from Humberto Delgado Airport to the capital.
The move follows years of complaints about overcharging, alleged scams and even drivers refusing to take passengers. Both tourists and locals have taken to social media to share their experiences and warn others.
In early October, a Facebook user, Nastya Zh posted a warning in the Lisbon Travel Tips group about alleged fake taxi drivers at the airport. According to her account, a friend had been threatened by a driver who was “screaming hard and violently” and refused to “release her luggage” unless she paid an exorbitant fare.
Users responding to her story seemed hardly surprised. One called it a known fact, pointing out to the warnings displayed at the airport, while others recommended using either private transfers or the metro instead.
Similar stories have appeared on Reddit. One user described taking a taxi with a friend from the official airport rank and noticing the meter rising suspiciously quickly. When they questioned the fare and photographed the meter, the driver reportedly became aggressive.
One Portuguese commenter offered little reassurance, saying, “I’m from Portugal and I never take a taxi in Lisbon, I always call in an Uber”.
The complaints prompted a police crackdown in late August, when inspections of around 100 taxis uncovered 67 infringements, including incorrectly positioned meters, missing documentation and safety violations.
Under an agreement signed in September by Lisbon City Council, airport operator ANA, the Lisbon Tourism Association (ATL) and two taxi associations, FPT and ANTRAL, journeys from the airport taxi rank now fall into two fixed-price zones.
On weekdays from 7 am to 10 pm, Zone 1, which includes Parque das Nações, Alvalade and Areeiro, costs €16. Zone 2, which covers central and historic areas such as Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Belém, Alcântara, Estrela and Campo de Ourique, costs €19.
At night, on weekends and public holidays, fares rise to €20 and €23 respectively. Luggage is included in the price.
The text stipulates that drivers must now accept vouchers and electronic payments, cannot refuse journeys and are required to keep their vehicles “clean and in good condition” and “treat passengers courteously”.
There is even a clause governing their personal appearance, under which they must “dress appropriately”. Flip-flops, shorts and sleeveless shirts are not permitted.
Carlos Silva, president of the FPT, told Lusa that while the fares are already in force, driver accreditation and automatic number-plate recognition at the rank will only be fully operational in early November. Information panels displaying the fares inside and outside the terminal should be installed by then.
Silva has meanwhile called for the system to be extended to nearby municipalities, including Moscavide, Sacavém and Prior Velho.
Not everyone is celebrating, though. Some social media users have called the fares inflated. One traveller who said she previously paid between €7.50 and €10 for a journey to Oriente station will now have to pay €16.
