San Francisco International to Lisbon
5668 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 11h 48m with 10 airlines operating direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Lisbon (LIS). Cheapest fares are usually in Jun (around $705 return), with peak prices in Jun (around $705). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Francisco International
San Francisco International is United's main Pacific hub and Alaska Airlines' largest non-Seattle base. Four terminals form a single ring connected by the AirTrain shuttle, with BART running from the dedicated airport station directly to Powell Street downtown in around 30 minutes for $10. Heavy fog from May through August causes chronic morning delays — book mid-day departures during summer where possible. International long-haul to Asia and Europe is the deepest on the West Coast.
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 SFO to LIS?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| United Airlines | UA | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Singapore Airlines | SQ | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Cathay Pacific | CX | 11h 48m | Economy |
| ANA | NH | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Japan Airlines | JL | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Air France | AF | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Lufthansa | LH | 11h 48m | Economy |
| British Airways | BA | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Qantas | QF | 11h 48m | Economy |
| Emirates | EK | 11h 48m | Economy |
10 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SFO→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 Francisco to Lisbon FAQs
Direct flights from San Francisco International (SFO) to Lisbon (LIS) take approximately 11h 48m for the 5668-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.
Jun is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $705. Jun 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.
10 carriers operate direct service from San Francisco International (SFO) to Lisbon (LIS): United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Japan Airlines and 5 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — United Airlines 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.