WOW. Just in time. I hope they work out the kinks before we arrive.

Thanks for the advice! Just in time before I get there in September.

It looks nice, imho.
http://fugas.publico.pt/Noticias/307881_amalia-pessoa-eusebio-e-ate-o-ze-povinho-dao-as-boas-vindas-no-metro-aeroporto
And the whole network
http://static.publico.pt/homepage/infografia/local/MetroLisboa/

Thanks for posting!

by the way...

I have read stories (yes, I know, that's how all stupid comments start) that tourists sometimes get overcharged by some taxi drivers on their way from the airport into town.

Is is therefore an option to take the new metro line into the city and grab a taxi from there for the final 1-2 kms to the accomodation?
My apartment will be near the Miradouro de Sta Catarina, and the nearest tram is 28E.. but I wonder if it will be feasible to use it in the late afternoon when it may be crowded?

Woo hoo! Lisbon's metro system is one of my favorites, and this just makes it even better. I'm considering a visit in October, so if I do I'll be sure to catch the train.

It's not hard to believe that some tourists get overcharged. The general rule is that the taximeter must be visible all the time. However there are some legal charges, such as luggage and airport service that are added to the value displayed in the taximeter making the total charge less transparent. I believe some drivers avoid the direct route to make it more expensive. If you don't know the place, it's difficult for you to understand this abusive behaviour.
Trams are the oldest transport media in Lisbon. Due to small size, difficult access and pickpocketing, it's not suitable to be used with luggage.
I would take the red line all way to the end of the line. Saint Sebastian station has direct access to El Corte Ingles Department Store. Outside El Corte Ingles, there are a lot of cabs available and a short ride to Chiado area. Nevertheless you should consider a 10 euros budget for the taxi.
Tram 28 is funny to ride, like an old fashioned roller coaster.

In my last reincarnation, I asked a taxi driver something I'm sure he never heard before. I spend a week in Dublin/Ohio with a co-worker in ATT&T's training facilities and we thought is was a shame to come home without having had even a glimpse of Columbus. And I told the taxi driver that we wished to go to Columbus airport "not necessarily by the shortest way". He understood what we meant and did a very nice sightseeing tour before delivering us to the airport.

To cowboy1968 and others who may find this helpful:

To reach the Miradouro de Santa Catarina by metro from the airport you go all the way to the last stop on the red line (called "Sao Sebastiao") then switch to the blue line to "Baixa-Chiado" station. From the train platform follow the signs to the the "Largo do Chiado" exit, and the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is just a couple of minutes walk up the hill past Camoes square.

As for the metro now reaching the airport: Finally!

I know that tourists do get overcharged sometimes.

I was overcharged only once in Lisbon on our first trip. But let me tell you an experience I had twice with a taxi in Lisbon.

We wanted to travel to a friend's home and gave the driver a small map. We did not have the exact address. The taxi driver actually turned off the meter because he was having difficulty finding the house. And we never paid any more than what the meter read at the time he turned it off. Which, by the way was very cheap.

On the way back to the hotel we had difficulty getting the driver to understand the directions. Portuguese is very difficult for me to pronounce. And the same thing happened. Once we arrived at the general area of our hotel the driver turned off the meter and never charged us a penny more until he found the hotel.

Believe me. Both rides were a bargain. So sometimes it works out in our favor.

The airport used to have a kiosk where you could pay a flat fee to go to a hotel in central Lisbon. I think it was E15 but I am not sure if this service is still available. You pay for a voucher and hand it to the taxi driver.

I don't think we have ever paid E15 when arriving or departing except on that first journey.

Have a great time in Lisbon.

Thank you Lobo Mau.

A big obrigado to lobo_mau, ulysses79 and Sher for the great advice and infos!
And I plan to ride the trams a lot in Lisbon - but then without luggage

Wow, great news, thanks lobo. That red line looks like it really wants to become a circle or an oval, I hope they are planning to extend it westward!

I go to Lisbon every year and I know that there are lots of taxi drivers who do what they can to squeeze a few more euros out of unsuspecting foreigners. The doorman at the hotel where I stay gave me the following advice -- go to the departures entrance to the airport (which is just around the corner from arrivals). Since the unscrupulous drivers are likely to want to pick up arriving travelers, they self-select and you won't have any problem at the departures door. For whatever reason, there is another long line of taxis waiting at departures, and I've never had a problem there.

Thanks, lobo mau!

Can lobo or someone tell :
What is the time to take from Airport to the end station Sao Sebastiao ? And the price for the ticket? Thanks.

1) about 30 minutes
2) 1.25 euros + .5 euros magnetic card (re-usable)

You're welcome Slow Jane