Lisbon has always been a city that attracts the wealthiest tourists from around the world as it is the economic center of Portugal.
Therefore, whether it is a business trip or just for pleasure, a great way to get there is by chartering a private jet, an exclusive option that allows you to rely on very important parameters such as convenience, speed and flexibility.
Through a charter flight to Lisbon, one can thoroughly explore the vast cultural and tourist heritage of the Portuguese capital: fortresses, majestic monasteries still perfectly intact, imposing royal palaces, and very narrow alleys are just some of the peculiarities of the city overlooking the Atlantic.
Its large harbor, moreover, consists of as many as 4 docking places for yachts, boats that wealthy tourists can use to visit the city from a completely original perspective.
Not only that, the entire area surrounding Lisbon offers several opportunities to indulge in some relaxation: just think of the beach resorts, marinas and places ruled by wild and unspoiled nature that give charter passengers the chance to spend entire days outdoors or on the beach.
Chartering a private jet to Lisbon, therefore, is undoubtedly a more than wise choice for arriving in the Portuguese capital in a short time and counting on personalized assistance that can meet the needs of every tourist.
We will dissect other useful information about this in the next paragraphs!
Historical and geographical background on Lisbon
Lisbon stands on the estuary of the Tagus River and is located in the westernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula, a strategic position that, as we shall see in a moment, has enabled it to play a crucial role over the centuries.
A peculiarity of the Portuguese capital is that, in some ways, it is metaphorically connected to both Rome and San Francisco: just like the Eternal City, it stands on 7 hills bordered by the course of the Tagus River whose banks are connected by 2 large suspension bridges very similar to those built to connect San Francisco Bay.
The earliest traces of Lisbon date back to the Phoenicians, a population that founded the original settlement before it came under the hegemony of the Greeks, Carthaginians and, later, the Romans.
The reign of Alfonso III helped kick-start the process of Lisbon's maritime expansion, which became one of the world's most important ports from the 15th century onward; in fact, the best-known trade routes began to pass through the Portuguese capital, effectively generating a local economy that sustained the city for centuries.
Even today, Lisbon continues to expand demographically, maintaining a leading role in the marshalling of goods and tourists intent on crossing the Atlantic Ocean that looms before its shores.
What to do and see in Lisbon
Sao Jorge Castle
The best way to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Portuguese capital is to climb the hill where the Castle of Sao Jorge, Lisbon's iconic monument, is located.
It is a fortress protected by a city wall in which there is also a citadel that for centuries remained self-sufficient and played a leading role in defending the city from invading attacks.
The castle was settled by the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs, peoples who used the fortress as barracks for military garrisons; in recent years, a renovation has improved the interior area, equipping it with green areas and functional spaces dedicated to tourists.
Once the visit to the Castle is over, VIP tourists can head to the Old Pharmacy, the city's exclusive wine bar and ristopub where they can drink excellent wine or have an aperitif while nibbling on something, all in a chic and modern setting.
The Baixa district
The beating heart of the city is undoubtedly the Baixa, a central neighborhood almost completely destroyed by the late 18th-century earthquake.
The reconstruction of which he was a protagonist involved the renovation of the historic buildings in the neighborhood in full neoclassical style.
Also striking is the rigorous mathematical order used by King Jose I's prime minister to devise and translate into reality the Baixa, still composed of an intricate network of streets and alleys of enormous elegance and sophistication.
From Lisbon's port, not far from the Baixa, wealthy tourists can take private cruises of several hours aboard VIP catamarans to visit the capital's most beautiful sights, all while delighting in fine Portuguese wine and stopping off shore for dutiful bathroom breaks.
Bairro Alto
In addition to Baixa, Bairro Alto, the former neighborhood of Lisbon's wealthiest families, should also be mentioned.
Here in ancient times stood the villas of the capital's aristocratic families, as well as a multitude of restaurants, antique stores, and boutiques where the city's elite population could purchase luxury goods.
Today, Bairro Alto is an area characterized by a disjointed architecture that makes it unique: thanks to its peculiar orthogonal shape, the streets possess a distinct slope that makes them look very much like the boulevards of San Francisco.
In the heart of the district is the Immersivus Gallery, an art gallery once part of the Lisbon Expo 1998 pavilion that offers VIP tourists art shows inspired by both avant-garde and historical art currents: noteworthy are the Impressionist and Renaissance exhibitions, also combined with side activities such as immersive yoga sessions that are based on 360-degree projections of images and video clips.
The most luxurious accommodations in Lisbon
The perfect mix of elegance and luxury, with touches of history, is achieved by the Olissippo Lapa Palace, a luxurious hotel located inside a mansion dating back to the 19th century.
The chic rooms it offers, as well as several rooftop terraces and a gourmet restaurant reserved for guests only, makes it an ideal 5-star hotel for those who choose to travel by private jet to Lisbon.
Also worth mentioning is the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, located in the heart of the city and equipped with the Sky Bar and Pool Bar where guests can relax while sipping a drink and concurrently taking a refreshing dip in the infinity pool featured on its terrace.
Lisbon's gourmet restaurants
Lisbon's culinary scene offers a mix of traditional flavors with contemporary international influences.
One of the city's starred restaurants is Belcanto, run by Michelin-starred chef Avillez, who serves local dishes with modern twists in a chic and elegant setting.
Also not to be overlooked is Ramiro, a legendary seafood restaurant started by the Portuguese chef of the same name, which bases its cuisine on serving gourmet dishes made from some of the world's finest seafood and fish ingredients.
Climate and best time to visit Lisbon
Lisbon's Mediterranean climate, characterized by fairly mild but very wet winters and rather hot summers, allows tourists to charter a private jet at any time of year.
In spring, temperatures are mild and pleasant, although the evening hours may still be quite cool; in any case, this is an ideal time for outdoor activities and sightseeing without too much confusion.
Lisbon's summer is very hot and dry, with temperatures often exceeding 35°C.The days are long and the sights are very crowded, showing how vibrant the city becomes especially in July and August.
The weather turns mild again in the fall, with temperatures slowly tending to drop and rain beginning to soak Lisbon's streets more frequently.
Finally, winter is a fairly mild period, as temperatures rarely fall below 10°C.
Therefore, the best time to visit the Portuguese capital is undoubtedly late spring or the first few weeks of autumn, where the weather is pleasant and the tourist influx is rather low.
How and why to fly to Lisbon by private jet
Chartering a private jet to Lisbon is a great option since the Humberto Delgado Airport (ICAO code LPPT) serving the city offers wealthy tourists a range of services ideal for quick and convenient travel to the center.
The air terminal was opened during World War II, but it was not until the postwar period that the number of travelers passing through it grew rapidly, to the record recorded in 2016 and still unbeaten today of some 22 million passengers.
Those arriving privately in Lisbon enjoy first-class service, gaining access to VIP lounges and the Business Center dedicated to charter flight travelers, as well as the ability to take advantage of conference rooms upon reservation and free WiFi.
Not only that, there are as many as 4 lounges dedicated to private jet charter passengers, each with large open spaces perfect for enjoying the right amount of privacy and relaxation, as well as the many extras there such as PC stations, showers, private cabins, catering, and glass windows that provide panoramic views.
In addition, the general aviation terminal also has a very large commercial area where tourists can find all kinds of stores.
The airport is about 6 km from the city center, a distance that can be covered in no time thanks to the various car rental services with or without a driver in the terminal dedicated to charter flights.
The 2 runways present allow any type of jet to depart and arrive in Lisbon, making both short and long routes with maximum comfort and flexibility.
The costs of flying privately to Lisbon
Lisbon is connected to several international airport hubs, such as London Biggin Hill, from which one can fly with a Light Jet at a total cost of about €14,000, with a Medium Jet at about €25,000, and with a Large Jet at about €36,000; the flight takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes with no stop for refueling.
In addition to London, it is also possible to depart from Paris with different types of private jets at very similar prices: the expense involved in using a Light Jet is around €13,000, a figure that rises to about €24,000 with a Medium Jet and €34,000 with a Large Jet.
On average, the flight takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes given the 1500 km distance.
Looking further east, another European capital linked to Lisbon is Athens, from which one can depart with a Light Jet at a total cost of about €22,000 including a refueling stop, which is not the case with a Medium Jet, which involves an expense of about €40,000, or with a Large Jet, an aircraft that can be chartered at a price of about €55,000.
The average flight time is about 4 hours since the kilometers separating Lisbon from Athens are a whopping 2800.
Finally, it is also possible to depart with a private jet from the Greek island of Mykonos: doing so with a Light Jet implies a cost of about €23,000, spending up to €42,000 with a Medium Jet and touching €57,000 with a Large Jet.
The duration of the flight is estimated to be around 4 hours and 15 minutes total, one of the longest routes given the distance that crosses the 3,000-kilometer mark.
Best planes to fly privately to Lisbon
An ideal aircraft for covering short distances is definitely the Beechcraft 400A, a light jet that integrates 7 seats and reaches a cruising speed of 449 kts (about 770 km/h).
The maximum distance it can cover is 1200 nm (about 2200 km), while the interior cabin is definitely spacious and able to make flying comfortable.
Among the best Medium Jets is the Hawker 800XP, an aircraft with as many as 8 seats and capable of a top speed of 450 kts (about 800 km/h); its range is around 2500 nm (more than 3500 km), a parameter that makes it a very valid choice if you need to cover a fairly large distance.
Finally, among the Large Jets, mention must be made of the Dassault Falcon 900, with its as many as 13 seats and its ability to reach as much as 450 kts of speed (over 800 km/h).
Comfort on this aircraft is assured thanks to the 1.90 m high and 2.30 m wide interior cabin, a space that puts passengers at ease and allows them to admire the beautiful views from their windows.
The most frequent flights to and from Lisbon
Below of the most frequent links to Lisbon:
