San Diego International to Lisbon
5681 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 11h 50m with 3 airlines operating direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Lisbon (LIS). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $699 return), with peak prices in August (around $2097). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Diego International
San Diego International is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States, sitting 3 miles from downtown San Diego. MTS Route 992 runs from the terminals directly to downtown in around 15 minutes for $2.50; the future Trolley extension (planned 2027) will provide direct light rail. Southwest and Alaska have the largest schedules; American, Delta and United add full-service capacity. Limited international long-haul — British Airways and Lufthansa serve London and Frankfurt direct.
Arriving in Lisbon
Lisbon Humberto Delgado is on the city's northeastern edge, 7 km from the centre. The Aeroporto metro station connects to the city in 25 minutes for €1.80. TAP Portugal dominates the US-Lisbon corridor with capacity from JFK, EWR, MIA, BOS, IAD, ORD and SFO; United adds capacity from EWR and IAD. Lisbon's mild winters make October–April excellent value travel; summer fares (July–August) double off-peak prices.
Who flies SAN to LIS?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| British Airways | BA | 11h 50m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 11h 50m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 11h 50m | Economy |
3 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SAN→LIS
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
San Diego to Lisbon FAQs
Direct flights from San Diego International (SAN) to Lisbon (LIS) take approximately 11h 50m for the 5681-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $699. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
3 carriers operate direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Lisbon (LIS): British Airways, Lufthansa and Japan Airlines. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — British Airways typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
Visa-free Schengen for US passport holders up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Always check travel.state.gov for the latest entry requirements before booking.
Lisbon (LIS) is the primary international airport for Lisbon. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.