Lisbon Public Transportation: All You Need to Know

Public Transportation in Lisbon: Overview

Lisbon’s public transport network is excellent, making it both quick and affordable to get around. It’s the perfect way to comfortably reach all the best sights in Lisbon.

Here are your main options for getting around the city:

• Metro: The Lisbon Metro has 4 lines connecting the city center with the surrounding neighborhoods.
• Trams: There are 6 tram lines, many of which pass right by the main tourist highlights.
• Buses: With around 100 routes, the bus will take you even to the most hidden corners of the city.
• Elevators: The city’s famous elevadores (funiculars and lifts) are also part of the public transport network.
• Ferries: You can hop on a ferry to cross over to the other side of the Tagus River.
• CP Urbanos de Lisboa: These regional trains are your best bet for trips to Cascais, Sintra, or the beaches near Lisbon.

Tickets for Public Transportation in Lisbon

Lisbon uses a unified ticket system: the Navegante card (which you might still see referred to as the Viva Viagem). This small paper card costs 50 cents to buy and can then be topped up with credit or specific passes.

If you’re only planning to use the metro, you don’t strictly need a Navegante card anymore; you can simply pay at the gates with your contactless credit or debit card.

Let’s dive into the details of how it works and which options will save you the most money.

Navegante Card

You can load a few different types of tickets onto your Navegante card:

• Zapping: You load a cash balance onto the card and pay as you go—this is our top recommendation!
• Day pass: Unlimited travel for a full 24-hour period.
• Single tickets: Best for a one-off journey.

You can buy a Navegante card at any ticket machine in the metro stations or at the airport. It costs 50 cents and is valid for one year.

The machines allow you to top up your card with credit or specific tickets.

You can switch the machine’s language to English at the bottom left of the screen. For your first purchase, select “Without reloadable card / Card purchase”—this tells the machine you don’t have a card yet and need to buy one.

Next, you’ll choose what to load onto the card. Here’s a breakdown of the best options.

Zapping with the Navegante card

The easiest way to get around—and the one we recommend—is simply topping up with credit. In Lisbon, this is known as “Zapping.” It works on all forms of transport, including ferries and regional trains.

To do this, select “Stored Value” at the machine. You can then choose how much credit to add, with options ranging from 3 to 40 euros.

Our tip: If you’re spending 3 days in Lisbon, a 10-euro top-up is a great starting point. You can always add more later.

How does zapping work?

Once your card is loaded, just tap it against the reader before your journey. On the metro and regional trains, you need to tap your card both when entering and exiting the station.

On trams and buses, you only need to tap when you board—there’s no need to tap out.

What happens to unused credit?

It’s best to try and use up your credit by the end of your trip.

While you can technically request a refund for unused credit at the metro counter at the airport, the queues are often huge, and it isn’t always a guaranteed or easy process.

The good news? The credit doesn’t expire. You can use it on your next trip to Lisbon, even if the one-year validity of the physical card has passed (though you won’t be able to add new credit to an expired card).

24-hour tickets

You can also load a day pass onto your Navegante card. There are three versions available:

• Metro, buses, trams, and elevators: 6.80 euros
• Metro, buses, trams, elevators + ferries: 9.80 euros
• Metro, buses, trams, elevators + CP trains: 10.80 euros

These are valid for exactly 24 hours from the very first time you tap in.

Note: You cannot load a day pass onto a card that already has a Zapping balance on it. A card can only hold one “type” of ticket at a time. If you want both, you’ll need two separate Navegante cards.

A day pass only pays off if you plan on taking at least 5 trips a day. For most travelers, Zapping is cheaper and much more flexible.

Single tickets

You can also buy a one-way ticket. These cost 1.80 euros per journey. This really only makes sense if you’re certain you’ll only be using public transport once or twice during your whole stay.

Contactless payment on the metro

For the Lisbon metro, you can skip the ticket machines entirely and just use your contactless credit or debit card (or phone) at the turnstiles.

You’ll be charged the standard price for a single journey each time you tap.

Lisboa Card

If you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing, the Lisboa Card is a popular alternative. It’s available for 24, 48, or 72 hours and includes unlimited public transport plus free entry to 40 attractions.

You can buy the Lisboa Card online ahead of time. Here is a quick look at the prices:

You use it just like a Navegante card—simply tap it against the readers when you board.

The Lisboa Card is a great deal if you’re hitting the big museums and activities. If you’re just planning to wander through the neighborhoods, it’s probably not worth the extra cost.

Check out our full guide: Is the Lisboa Card worth it? to see if it’s right for your trip.

Prices for Public Transport in Lisbon

Wondering how much each trip will set you back? Here is a comparison of the current fares:

As you can see, Zapping is consistently the cheapest way to pay for individual rides.

Are there discounted tickets for children?

Kids under 4 travel for free on all public transport. From age 4 and up, they need their own ticket and pay the standard adult fare. For more family travel advice, take a look at our guide to Lisbon with kids.

Means of Transport in Lisbon

Here is the lowdown on the different ways to get around the city.

The Lisbon Metro

Lisbon’s metro is modern, clean, and reliable. There are four lines, named after colors:

• Linha Azul (Blue): Reboleira – Santa Apolónia
• Linha Amarela (Yellow): Odivelas – Rato
• Linha Verde (Green): Cais do Sodré – Telheiras
• Linha Vermelha (Red): São Sebastião – Airport

The Red Line is the one most travelers use first, as it connects the airport directly to the city. The metro runs frequently, and you’ll need to tap your card both to enter and exit the platforms.

Trams (Elétricos)

Lisbon’s historic yellow trams are iconic. While they look like museum pieces, they are actually a vital part of the city’s transport network.

There are 6 lines in total: 12E, 15E, 18E, 24E, 25E, and 28E.

The most famous is the 28E, which rattles through the narrow streets of the old town and up some incredibly steep hills. We’ve got a dedicated guide all about the Tram 28E in Lisbon.

Note that while most lines use the vintage 1940s carriages, the 15E (which goes to Belém) uses modern, high-capacity trams.

Buses (Autocarros)

With nearly 100 routes, buses cover the gaps where the metro and trams don’t reach. They are reliable and often a great shortcut between neighborhoods.

Our tip: Use Google Maps to find the best route. It’s very accurate for Lisbon’s bus schedules and will often save you a lot of walking!

Elevators and Funiculars

Lisbon is famous for its hills. To help locals avoid the steepest climbs, the city built several funiculars and the famous Santa Justa Lift. Today, they are mostly tourist attractions, but they are still officially part of the public transport system.

This means you can use your Navegante card or Lisboa Card to ride them, which is much cheaper than buying a ticket from the driver.

Regional Trains (CP Urbanos)

If you’re planning a day trip from Lisbon, you’ll likely use the CP regional trains.

Trains depart from stations like Cais do Sodré (for Cascais) or Rossio (for Sintra) every 10 to 60 minutes. You can pay for these using your Navegante card (via Zapping). A trip to Sintra or Cascais only costs about 2.50 euros—a total bargain!

Important: Don’t forget to tap your card both when boarding and when you arrive at your destination.

Ferries

The Transtejo Soflusa ferries cross the Tagus and offer a unique view of the city skyline.

The most popular route for visitors is from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas—it’s the fastest way to get to the Christ the Redeemer statue. With Zapping, the crossing costs just 1.55 euros.

How to Get to the Airport by Public Transport in Lisbon

Lisbon Airport is only 7 kilometers from the center, making it one of the easiest airport transfers in Europe. You’ll be at your hotel in no time.

Check out our favorite boutique hotels in Lisbon

The metro is the most budget-friendly option. Take the Red Line into town; depending on where you’re staying, you might need to change once to the Green or Blue line.

Using Zapping, the trip costs a mere 1.72 euros. You won’t find a cheaper airport transfer than that!

If you prefer a taxi or Uber, it usually takes about 20 minutes and costs between 15-20 euros. For a completely stress-free arrival, you can also book a private transfer in advance.

Book a private transfer from Lisbon airport

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