Lisbon Portugal - TravelsWithElle

The Ultimate Guide To Getting Around Lisbon By Public Transportation

by

Lisbon, Portugal is a city of various steep hills, winding alleyways, historical beauty, and wonderful surprises at every possible corner.

Within the city center, it’s best to explore on foot—but if you really want to see everything this destination has to offer, you might need to rely on some wheels.

This is where Lisbon’s public transportation comes in to make your exploration easier!

What you’ll find is that there will almost always be several ways to get to your destination.

The option you go with will really depend on how much time you have to spare and what your travel style is. Keep reading to get the download on the best ways to get around town.

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

HOW TO GET AROUND LISBON, PORTUGAL

For the majority of the time, you’ll either find yourself walking around Lisbon on foot or taking public transportation (with the metro being the most useful).

On foot

The historical city center of Lisbon is relatively compact, making it easy to explore on foot. In fact, it’s the only way to see some quintessential neighborhoods like Alfama, where cars can barely fit in the windy roads.

But, there are pretty hilly parts of the city too. In fact, Lisbon is a city of seven hills and no matter what you have planned for the day, you’ll likely find yourself walking upwards at some point.

Because the city is so hilly, you’ll find that walking everywhere isn’t exactly feasible.

Public transportation

For cases where you just don’t have the energy to take on another hill or you want to venture farther out to places like Belém, Lisbon’s got your back with an amazing public transportation system that includes trains, buses, and trams.

TRAVEL TIP: In order to determine which public transportation is most efficient, simply pop in your starting point and destination into your GPS app to explore your options.

During all my Lisbon visits, I’ve taken all of the above: the metro, the train, the bus, and the tram (just once for the heck of it). Otherwise, I definitely aimed to tire my feet out by walking to every corner of Lisbon possible!

To use any means of public transportation, you’ll need to buy a Viva Viagem card. The Viva Viagem is a reloadable card that’s a quick and easy way to pay for rides on public transportation in Lisbon.

Alternatively, if you purchased a Lisboa Card, you can take advantage of free, unlimited travel by all public transportation, including the metro.

Here are a few more details about each of the transportation methods available:

TRAM

Lisbon has six tram lines operated by Carris, as well as a few elevators that will allow you to skip the need to manually walk up the city’s steep hills. If you’re not in a rush to get anywhere fast, taking these can be a fun way to discover the city and get those photo ops.

A tram ticket will set you back €2.90 (about $3.50 USD). Costs to ride the elevators vary.

Do note though, Tram 28 is now a tourist attraction, making it the most famous tram line. It’s no wonder it’s the most popular because It runs through some of Lisbon’s most iconic neighborhoods including the Alfama, Graça, and Chiado.

And because Tram 28 and the Santa Justa Elevator double as attractions, expect crowds during the majority of the day.

Guide To Getting Around Lisbon By Public Transportation - TravelsWithElle

METRO

The metro is the quickest and most practical way to travel around the city. The metro network has a total of 4 lines that serve 55 stations, each denoted by a different color: green, blue, yellow, and red. One of the reasons why it’s so convenient (and our preferred method of traveling around Lisbon) is that the metro operates every single day from 6:30am to 1am with trains running every 6 to 9 minutes.

If you’re a germophobe who tends to stay away from subways in the USA, there’s no need to worry in Lisbon because the ones there are very clean and well-maintained!

Lisbon’s Metro stations are designated by large M signs that are next to stations. A single ticket costs €1.80 (about $2 USD). A day pass, which includes the use of buses, trains, and trams, costs €6.80 (less than $8 USD).

You’ll need to swipe your Viva Viagem card (or Lisboa Card) both when you enter and exit the metro, so keep it within arms reach for a speedy entrance and exit.

BUS

Lisbon’s bright yellow buses are cheap, quick, and efficient. Similar to the trams and elevators, the buses are operated by Carris.

With a total of 170+ routes, buses can take you to a wide variety of destinations, including those you can’t get to by metro or tram.

Bus rides do usually take longer than the metro (and run the risk of getting stuck in rush-hour traffic), so if you had the option to choose between bus or metro, I’d go with the metro option.

Buses in Lisbon run from around 5am-1am and costs €1.80 with your Viva Viagem card. The Lisboa Card also includes free bus rides.

If you are waiting for the bus at a bus stop, it’s completely normal to wave at the driver of the bus so that it doesn’t drive past you. Hop on via the front door, and get off via the back door.

TRAIN

If you plan on visiting Sintra and Cascais, the commuter train (or comboios) will be the best option for you. In total, there are 67 stations within the four lines: Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja and Sado.

If you’re a visitor, you’ll probably be interested in the Sintra and Cascais lines.

Train services to Sintra depart from Rossio Station. Sintra is served by regular trains that run every 15-20 minutes and the entire trip takes about 45 minutes.

Train services to Cascais depart from Cais do Sodré Station. Trains run every 10-30 minutes and the journey takes about 40 minutes.

Remember to validate your ticket at the station before actually boarding the train. Your ticket will most likely be inspected once on board, so you don’t want to be on there without having paid for your trip!

TUK-TUK, TAXI, BOLT, OR UBER

If you’re not interested in public transportation, your other options include taking a tuk-tuk, taxi, Bolt, or Uber.

These modes of transportation are relatively inexpensive compared to other parts of Europe and tend to be the most convenient method of getting around.

If you’re traveling with a larger group and plan to split the costs of taxiing or Bolt/Uber-ing, this may be a viable method of transportation. Also if you’re going to be out late into the night, this will probably be the best option for you.

Do note that during rush hour, you’ll be sitting in your cab/rideshare for a while thanks to all that traffic in the city!

USEFUL CARDS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN LISBON

Save time and money with a Lisboa Card or a Viva Viagem card.

LISBOA CARD

If you plan on visiting a bunch of sites, landmarks, and tourist attractions and you plan on taking a lot of public transportation in and around Lisbon, you should consider getting the Lisboa Card, an all-inclusive attraction and transportation card.

With the Lisboa Card, you can choose between a 24, 48, or 72-hour card that will give you free admission to 37+ museums and historic buildings, various discounts around the city, and unlimited free access to the public transportation system.

Not only will you save on admission costs and precious time waiting in ticketing lines, but you’ll also save a bunch on transportation costs!

The price of the Lisboa Card ranges from €27 to €54 depending on the duration of the card you select.

  • For adults: 1 day costs €27, 2 days costs €44, and 3 days costs €54
  • For children: 1 day costs €18, 2 days costs €24.50, and 3 days costs €30.50

👉 Pro Tip: If you don’t want to pay for more than 24 hours of the Lisboa Card, try to squeeze in as many paid activities as possible in 24 hours! We were able to do Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, National Tile Museum, and the Coach Museum in 24 hours (and used it for transportation all over the place), which made the card worth the money for us.

VIVA VIAGEM

Viva Viagem - Lisbon Portugal Travel Tips

To use any means of public transportation, you’ll need to buy a Viva Viagem card.

The Viva Viagem card is a quick and easy way to pay for rides on public transportation in Lisbon. You won’t be saving any money as you would with the Lisboa Card, but they are pretty darn convenient.

This card can be used to travel on the metro, bus, tram, funicular, ferry, and commuter train without requiring you to pull out exact change each and every time. Simply preload your card and hop on board the transportation vehicle of your choosing!

You can purchase a Viva Viagem card at the ticket vending machines or ticket offices at any metro, ferry, and train station. The Viva Viagem card costs €0.50 and can be unlimitedly reloaded for one year after purchase.

If you’re traveling with others, you will need a separate card for each person. However, you can also lend a Viva Viagem card to someone else, but only if you’re not traveling at the same time.

HOW TO GET TO LISBON FROM THE AIRPORT

Travels With Elle

Located just 20 minutes away from the city center, getting from the airport to the city of Lisbon (or vice versa) is super easy and straightforward. You have a few options, depending on your budget.

METRO

The Lisbon Airport has a metro station with a direct line to the city center. Taking the ‘Aeroporto – Saldanha’ line will take you to downtown Lisbon in about 20 minutes.

Simply buy a Viva Viagem electronic card for €0.50, load it up (Single Fare Price: €1.80), and hop onto the subway. You’ll get off at whichever stop is closest to your hotel/accommodation.

AEROBUS

The Aerobús is an affordable and easy-to-use shuttle service that links Lisbon Airport to the city center in just about 45 minutes. It consists of two routes, one runs through the city center and the other runs through the city’s financial district.

The Aerobús departs every 20 minutes and runs from 7:30 am – 9 pm. These buses have free Wi-Fi, USB chargers, and luggage compartments. A one-way adult ticket costs € 4 (less than $5 USD).

  • One-way trip (Adult: €4.00, Child: €2.00)
  • Round trip (Adult: €6.00, Child: €3.00)

BOLT/UBER

If I choose not to take public transportation in Lisbon, you’ll find me in a Bolt getting around town.

If you’re not keen on public transportation, Bolt is your go-to ride-sharing option – think of it as Portugal’s version of Uber (and yes, Uber works here too!).

Once you land at LIS airport, simply fire up the Bolt or Uber app on your phone, enter your destination in the city center, and wait for your ride to arrive. It’s super convenient, reliable, and best of all — super affordable!

I’ve found rideshare costs from the airport to the city center to cost anywhere from €12-15.

To ride, you just need to walk to the designated rideshare pickup area at the airport.

And when it’s time to head back to the airport at the end of your trip, just hop in another Bolt ride to make your journey stress-free.

TAXI

Taking a taxi is going to be the most convenient method of getting to the city center. And surprisingly, it’s pretty affordable for a major European city.

It normally costs around €20 (about $23 USD) to get to the city center.

One advantage of taking a taxi is that they’ll take you to exactly where you need to go (no need to walk around town with the hassle of your luggage/bags).

You can always find a taxi at the airport, as they normally line up outside the departures and arrivals terminals.

If you’re worried about getting scammed, you should purchase a pre-paid ticket in the taxi stand before getting into any taxi. That way, you will know the exact price you’ll pay ahead of time. The ride will take approximately 20 minutes to reach your destination.

ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR GETTING AROUND LISBON, PORTUGAL

  1. With all the walking that you’ll be doing, make sure to wear a good pair of walking shoes. My all-time favorite travel shoes these days are the tried and true Ecco Soft 7’s (they’re stylish, comfortable, and have been raved about for decades since they were first created)! The best part is that they have them for both men and women.
  2. Tram #28 is especially popular with tourists, so it can be quite crowded. On really bad days, you can even find wait times to board at over an hour. If you want to try out the tram, aim to hop on board on one of the earlier trams of the day. The early bird gets the worm!
  3. Pickpocketing can be common in trams, particularly on Tram 28. Though Portugal has a fairly low crime rate, as with any major travel destination, it’s always best to take precautions to protect yourself and your belongings.
  4. Consider getting the flexible Lisboa Card. You’ll get to enjoy unlimited travel on city transport, as well as free admission to 37 museums and historic buildings and get additional discounts throughout town!
Alfama District Lisbon Portugal - TravelsWithElle

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: LISBON TRAVEL

IS LISBON SAFE?

The short answer is yes; Lisbon is considered to be an exceptionally safe city, especially when compared to other popular European destinations.

The crime rate in Lisbon is low compared to other major cities and most visitors report feeling safe while they are there. I’ve been to Lisbon twice and I’ve never encountered anything sketchy, other than the peddlers who try to sell you friendship bracelets by trying to tie them on your wrist as you pass them by!

Having said that, you should still take standard travel safety precautions such as being aware of your surroundings, not walking alone at night, and avoiding secluded areas.

And as with any major metropolitan city, pickpocketing can occur in tourist hotspots like on public transportation or near monuments. To avoid this potential issue, it’s best to keep your belongings in an anti-theft travel bag, keep them close by, and always remain vigilant when out exploring the city.

With that in mind, you should have an enjoyable and safe experience while visiting Lisbon!

IS LISBON EXPENSIVE?

When compared with other major cities in Europe, Lisbon is definitely not expensive. I’d say Lisbon is cheaper than cities like Paris, Milan, and Rome, but more expensive than cities like Prague, Budapest, and Krakow.

A cup of coffee rarely costs more than 1 euro, and wine/beer is not too much more expensive. And on the food side, local Portuguese food is very high quality and inexpensive.

While you can certainly rack up some hefty expenses in Lisbon, such as accommodation costs and dining out at higher-end restaurants, there are also plenty of ways to explore this vibrant city without breaking the bank.

In fact, many activities can be done for free or very low cost – walking around the streets of Alfama, taking free walking tours around the city, exploring Parque das Nações, or enjoying free admission to paid attractions with a Lisboa Card!

If you’re trying to do Lisbon on a budget, shopping at local markets, staying at hostels, and eating at cafés or casual counter-service restaurants can also help keep your costs down.

IS LISBON HILLY?

The answer is both yes and no, depending on where in Lisbon you are.

Lisbon does contain several hills, including many steep cobbled streets in its old quarter. However, for the most part, the streets are quite flat. This makes it easy to explore on foot or by bike without having to worry about tiring yourself out too quickly with all the inclines!

In some parts of Lisbon, you may come across quite hilly climbs, but this isn’t true for every area as there are plenty of parks and waterfront districts which offer great views without too much effort.

If you plan on taking public transport then don’t worry either; many buses and trams can make their way up steep hills with ease!

Planning Your Trip To Portugal?

Here are some of our other Portugal travel guides to help you plan an incredible trip there!

Lisbon

Near Lisbon

Porto

Related

Other Posts You’ll Love:

Photo of author

AUTHOR

Elle Leung

My name is Elle and I'm a travel blogger and adventurer based in California. I love helping people plan trips and create unique itineraries based on their interests and their budgets. I'm a huge fan of outdoor adventures and doing off-the-beaten-path things in my state (and all around the world too)!

Leave a Comment