Mirozyatne airport, does not live up to its infamous name.

Airport Humberto Delgado (LIS), Lisbon's only commercial airport. Wizz Air flight W94494 from Lisbon, Portugal to London Luton, England.

The sunlit main entrance to Humberto Delgado airport in Lisbon. Credit: iStock

Airport

Lisbon airport is just seven kilometers from my accommodation in the historic center. Public transportation includes a direct shuttle to the city center for €4 ($6.80) or the metro for €1.60 ($2.65) or €6.30 ($10.50) for a 24-hour pass if you're planning a big day, though it only stops at Terminal 1. Terrified at the prospect of waiting for the shuttle to Terminal 2, which is said to come every 12 minutes (I'm already late for everything), I opt for the car sharing''uses. The 20-minute trip - in one of Lisbon's electric cars - costs just €8 ($13.25).

Terminal 2, which accepts only European budget airlines, could pass for an abandoned barn on a rural estate that got a coat of matte silver five years ago (see the lipstick on the pig). Inside, it's a noisy-sounding, rather unpleasant chamber with a constant soundtrack of crying children. Take your active noise-canceling headphones.

Registration

There are a few staff manning the budget carrier's all-star counters, with noticeable but not crazy queues at each one. Wizz Air doesn't give me an option other than checking in online in advance, so I go with''sense of superiority to security control.

A very busy departure lounge. Credit: iStock

Security

When I learned that Lisbon was voted the worst airport in the world last year by one comparison website, I prepared for hell.

Food + beverages

You need that last bit of excess - trust me - and one cafe on either side of the security controls can you''is to provide. For €13 you can get a six-pack of pastel de nata (Portuguese cream cakes), which is pretty reasonable. If you're after something more substantial, options are limited. Apart from the Heineken bar, all roads lead to the golden arches. Unlike Australia, Portugal's McDonald'\''s offers a plant-based burger.

Loading

Retail therapy

The most impressive among the limited options is the "deli corner" with vending machines selling drinks, snacks, power adapters, money belts, Bluetooth wireless headsets (yes, they still exist), SIM cards, cell phones for €35 ($58) and face masks. The duty free store is impressive, and I mean that there are at least''15 port wine options starting from €10 ($17).

Killing time

This is a basic operation, so if you're flying within the EU, take a good book with you. If you are leaving it, like me, with a destination to London, wear comfortable shoes. The counters are at the entrance to the gates, which means sprinting every time boarding opens and waiting 45 minutes before I hit the tarmac. More positively, the free and unlimited Wi-Fi is powerful enough that I can watch a soccer game.

Verdict

Lisbon does the important things right: transit is fast, queues are limited (except for those flying to a country that opted for Brexit), and you can enjoy the latest flavors of Portugal.

Our score out of five ★★★★

Writer'.