Public Transportation in Lisbon: Metro, Tickets & Everything You Need to Know

Public Transportation in Lisbon: Overview

Public transportation in Lisbon is seriously well developed and gets you everywhere quickly and affordably. It’s one of the best ways to explore the most important attractions in Lisbon without spending a fortune on taxis.

Here are the public transportation options available in Lisbon:

• Metro: Lisbon’s subway runs on four lines, connecting the city center with neighborhoods a bit further out.
• Tram: Trams run on six lines, connecting the most important tourist highlights.
• Buses: About 100 lines take you to the most remote corners of the city.
• Elevators: The famous Elevadores are part of Lisbon’s public transit network.
• Ferries: You can take a ferry to the other side of the Tagus River.
• CP Urbanos de Lisboa: Regional trains take you to places like Cascais, Sintra, or the beaches near Lisbon.

Tickets for Public Transportation

There’s one ticket for all public transportation in Lisbon: the Navegante Card (formerly Viva Viagem). The small paper card costs a one-time fee of 50 cents and can then be loaded with credit or various tickets.

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

Let’s take a closer look at exactly how all of this works and which options give you the best value for getting around 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 modes of transportation. (Our top recommendation!)
• Day pass: Valid for 24 hours.
• Single tickets: For a one-way trip.

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.

At the machines, you can load various tickets onto the card or top up your credit.

You can switch the language of the machines to English in the bottom left corner. For your first purchase, select the menu option Without reloadable card / Card purchase — this means you don’t have the Navegante Card yet and need to get one first.

In the next step, you can decide what you’d like to load onto the card. Here’s a breakdown of the most important options.

Zapping with the Navegante Card

The simplest option — and the one we recommend — is loading credit onto the card. This is called Zapping. It works for all modes of transportation in Lisbon (including ferries and regional trains).

At the machine, select the menu option “Stored Value.” In the next step, you can choose how much credit you want to load onto the card. Amounts between 3 and 40 euros are possible.

Our tip: If you’re spending three days in Lisbon, 10 euros is a good starting amount for your first top-up. You can always reload at any time.
How does Zapping with the Navegante Card work?

Once you’ve loaded credit onto the card, you hold it up to the card reader before each ride and the fare is deducted. On the metro and regional trains, you need to scan the card both when boarding and when exiting.

On trams and buses, you only need to hold the card up to the reader when boarding — no need to check out again.

What happens to unused credit on the Navegante Card?

We’d recommend planning ahead so you don’t have much credit left at the end of your trip.

You can apparently get any remaining balance refunded at the metro counter at the airport, but there’s usually a long line — and there are reports that it’s not always possible to get the balance paid out.

The good news: The credit on the card doesn’t expire, and you can simply use it up on your next trip to Lisbon — even after the one-year validity period ends. The credit stays intact; you just won’t be able to reload the card after that point.

24-Hour Tickets

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

• Metro, buses, tram, elevators: €7.25
• Metro, buses, tram, elevators + ferry: €10.35
• Metro, buses, tram, elevators + CP trains: €11.40

They’re valid for exactly 24 hours from the first use.

Important: If you already have Zapping credit on your Navegante Card, you can’t also load a day pass onto it. Only one ticket type can be active on a card at a time. In that case, you’d need to buy a second Navegante Card.

The basic day pass pays off if you take five or more rides per day — otherwise, Zapping works out cheaper. That’s why we recommend Zapping with credit: it’s more flexible and just as convenient.

That said, if you know you’ll be riding a lot on a particular day, the day pass is a great option.

Single Tickets

It’s also possible to load just a single ticket onto the card. This costs €1.90 and entitles you to one ride. This only really makes sense if you know you’ll only be using public transit once or twice.

Contactless Payment on the Metro

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

You’ll be charged the price of a single ride.

Lisboa Card

An alternative to regular public transit tickets is the Lisboa Card, which is designed specifically for tourists. It’s available for 24, 48, or 72 hours, covers unlimited public transportation, and gives you free admission to 40 attractions in Lisbon.

You can order the Lisboa Card online in advance. The table below gives you an overview of all prices:

You hold it up to the card readers in public transit, just like the Navegante Card.

The Lisboa Card can be worth it if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and activities in Lisbon. If you’d rather just wander through Lisbon’s different neighborhoods, the card is probably too expensive.

In our article Is the Lisboa Card worth it?, we break down exactly whether the card makes sense for your trip.

Prices for Public Transportation in Lisbon

So what does a ride on public transit actually cost? The table below gives you an overview of all fares:

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

All of the transportation options mentioned can also be used with a day pass and the Lisboa Card.

Are there discounted tickets for children on Lisbon’s public transportation?

Children under four ride all modes of transportation for free. From age four, however, children need their own ticket and pay the full fare. You can find more advice for families in our article Lisbon with Kids.

Getting Around Lisbon: Your Transport Options

Here’s a closer look at the various modes of transportation in Lisbon’s public transit network.

Metro in Lisbon

Lisbon has a total of four metro lines with 56 stations. The lines are named by color:

• 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 most useful line is the red line, as it runs directly to the airport and serves the former Expo grounds.

The metro is modern and reliable, running at relatively frequent intervals. To access a platform, hold your Navegante Card up to the reader at the turnstile. To exit the station, you’ll need to scan the card again.

Trams

The historic trams are an iconic part of Lisbon’s cityscape — and they’re not just for show. They’re a genuinely useful part of the public transit network, serving many key sights that tourists want to reach.

There are a total of six lines: 12E, 15E, 18E, 24E, 25E, and 28E.

The most famous is the 28E, which winds through the narrow streets of the historic center and tackles some seriously steep inclines. Everything you need to know about riding it is covered in our article about Tram 28E in Lisbon.

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

Line 15E uses modern low-floor trams and runs out to Belém.

Buses in Lisbon

Nearly 100 lines take you everywhere, even to the most out-of-the-way corners of the city. Buses run reliably and are often a great alternative to the metro or tram.

Our tip: Check Google Maps for the best route to your destination — it’ll often suggest a bus line you wouldn’t have thought of.

Elevators and Funiculars

Lisbon is seriously hilly. To tackle some of the steepest inclines, funiculars and elevators were built over a century ago. Today they serve mainly as tourist attractions, but they once genuinely functioned as everyday transport.

They’re still part of Lisbon’s public transit network and can be used with the same tickets.

CP Urbanos de Lisboa Regional Trains

Five lines of the commuter rail CP Urbanos de Lisboa take you to day trip destinations around Lisbon. Think of them as a regional rail service — reliable, affordable, and super easy to use.

Trains depart from various stations throughout the city (including Cais do Sodré, Santa Apolónia, and Oriente) and run at frequencies ranging from every ten to every 60 minutes, depending on the destination and time of day.

You can pay for these rides with your Navegante Card too. Fares are very affordable — a one-way trip to Cascais or Sintra costs just €2.55, for example.

Important: Remember to scan your card not only when boarding but also when exiting, so the correct fare is deducted.

Ferries in Lisbon

The ferries operated by Transtejo Soflusa are also part of Lisbon’s public transportation network. There are five routes.

For sightseeing, the most useful ferry is the one from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, which takes you from the city center across to the Christ the King statue.

With Zapping, the ride costs €1.55; a single ticket costs €1.60.

Getting to the Airport by Public Transportation in Lisbon

Lisbon Airport is only about seven kilometers from the city center and is really well connected. You can get to your hotel in Lisbon quickly and easily — no expensive transfers needed.

Also read our tips for boutique hotels in Lisbon
Check out our tips for budget hotels in Lisbon

The cheapest way to get from the airport into the city is by metro. The red line runs at short intervals, though you’ll usually need to transfer once.

With Zapping, the ride costs just €1.72. You won’t find a cheaper airport transfer anywhere in the city.

Taking a taxi is a bit faster — expect to pay around €15–20. Just be careful not to get ripped off. For a more comfortable and stress-free option, you can also book a private transfer.

Book a private transfer from Lisbon Airport

Frequently Asked Questions