Public transport in Lisbon

Getting around by metro, tram and bus with the Lisboa Card

The Lisboa Card is your ticket for all of Lisbon's local transport: unlimited journeys on the metro, trams, buses and suburban trains for 24, 48 or 72 hours.

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Lisbon is a city of hills, long distances and hot summers. If you only get around on foot, you soon reach your limits. Luckily the public transport network is excellent.

With the Lisboa Card you can use the whole network free of charge: metro, buses, trams, funiculars (currently out of service) and even suburban trains to Sintra and Cascais. Here is what is included and how to use it.

What the Lisboa Card includes at a glance

Mode of transport	Operator	Included?	Note
Metro (4 lines)	Metropolitano de Lisboa	✓	Includes the airport connection
Buses	CARRIS	✓	All of Lisbon
Trams	CARRIS	✓	Includes the historic Tram 28E
Funiculars	CARRIS	✓	Glória, Lavra, Bica, currently out of service
Elevador de Santa Justa	CARRIS	✓	Currently out of service. Viewing platform not included
Suburban trains	CP (Comboios de Portugal)	✓	To Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja
Fertagus bridge train	Fertagus	✓	Lisbon to Setúbal over the Ponte 25 de Abril
Ferries on the Tagus	Transtejo / Soflusa	✕	Separate ticket required
Buses in Sintra/Cascais	Scotturb	✕	Local buses on site not included
Long-distance trains	CP	✕	Only suburban trains are included

Modes of transport

The metro as the main mode of transport

The metro is the backbone of Lisbon's local transport. Four lines connect the airport, the city centre, the railway stations and all the main districts. The trains are air-conditioned.

Passengers on the platform of a metro station in Lisbon

The metro network has four colour-coded lines that together cover the main districts and sights. The metro runs daily from 6.30am to 1am, with trains every 4 to 8 minutes at peak times.

Red line (Vermelha)

From Aeroporto via Oriente to São Sebastião. Direct link from the airport to the centre.

Blue line (Azul)

From Reboleira to Santa Apolónia. Stops at Marquês de Pombal and Restauradores.

Green line (Verde)

From Telheiras to Cais do Sodré. Close to Alfama, Baixa-Chiado and the connection to trains to Cascais.

Yellow line (Amarela)

From Odivelas to Rato. A fast north-south link through the city centre.

From the airport to the centre: board the red line at the airport. At Alameda station you can change to the green line towards Baixa-Chiado. The journey takes about 25–30 minutes and is free with the Lisboa Card.

The most important metro stops for tourists:

Baixa-Chiado

The heart of the city centre. Access to many bus lines, a walk to Tram 28.

Rossio

Green line. Trains to Sintra leave from the neighbouring Rossio railway station.

Cais do Sodré

Green line. Trains to Cascais and ferries to Cacilhas leave from here.

Oriente

Red line. Parque das Nações, the Expo site, the Oceanário, the long-distance railway station.

Modes of transport

Tram 28E, Lisbon's best-known tram

Tram 28E is a sight in its own right. The historic yellow carriages climb through Lisbon's steepest lanes.

Historic yellow Tram 28 heading for Martim Moniz on cobblestones

The route runs from Martim Moniz through Graça and Alfama, past the Castelo de São Jorge and the Sé cathedral, on through Baixa and Chiado to Estrela and Prazeres. The whole ride takes about 40 minutes and links several of the most interesting districts along the way.

Avoid peak times: between 10am and 3pm the carriages are often packed. Early in the morning before 9am or in the evening after 6pm it is much more pleasant. The best seats are on the right-hand side by the window when travelling towards Martim Moniz, from where you can see across Alfama.

Pickpockets: Tram 28 is unfortunately a known hotspot. Keep valuables in a front pocket or a bum bag. Alternative: bus 737 takes a similar route and is much quieter.

Modes of transport

Buses with the city's biggest network

The yellow CARRIS buses link practically every corner of Lisbon. They are especially useful for places the metro and trams do not reach, such as Belém, LX Factory or the Campo de Ourique district.

CARRIS bus in the evening on Praça da Figueira in Lisbon

With the Lisboa Card you can use all CARRIS bus lines without limit, by day and by night. Most lines run between 6am and 11pm. After that, night buses cover the main routes.

Particularly useful are bus lines 714 and 728 towards Belém (from Praça do Comércio), bus 737 as a quiet alternative to Tram 28, and bus 744 to Parque das Nações. At most stops, digital display boards show the next departures in real time.

Always board at the front and hold the Lisboa Card against the reader. When getting off, press the stop button and use the middle or rear door.

Modes of transport

Lisbon's historic funiculars

Three historic funiculars conquer Lisbon's steepest hills and save you hundreds of steps. With the Lisboa Card you save the regular fare of €4.30 per journey.

Two yellow Ascensor da Bica funicular cars passing each other in the narrow lane

Ascensor da Glória

From Restauradores up to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, one of the best-known viewpoints in the city. Journey time about 2 minutes.

Ascensor da Bica

In the Bica district, it connects Rua de São Paulo with Largo do Calhariz. One of Lisbon's most popular photo spots and a handy shortcut.

Ascensor do Lavra

Lisbon's oldest funicular (since 1884). Less touristy, with mostly everyday city life on board.

All three funiculars are currently out of service. Carris recommends bus lines 51E (Glória), 22B (Bica) and 19B (Lavra) as replacements.

Modes of transport

Elevador de Santa Justa

The cast-iron lift from 1902 connects the Baixa with the Chiado district. A city landmark and a practical way to get around at the same time.

The lift is currently out of service, and no reopening date has been set. In normal operation you ride free with the Lisboa Card, while the on-board price is €6.20. The viewing platform at the top with the view over the Baixa, the Castelo de São Jorge and the Tagus is not included in the Lisboa Card.

The wait is often 20–30 minutes during the day. Early in the morning or in the evening it is much shorter. Alternatively, you can enter the lift from the top. The access from Largo do Carmo is usually less busy.

Modes of transport

Suburban trains to Sintra, Cascais and Setúbal

The Lisboa Card is also valid outside the city limits: suburban trains from Comboios de Portugal and the Fertagus bridge train take you to popular day-trip destinations.

CP train at Santa Apolónia station in Lisbon

Sintra

Trains from Rossio station, journey time about 40 minutes. Free with the Lisboa Card. Note: local buses in Sintra (Scotturb) are not included. At the Palácio da Pena the Lisboa Card gives adults a 10% discount, not free entry.

Cascais

Trains from Cais do Sodré along the coast, journey time about 33 minutes. One of the most beautiful railway lines in Portugal. The sights in Cascais are mostly within walking distance.

Setúbal by bridge train

The Fertagus train runs from Roma-Areeiro or Entrecampos over the Ponte 25 de Abril to Setúbal. Less well known, but ideal for travellers looking for an authentic, little-touristed destination.

Not included: long-distance trains (e.g. to Porto or the Algarve), local buses in Sintra and Cascais (Scotturb) and ferries on the Tagus (Transtejo/Soflusa).

Guide

How to use the Lisboa Card on public transport

The Lisboa Card works as a contactless card at all readers on Lisbon's local transport. Here are the key steps.

Collect

Collect the Lisboa Card at an Ask Me Lisboa point, for example at the airport, on Praça do Comércio or at other locations in the city.

Fill in

Write your name on the card. Note the date and time of first use. Only then does the validity period begin.

Hold the card against the reader and board. The validity period only starts at first use, not at collection. So you can collect the card at the airport and only activate it the next morning.

How checking in works on the different modes of transport:

Metro

Check in at the entrance and check out at the exit. Both steps are compulsory.

Tram, bus, funicular

Check in only when boarding. No check-out needed.

Suburban trains (CP/Fertagus)

Check in at the platform access or show the card to the conductor.

Attractions

Show the card at the ticket desk. Free entry to over 50 museums and monuments.

Common mistakes: not filling in the card (without name, date and time it is invalid), misjudging the validity period (48 hours from first use, not two calendar days) and wrongly assuming that local buses in Sintra are included.

Common questions

Common questions about public transport in Lisbon

The key questions about using public transport in Lisbon and the region, with and without the Lisboa Card.

Are the ferries on the Tagus included?

No. The Transtejo and Soflusa ferries are not included in the Lisboa Card. If you want to cross to Cacilhas, for example, you buy a separate ticket (€1.60 per journey with a Viva Viagem card). The ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas takes only about 10 minutes.

Can I use night buses with the Lisboa Card?

Yes, the CARRIS night buses are included, as long as you are still within the validity period of your Lisboa Card. The night lines run after midnight on the main routes.

Does the Lisboa Card work on buses in Sintra?

No. The Scotturb buses that run in Sintra between the railway station and the palaces (Pena, Sintra National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira) are not included. Only the CP train from Rossio to Sintra station is included. A Scotturb bus day ticket is worth it if you want to visit several palaces.

Is the Lisboa Card also valid on trains to Cascais?

Yes. The suburban trains of Comboios de Portugal (CP) from Cais do Sodré to Cascais are fully included in the Lisboa Card. The journey takes about 33 minutes and runs right along the coast. You can also get off along the way at Estoril or Belém.

What is the Fertagus bridge train?

The Fertagus is a regional train that runs from Lisbon (from Roma-Areeiro or Entrecampos) over the Ponte 25 de Abril to Setúbal. The ride over the bridge gives a spectacular view of Lisbon and the Tagus. With the Lisboa Card the whole route is free.

How often does the metro run in Lisbon?

The metro runs daily from about 6.30am to 1am. At peak times trains come every 4 to 6 minutes, off-peak every 6 to 8 minutes. At weekends and on public holidays the interval may be somewhat longer.

Do I have to check in and out on the metro?

Yes, on the metro you must check in at the entrance and check out at the exit. Both steps are compulsory. Without checking out, the card may cause problems the next time you check in. On trams, buses and funiculars, checking in when boarding is enough.

When does my Lisboa Card's validity period start?

The validity period starts at first use, not at purchase or collection. So you can, for example, collect the card at the airport in the evening and first use it the next morning. From first use, the period you chose (24, 48 or 72 hours) then runs.

Do I also need a Viva Viagem card?

Not while your Lisboa Card is valid. The Lisboa Card works at all readers on Lisbon's local transport. You only need a Viva Viagem card (Lisbon's regular transport card) once your Lisboa Card has expired or if you want to use modes of transport that are not included, such as ferries.

How do I get from the airport to the city centre?

The easiest way is the metro (red line), which starts right at the airport. Collect your Lisboa Card at the tourist information desk at the airport and board straight away. At Alameda station you can change to the green line towards Baixa-Chiado. The journey takes 25–30 minutes and is free with the Lisboa Card.

Can I also use the Aerobus with the Lisboa Card?

No. The Aerobus (airport bus) is not operated by CARRIS and is therefore not included in the Lisboa Card. As the metro also goes to the airport and is included in the Lisboa Card, you generally do not need the Aerobus.

Is there an app for public transport in Lisbon?

Yes, the Metro de Lisboa and CARRIS apps show timetables and real-time information. Google Maps also works well in Lisbon for public transport navigation and shows departure times, interchanges and walking routes.

Is Lisbon accessible?

The metro stations are mostly accessible, with lifts and ramps. Modern buses are generally low-floor. The historic trams (Tram 28E) and funiculars, however, are not wheelchair-accessible. For step-free routes, we recommend using the metro and modern buses.

Is the Lisboa Card also valid on trains to Azambuja?

Yes, the Azambuja line is included. It does not leave from Rossio, but runs via Sete Rios and Oriente, among others. It has little tourist relevance, but can be useful for travellers heading to the northern suburbs.

As of October 2026. Timetables, prices and operators may change. You will find the most up-to-date information on the websites of CARRIS, Metropolitano de Lisboa and Comboios de Portugal.

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