Lisbon Public Transportation

Public transportation in Lisbon: Overview

Public transportation in Lisbon is very well developed and brings you everywhere quickly and cheaply. So you can comfortably explore the most beautiful places to visit in Lisbon.

You have the following public transportation options in Lisbon:

• Metro: the Lisbon Metro runs on 4 lines and connects the city center with the districts just outside.
• Streetcar: there are 6 tram lines that connect the main tourist highlights.
• Buses: about 100 lines will take you even to the most remote corners.
• Elevators: the famous elevadores are also part of the public transportation in Lisbon.
• Ferries: you can take a ferry to the other side of the Tagus River.
• CP Urbanos de Lisboa: with the regional trains you can get to Cascais, Sintra or to the beaches near Lisbon.

Tickets for public transportation in Lisbon

There is one ticket for all public transport in Lisbon: the Navegante card (formerly Viva Viagem). The small paper card costs 50 cents once and can then be topped up with credit or various tickets.

If you only use the metro, you don’t necessarily need the Navegante, but can pay directly with your credit card.

Let’s take a closer look at how it all works and which options are most worthwhile for public transport in Lisbon.

Navegante Card

The following ticket options are available for the Navegante card:

• Zapping: You load credit onto the Navegante card and can use it for all means of transport (our tip!)
• Day pass: Valid for 24 hours.
• One-way tickets: For a single journey.

You can get the Navegante card at all ticket machines in the Lisbon metro and at Lisbon airport. It costs 50 cents and is valid for one year.

You can load various tickets onto the card or top up credit at the machines.

You can change the language of the machines to English at the bottom left. When you make your first purchase, select the menu item Without reloadable card / Card purchase – this means that you do not yet have the Navegante card and have to purchase it first.

In the next step, you can then decide what you want to load onto the card. We will now introduce you to the most important options.

Zapping with the Navegante card

The simplest option, which we also recommend, is to top up with credit. This is called zapping. It works for all means of transport in Lisbon (including ferries and regional trains).

To do this, select the menu item “Stored Value” at the ticket machine. In the next step, you can select how much credit you want to load onto the card. Amounts between 3 and 40 euros are possible here.

Our tip: If you are in Lisbon for 3 days, 10 euros is a good guideline for the first top-up. You can top up again at any time.

How does zapping work with the Navegante card?

Once you have filled the card with credit, you hold it up to the reader before each journey and the amount is debited. On the subway and regional trains, you have to scan the card before boarding and after alighting.

On streetcars and buses, you only need to hold the card up to the reader when boarding, but not when checking out.

What happens to unused credit on the Navegante card?

We recommend that you plan so that you don’t have much credit left on your card at the end of your trip.

You can probably have the remaining credit paid out at the metro counter at the airport, but there is usually a long queue and there are also reports that it is not always possible to pay out the credit.

The good news is that the credit on the card does not expire and you can simply use it up on your next trip to Lisbon – even after the one-year validity period has expired. The credit does not expire, you just can’t top up the card again.

24-hour tickets

You can also load a day ticket onto the Navegante card. There are three different 24-hour tickets:

• Metro, buses, streetcars, elevators: 6.80 euros
• Metro, buses, streetcars, elevators + ferry: 9.80 euros
• Metro, buses, streetcars, elevators + trains from CP: 10.80 euros

They are valid for exactly 24 hours from the first use.

Important: If you already have Zapping credit on your Navegante card, you cannot top up a day pass. Only one ticket type works on one card at a time. In this case, you would have to buy a second Navegante.

The single day ticket is worthwhile from 5 journeys per day, otherwise zapping is cheaper. We therefore recommend zapping with credit – it’s simply more convenient.

However, if you already know that you will be traveling a lot in one day, the day pass is a good option.

Single tickets

It is also possible to load a one-way ticket onto the card. This costs 1.80 euros and entitles you to one journey. However, this only makes sense if you know exactly that you will only be using public transport in Lisbon once or twice.

Contactless payment in the metro

In the Lisbon metro you can also pay with your credit card – instead of the Navegante card, you simply hold your credit card up to the reader at the turnstiles.

You will then be charged the price for a single journey.

Lisboa Card

An alternative to the normal public transport tickets is the Lisboa Card, which is offered especially for tourists. The Lisboa Card is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours. It allows you to use public transport and also gives you free entry to 40 attractions in Lisbon.

You can order the Lisboa Card online in advance. You can find an overview of all prices in the following table:

Just like the Navegante Card, you hold it up to the readers on public transport.

The Lisboa Card can be worthwhile if you want to do a lot of sightseeing and activities in Lisbon. If you mainly want to explore the various districts of Lisbon, the card is too expensive.

In our article Is the Lisboa Card worth it? we show you whether the card makes sense for you or not.

Prices for public transport in Lisbon

How much does a journey by public transport cost? You can find an overview of all prices in the following table:

As you can see, zapping is always the cheapest option.

You can also use all the transportation mentioned with a day pass and the Lisboa Card.

Are there discounted tickets for children on public transport in Lisbon?

Children under the age of 4 travel for free on all forms of transport. From the age of 4, however, children need their own ticket and then pay the full price. You can find tips for families in our article Lisbon with kids.

Means of transport in Lisbon

We will now introduce you to the various means of public transport in Lisbon.

Metro in Lisbon

Lisbon has a total of four metro lines with 56 stations. The lines are 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 – Aeroporto

The red line is the most interesting, as it leads directly to the airport and passes the former Expo site.

The metro is very modern and reliable and runs at relatively short intervals. To enter a platform, you have to hold your Navegante card against the card reader at the turnstile. To leave the subway station, you have to hold the card against it again.

Trams

The historic streetcars are an integral part of Lisbon’s cityscape. However, they are not just a backdrop, but are very important for local transportation. The streetcar is a frequently used means of transport, especially for tourists, as it stops at many important attractions.

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

The most famous line is the 28E, which winds its way through the alleyways of the old town and sometimes climbs steep gradients. We have written everything you need to know about traveling on this streetcar in our article about the Tram 28E in Lisbon.

The historic carriages from the 1940s also run on all other lines except the 15E.

Modern low-floor cars run on line 15E. This line leads to Belém.

Taking the bus in Lisbon

Almost 100 lines take you everywhere, even to the most remote corners. The buses run reliably and are often a good alternative to the metro or streetcar.

Our tip: Check Google Maps for the best connection to your destination. A bus route will often be suggested.

Elevators and funiculars

Lisbon is very hilly and steep. Funiculars and elevators were built to overcome some of the steepest inclines. Today they mainly serve as a tourist attraction, but in the past they really had a function as a means of transportation.

For this reason, the elevators and funiculars are still part of Lisbon’s public transport system and can be used with the same tickets.

Regional trains CP Urbanos de Lisboa

A total of five CP Urbanos de Lisboa suburban train lines take you to destinations around Lisbon. These trains are most comparable to commuter trains or regional trains.

Depending on the destination, the trains depart from various stations in the city (including Cais do Sodré, Santa Apolónia or Oriente) and run every 10 to 60 minutes, depending on the destination and time of day.

You can also pay for the journeys with your Navegante card. Tickets are very cheap. A one-way ticket to Cascais or Sintra, for example, costs 2.40 euros.

Important: Remember to scan your card not only when getting on, but also when getting off so that the correct fare is charged.

Ferries in Lisbon

The Transtejo Soflusa ferries are also part of Lisbon’s local transport system. There are five connections.

The ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas is the most important for sightseeing, as it takes you from the city center to the Christ the Redeemer statue.

If you use Zapping, the trip costs 1.43 euros, a one-way ticket 1.50 euros.

How to get to the airport by public transport in Lisbon

Lisbon Airport is only around 7 kilometers from the city center and is very well connected. This means you can usually get to your hotel in Lisbon very quickly and easily.

The cheapest way to get from the airport to the city is by metro. The red line runs at short intervals, but you usually have to change trains once.

With zapping, the journey will only cost you a mere 1.61 euros. There is no cheaper airport transfer anywhere.

A cab is a little quicker. The journey costs around 15 euros. Be careful here that you don’t get ripped off. It is more convenient to book a transfer.

Book a private transfer from Lisbon airport

FAQ

Do you have more questions about public transportation in Lisbon?

These were our tips for public transportation in Lisbon. We hope they will help you enjoy a stress-free city trip. Do you have any questions or comments? Let us know below.