Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 → Barcelona Review | From Ryanair Boarding to Arrival
Day 7 in Portugal and Day 1 in Barcelona begins at Lisbon Airport Terminal 2. I woke up at 6:30 AM. My body still hadn’t fully adjusted to the time difference, so I woke up early. Travel guide and travel story.
For information about the places we stayed in Portugal —
-
Ramada Lisbon Hotel
-
Leiria Hotel Real D’Obidos breakfast and room condition — please refer to the previous posts.
Before heading to Barcelona, I hurried to return the Portugal rental car because many reviews said it “takes a long time.” However, the staff just glanced over the car and said “OK,” and that was it.
It probably took less than five minutes. It felt anticlimactic but luckily everything was fine.
Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 Review and Location
The problem was getting to the airport terminal.
I followed directions saying to take the escalator to reach Terminal 2, but when I did that I only arrived at Terminal 1. It turns out Terminal 2 can only be reached by shuttle bus.
How to Get There
Be careful because the distance is impossible to walk.
When you exit the airport building, there is a bus stop directly in front for the Terminal 2 shuttle bus. There was no special verification process.
Transfer steps
-
Exit the airport building
-
Move to the shuttle bus stop
-
Board the free shuttle
-
Travel about 5–7 minutes
Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 (T2)
The Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 we arrived at was… honestly quite shocking.
The waiting space was limited, and the ventilation was poor, so there was a constant smell of cigarette smoke coming from somewhere.
Because the drop-off counter had not opened yet (it opens two hours before departure), we were stuck in a corner on the second floor of the café. Waiting one hour there felt like ten years.
The café in Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 is basically the only one in the terminal. There are seats on both the first and second floors, but the first floor is extremely small.
The photo above was taken from the second floor. The second floor has power outlets and more seating.
There are not many shops in the airport, so many vending machines are installed.
💡 Tip: If you are flying Ryanair, mobile check-in is essential.
When the counters opened after 2:30 PM, many Europeans were struggling with check-in on site. Because we had already completed mobile check-in, we passed through quickly.
Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 McDonald’s Review
The duty-free area after security was actually better than expected.
We had a simple lunch at McDonald’s with a salad and a hamburger.
Normally you would just order a regular burger set, but someone in our group insisted on ordering the Minecraft set.
The salad also came with balsamic dressing.
I noticed something similar during hotel breakfasts in Portugal: the vegetables didn’t feel particularly fresh. The hotel breakfast wasn’t this bad, but it still didn’t have the same “fresh” feeling as vegetables in Korea. The salad here looked even more wilted.
McDonald’s Prices at Lisbon Airport Terminal 2
-
Salad: €6.6
-
Minecraft set: €11.9
-
Total: €18.5
The receipt labeling was interesting.
In Korea it usually just shows the price of the set, but here each set component was itemized. For example, the Minecraft item was listed as €1. Of course, you probably cannot buy only that item separately.
Ryanair Review (Lisbon → Barcelona)
Ryanair Tips
Ryanair is a commonly used airline during travel in Europe.
However, there are several important precautions.
Checklist
-
Mobile check-in required
-
Strict baggage rules
-
Boarding gate displayed late
-
Outdoor boarding possible
Mobile check-in is especially important.
If you check in at the airport counter, additional fees may apply.
Ryanair Boarding Process
When the boarding gate opened, my blood pressure rose along with it.
The gate number appeared late, and the line showed no signs of getting shorter.
The line I joined was for “Priority Boarding & Carry-On,” but another line for “Small Bag Only” appeared next to it. When I moved there, someone in my group accused me of cutting the line.
Also, when boarding the aircraft, it wasn’t connected to the terminal building. We had to go outside and board the plane directly.
There were two boarding entrances for the plane — the front and the back. Usually only one is open.
My boarding pass clearly said “Backdoor,” so I tried to move toward the rear entrance. But my companion got angry and told me not to act unpredictably.
Most passengers were boarding from the front because they didn’t know about the back door, but some people were boarding from the rear.
Boarding from the back was actually correct because there were stairs there and a crew member welcoming passengers.
They say arguments during travel start from small things, and I was really irritated right before boarding the plane.
The photo below was taken when we were almost arriving in Barcelona. The city looked so perfectly arranged and rectangular that it felt strangely eerie.
Even now it still gives me chills.
Arrival in Barcelona, and…
We arrived at Barcelona Airport at 8 PM. It still looked like broad daylight.
From this point on, our luck began to improve.
The airport shuttle bus opened both the front and rear doors, and since our seats were at the back we got off almost first. When we arrived at baggage claim, our suitcases were already there.
Immigration was also quick.
The slow and frustrating pace in Lisbon turned into a refreshing experience in Barcelona.
We took a taxi to Ayre Hotel Rosellon (taxi fare about €36, paid in cash).
Ayre Hotel Rosellon ft. Sagrada Familia
The moment we checked in and opened the door to the room, the cold atmosphere from our earlier argument disappeared instantly.
Room View
The Sagrada Familia Basilica was literally right in the middle of my window view.
It was much closer and more majestic than expected, which made it overwhelming.
The view of Sagrada Familia from this hotel shows a side of the basilica that cannot be seen elsewhere, and that alone makes it worthwhile.
The side visible from the hotel faces residential buildings, so there are very few places where you can see these details.
Barcelona at Night
The excitement of seeing the famous Sagrada Familia had not settled down yet, so we tried to visit the rooftop bar on the 8th floor, but there were no seats available.
Disappointed, we went to a nearby convenience store instead. Luckily there was a Carrefour near our accommodation, and it seemed popular with tourists.
We bought some simple snacks there.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How do you get to Lisbon Airport Terminal 2?
You must take the free shuttle bus from Terminal 1 to reach Terminal 2.
Walking is not possible, and even if you take the escalators inside the airport they only connect to Terminal 1.
Transfer steps
-
Move outside Terminal 1
-
Use the shuttle bus stop in front of the airport
-
Board the Terminal 2 shuttle bus
-
Arrive at Terminal 2 after about 5–7 minutes
The shuttle bus usually runs every 10 minutes.
2. Which airlines use Lisbon Airport Terminal 2?
Terminal 2 is mainly used by European low-cost carriers (LCC).
Examples include:
-
Ryanair
-
easyJet
-
Transavia
-
Wizz Air
Most Ryanair flights depart from Terminal 2.
3. What facilities are available at Lisbon Airport Terminal 2?
Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 is a small terminal with limited facilities.
| Facility | Situation |
|---|---|
| Cafes | 1–2 |
| Restaurants | Very limited |
| Shops | Almost none |
| Vending Machines | Several installed |
| Seating | Limited |
Waiting space is especially limited before the drop-off counter opens, so preparing in advance is recommended.
4. Where can you eat at Lisbon Airport Terminal 2?
After security, the duty-free area has McDonald’s and a small café.
Example menu prices:
-
Salad: about €6.6
-
Burger set: about €10–12
These prices are typical for airport food.
Because there are few dining options, eating at Terminal 1 before transferring can also be a good option.
5. Is mobile check-in required for Ryanair?
Yes. It is mandatory.
Ryanair has a very strict mobile check-in policy.
If you do not check in in advance, additional fees may be charged at the airport counter.
Check-in is usually available:
-
24 hours before departure
-
Through the Ryanair app or website
6. Why does Ryanair display boarding gates late?
Ryanair often assigns gates late to improve airport operational efficiency.
Typically, gate information appears 30–40 minutes before departure.
Because of this, passengers often gather in one area and long lines form.
7. Why does Ryanair board passengers outdoors?
European low-cost airlines often use outdoor stair boarding instead of boarding bridges to reduce costs.
This method usually involves:
-
Taking an airport bus to the aircraft
-
Boarding using outdoor stairs
-
Using both the front and rear doors simultaneously
This is why boarding passes sometimes show Front door / Back door.
8. How long is the flight from Lisbon to Barcelona?
The flight time is about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours.
There are many direct flights operated by airlines such as Ryanair and Vueling.
Because it is a short flight, onboard service is usually minimal.
9. Which hotels near Sagrada Familia are good?
One of the most famous hotels with a Sagrada Familia view is Ayre Hotel Rosellon.
Key features include:
-
Cathedral view from the rooftop terrace
-
Some rooms with direct basilica views
-
Excellent access to tourist attractions
Rooms with direct views of the basilica are especially competitive to book.
10. Is the Sagrada Familia area safe at night?
The area around Sagrada Familia is relatively safe because it is a major tourist destination with many visitors.
However, Barcelona is well known for pickpocketing, so caution is always necessary.
Situations requiring attention
-
Subways
-
Areas near tourist attractions
-
Crowded streets
Basic travel safety tips
-
Wear your bag in front
-
Keep zippers closed
-
Minimize visible phone use
Final Thoughts
The day traveling from Lisbon to Barcelona turned out to include more events than expected.
From a room key incident right before hotel checkout to the crowded atmosphere of Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 and the Ryanair boarding process, small situations kept happening one after another.
But travel often becomes more memorable because of these unexpected moments.
Fortunately, once we arrived in Barcelona everything went smoothly, and the majestic view of Sagrada Familia outside the hotel window instantly erased the fatigue of the day.
After a long journey, the night in Barcelona itself felt like a reward.
If you plan to travel from Lisbon Airport Terminal 2 to Barcelona, simply knowing basic information such as the shuttle transfer and mobile check-in in advance will make the trip much more relaxed.
It was a day that reminded me once again that even small variables eventually become travel memories.