Your practical guide to transportation in Lisbon: Ticket prices and modes of transportation for 2024

This is an updated guide for 2024.

So, you have decided to spend a short holiday in Lisbon. Maybe you want to spend a couple of months here. If you came to this site, you are definitely interested in transport in Lisbon and want to know exactly how to navigate the capital of Portugal. With this post you will learn everything you need to know about communication in the city.

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When I first came to Lisbon and lived here in 2017, public transportation seemed quite difficult for me to understand. At the time, I only used the metro. Buses and other forms of transportation were already a challenge. I am writing this from the point of view of a person living here. It’s easier for tourists, because then we mostly stick to the same places and mainly the center.

Nowadays, public transportation in Lisbon is no longer a challenge for me. I enjoy walking, and since I don’t work anywhere in the capital, I always have time to get somewhere. Perhaps for this reason, I think it is not so bad. On the other hand, I know that many people complain, for example, that the subway leaves every 5 minutes or even sometimes every 10 minutes, that the buses run as they please and that there are constantly traffic jams everywhere and even the streetcar is hard to pass.

If you’re in Lisbon for the first time, you’ll definitely need some tried-and-true information on getting around the city. Below you’ll find the types of public transportation in Lisbon, ticket prices and types of public transportation tickets in Lisbon, as well as my recommended apps and ways to get around the city.

Navegante Card – The best ticket option in Lisbon

The most popular way to get around the city without hassle is the Navegante Card, a card that you top up at the station and use on public transportation. It costs €0.50 and is valid for one year. One person can only have one card. Children under the age of 4 travel for free if there is a person with them who is carrying the recharged card and has paid the fare with it.

Ticket prices:

The card itself costs 0.50 Cents. A single ride costs 1.50 Euros.
A one-day ticket, which certainly pays off the most if you go sightseeing

• The card costs 0.50 Euros, one ride costs 1.80 Euros
• 6.80 Euros – 24-hour card for metro, buses and elevators
• 9.80 Euros – 24 hour card for metro, buses, elevators, ferries to Cacilhas
• 10.80 Euros – 24 hour card for metro, buses, elevators, ferries to Cacilhas and trains to Sintra and Cascais.

There is also a method called zapping. You can load the card with a certain amount of money – from 3 to 40 euros and use this pot for trips. Zapping can be used on elevators, buses, subways, ferries, Fertagus connections, as well as MTS – Metro Sul de Tejo.

With the zapping method the prices for tickets in Lisbon and around are different:

• 1.61 Euros – one ride on the metro, bus or a tram
• 1.90 Euros – one ride on a train to Sintra or Cascais
• 1.36-2.97 Euros – one ride on a ferry to Cacilhas, Seixal or Trafaria
• 1.65-4.85 Euros – one ride on a train towards Setubal or Palmela
• 0.85 Euros – one ride on a train in Almada.

You can purchase the Navegante card in many places. For me, the easiest way is to purchase it from a machine at the station. They are available at subway stations, ferries, and train stations.

The machines have an English-language option. Some of them can only accept ATM cards, others only cash.

You can also buy tickets at a cashier window. Keep in mind, however, that smaller stations very often do not have open ticket counters. They also open quite late at train stations.

Prices of tickets bought from a driver

You can also buy a ticket from a driver. Here are the prices:

• 2.10 Euros – buses
• 3.10 Euros – trams
• 4.10 Euros – elevators
• 6 Euros – the Santa Justa elevator

Paying with your bank card in the metro

Lisbon recently introduced new contactless payments on the metro. Now you don’t have to buy a ticket at the ticket counter anymore, but you can simply put your payment card to the readers at the gates. If you have a card on your phone or smartwatch, the readers will also work.

These transactions are secure. The authorities have made sure they are encrypted, so don’t be afraid, you are not in danger of having your data stolen.

A one-time ride is 1.80 euros, and such payment is best if you mostly get around the capital by metro.

Types and prices of monthly tickets

In addition to single rides, you can also buy a monthly ticket. If you are staying here for a longer period of time, this will definitely be a good option.

Although I work remotely, I often buy such a ticket for myself. I happen to go to the city many times in a month and after summing up the costs, it really pays off more for me.

A monthly ticket is a plastic card that has your data on it. You will buy it at certain stations or special points. In the center, for example, you’ll buy it at the Saldanha or Marques de Pombal metro stations. The cost is 7 euros if you can wait 7 days to make one, or 12 euros if you want it in one day.

• Navegante Municipal – for only the city area, plus Amadora – Odivelas – 30 Euros per month
• Navegante Metropolitano – for all zones, plus ferries – 40 Euros per month.

Note – the card is valid until the last day of the month after purchase. This means that if you buy it on the 15th, for example, it will be valid for 2 weeks. So it is always worth buying it at the beginning of the month.

Types of public transportation in Lisbon

There are really many ways to get around Lisbon. Some are normal and often found in other cities, such as metro or buses. Others are quite unique, such as funiculars that run up and down the hills. Here are all types of public transportation in Lisbon.

Metro

The Lisbon metro is not as extensive as the one in London, but the capital of Portugal is not very big.

There are 4 metro lines in Lisbon: blue, red, green and yellow. Each of them is called the Portuguese version of a given color and marked appropriately at the stations.

Moving around the metro stations is very easy. Look for guideline marks on the platforms. Mostly, routes of a given line are placed along with signs where to go.

Trains start running at 6 am and finish by 1.

Buses

There are many buses in Lisbon, but for me it is very difficult to navigate. First of all, you always need to have a phone and Google map with you to know which bus to take and from which stop and, above all, at which stop to get off. At the time of writing this article, buses in Lisbon did not have automatic announcements yet.

Each bus stop has a route map and a timetable. In my experience, however, buses rarely stick to fixed hours. In periods of increased traffic, they are often late.

You can also buy a ticket from the driver, but it is a few cents more expensive then.

Trams

Lisbon trams are the symbol of the city. There is probably no tourist in the world who, coming here, would not have taken at least one picture of them.

Remodelado are those trams that have only one car and squeak through the narrow streets of Lisbon. It is a remarkable tourist attraction, but also a means of transport for many Lisboners. The most famous tram is tram number 28, which crosses the entire city and passes by the most famous places.

Articulado Trams are more modern vehicles that offer much more space. They travel only on route E15, from the center of Lisbon to Belem.

Funiculars and lifts

Lisbon is built on steep hills which does not make it easier for residents of the capital. That is why it is good to use the funicular, i.e. the cable-terrain rails. There are 3 of them in Lisbon:

• Ascensor da Bica: a 19th-century cable car is on the steepest hill.
• Ascensor da Gloria: will allow you to see the roofs of Lisbon in a few minutes.
• Ascensor to Lavra: the oldest queue and the least tourist.
• Ascensor da Graça – the newest one

In addition, Lisbon is also Elevador de Santa Justa – the famous elevator, located in the very center.

The best way to take advantage of the above attractions is to buy a 24-hour ticket, which will give you the opportunity to travel by funicular and lift for free.

Ferries

Lisbon’s ferries are also part of public transport. Those from Cais do Sodre will take you to Cacilhas, for example, from where you can take a bus or walk to Christo Rei – the famous statue of Jesus. You can buy the ticket at the marina, located by the railway station.

From Terreiro to Paco you can sail to Barreiro. It is a much longer journey, but offering beautiful views of Alfama.

Other modes of transport in Lisbon

In addition to normal public transport, which is cheap and operates quite efficiently, in Lisbon we also have other forms of transport that are offered at really affordable prices.

Taxis

I advise against using normal taxis. If you want to get to the center from the airport, it’s best to just get in the metro or order one of the options below. All of them are extremely cheap and offer special discounts for the first users.

• Uber: Everyone knows Uber. In Lisbon, it is extremely cheap and very easy to use. Drivers are available 24/7 and you can catch the car at any time, from any part of the city. Transfer from the suburbs to the center costs 7-10 Euro.
• Bolt: Uber’s competitor and probably a more profitable application if you use it for the first time.

My favourite application:

Bolt – my strong favorite due to the price and quality of the service.

E-scooters

You will see them everywhere on the streets of Lisbon. Despite the fact that the city is located on steep hills and this electric scooters do not always give them advice, Lisboners and tourists use them anytime, anywhere. Even my Christopher uses them to get from the house to the station!

How to use them? It’s easy! You download the application on the phone. It allows you to locate the nearest available scooter. You scan the code on a scooter and you’re ready to go! You can leave the scooter anywhere on the street. You pay per minute of use.

These 3 companies below do not differ in anything. The only difference is that Hive and Voi are less popular and you can not see them that often. Using Lime will be much easier.

• Lime: probably the first scooters that appeared in Lisbon. They are very popular and that’s what you see most often. The cost is 1 Euro to unlock the scooter and then you pay 15 cents per minute. If you feel like a ride, use the discount code: R2BJZFP.
• Hive: Hive scooters work exactly the same way as Lime. They also cost the same: 1 Euro for unlocking, 15 Cents for one minute of use. Your discount code is: pbQJ1ZQM
• Voi: These scooters are a bit heavier and a bit more modern than those companies I mentioned earlier. I do not see the difference. The cost is also the same. Your discount code is: tnSZNzgGAS

Bicycles

I do not know if it is a good idea to rent a bicycle in Lisbon. There are so many hills, hills and hills that riding a bike can get tired. For example, visiting Alfama on a hot day on a bike may end up not very well. Rent a bike only if you are in good shape.

• Gira: They are everywhere in Lisbon and have become very fast. Gira offers electric bikes, so you will definitely get a little less tired.
• Uber Jump: A recent addition to the city. They are very easy to use and they are also electric, so you don’t put any effort into riding them. Your discount code: joannas4551ue

Scooters

If you’ve been following my blog for a long time, you know for a fact that I really like scooters. I wrote a lot about scooters in Thailand.

In Lisbon and Portugal, I do not use them as often as I would like. Maybe it will sound funny, but in Europe I’m afraid to go on the road. However, I have one recommendation for you.

E-Cooltra scooters are extremely popular among the Lisboners. They ride them everywhere. It is an extremely convenient and fast means of transport, as well as quite cheap.

E-Cooltra offers packages, the cheapest of which costs 22 Euro. By purchasing it, you pay 23 Cents per minute, which is around 80 Euro per hour. When you buy the most expensive package for 94 Euro, you pay 19 Cents per minute.

Cars – applications

In Lisbon, you can rent a car through an application similar to that offered by, for example, Lime or E-Cooltra. Thanks to it, you locate the car, unlock and drive. Just a note! All applications listed below work only in the city.

• Emov: these white electric cars with a pink sign you will see everywhere in Lisbon. They are small, quiet, comfortable and there are eco too! You pay only 21 Cents per minute.
• Drive now: they stand out because they offer BMW and Mini. They also do not have designated parking spaces, so you park where you want. The cost is 29 Cents per minute.

My favourite application:

Emove – because they are primarily eco-friendly and also cheaper.

Car rental places

In Lisbon it is extremely easy to rent a car. Most rental is right at the airport. You can book your car online before arrival. The earlier you book, the less you pay.

• Discover Cars: a site, which I often use and which works like a price comparison site. It finds the best deals around an works with the biggest car rentals companies. You can rent your car here!
• Interrent: a company that I often use because of very good prices. Their accounting system, however, leaves much to be desired. I recommend if they have good promotions.

As you can see there is a wide choice of transportation in Lisbon and you will definitely not get lost here. Remember also that this city is made for getting lost and walking. Sometimes it’s best to avoid any type of transport and choose your own two feet.

Do you have any questions? Would you like to share your experiences or your point of view? Don’t be shy! Leave a comment!