How Long Does It Take to Fly to Portugal?
Quick Answer
7–10 hours nonstop from the US East Coast. West Coast flights take 11–13 hours nonstop, or 13–18 hours with a connection.
Typical Duration
Quick Answer
A nonstop flight from the US to Portugal takes 7–10 hours from the East Coast and 11–13 hours from the West Coast. Most nonstop routes fly into Lisbon (LIS), with a growing number of direct flights to Porto (OPO) and the Azores (PDL). Return flights are slightly longer due to headwinds over the Atlantic.
Flight Times by US Departure City
| Departure City | Nonstop to Lisbon | With 1 Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BOS) | 6.5–7.5 hours | 10–14 hours |
| New York (JFK/EWR) | 7–8 hours | 10–14 hours |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | 7.5–8.5 hours | 11–15 hours |
| Washington, DC (IAD) | 7.5–8.5 hours | 11–15 hours |
| Miami (MIA) | 8.5–9.5 hours | 12–16 hours |
| Chicago (ORD) | 9–10 hours | 12–16 hours |
| Dallas (DFW) | 10–11 hours | 13–17 hours |
| Denver (DEN) | 10.5–11.5 hours | 14–18 hours |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | 11–12.5 hours | 14–18 hours |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 11.5–13 hours | 15–19 hours |
Lisbon vs Porto vs the Azores
| Destination | Airport Code | Nonstop from NYC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | LIS | 7–8 hours | Most nonstop options, major international hub |
| Porto | OPO | 7–7.5 hours | Fewer nonstops; TAP, United, and Azores Airlines |
| Ponta Delgada (Azores) | PDL | 5–5.5 hours | Shortest US–Portugal route; Azores Airlines and SATA |
| Faro (Algarve) | FAO | No nonstop from US | Connect in Lisbon (1 hour) or a European hub |
The Azores are the closest Portuguese territory to the US, making Ponta Delgada the shortest transatlantic flight at just 5–5.5 hours from Boston or New York.
Airlines with Nonstop US–Portugal Routes
| Airline | US Departure Cities | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| TAP Air Portugal | JFK, EWR, BOS, MIA, ORD, SFO, IAD | Lisbon, Porto |
| United Airlines | EWR, IAD | Lisbon |
| Delta Air Lines | JFK, ATL | Lisbon |
| American Airlines | PHL, DFW | Lisbon |
| Azores Airlines (SATA) | BOS, JFK, OAK | Ponta Delgada, Lisbon |
| JetBlue | JFK, BOS | Lisbon |
TAP Air Portugal offers the widest nonstop network between the US and Portugal, with flights from seven US cities. TAP also provides free stopovers in Lisbon for up to five nights on connecting itineraries.
Why Return Flights Take Longer
Flights from Portugal to the US travel against the prevailing jet stream, which flows west to east across the North Atlantic. This adds 30–90 minutes to the return journey.
| Direction | NYC ↔ Lisbon |
|---|---|
| NYC → Lisbon | 7–8 hours |
| Lisbon → NYC | 8–9 hours |
Tips for Flying to Portugal
- Book TAP for stopovers. TAP's free Lisbon stopover program lets you explore the capital before continuing to your final destination in Portugal or beyond.
- Consider the Azores as a gateway. A 5-hour flight from Boston to Ponta Delgada is one of the shortest transatlantic routes available.
- Fly overnight. Most eastbound flights depart in the evening and arrive the next morning, making it easier to adjust to the 5–8 hour time difference.
- Compare Porto flights. Porto has fewer nonstop options but is growing rapidly as a tourist destination with lower prices than Lisbon.
- Check shoulder season fares. Flights in March–May and October–November are significantly cheaper than peak summer months.
- Use Lisbon as a European hub. TAP connects to over 60 European and African destinations from Lisbon, often at competitive prices.