Public transportation

Public transport with the Lisboa Card

With the Lisboa Card, you can use all public transport in Lisbon for free - this guide shows you how.

Buy Lisboa Card now

The Lisboa Card as a ticket for local transport

The Lisboa Card is valid as a ticket for all public transport in the city (except the Tagus ferries and local buses in Sintra/Cascais). This includes the metro, buses, streetcars (including the famous line 28E), the funiculars and the Santa Justa elevator. Even the local trains to Sintra and Cascais and the train over the Tagus Bridge to Pragal (Almada) are included. It is available as a 24h, 48h or 72h pass and is only activated the first time it is used; from then on, the selected period runs.

Die historische Tram 28 ist ein Wahrzeichen von Lissabon. Mit der Lisboa Card fährst du auch mit dieser Straßenbahn kostenlos.

Practical use

  1. Pick up your card: Pick up your Lisboa Card at the airport or at a tourist office and enter your name and start date/time on the back.
  2. Validation & travel: Hold the card up to the reader each time you travel (at the turnstile in the metro, on buses and streetcars when boarding). The first validation activates the card and starts the validity period.
  3. Inspection: Simply show the valid Lisboa Card at a ticket inspection (with ID for identification if necessary).

Timetable and public transport app

The metro runs from around 6:30 am to 1:00 am. Most bus and streetcar lines run from around 5:00-24:00 (main lines longer). At night, night buses run every hour on the main routes. There are also continuous connections at weekends, albeit at longer intervals.

Download the official app Carris (Android / iOS) for up-to-date information - it offers route planners, live departure times and network maps.

Important lines for tourists

  • From the airport & train stations to the city center: The red metro line runs directly from the airport to the city center. The Oriente, Santa Apolónia and Sete Rios stations also have metro connections. From Rossio station, the suburban train runs to Sintra, from Cais do Sodré the train to Cascais - both free with the Card.
  • Reach sights: You can explore the old town (with Castelo) by streetcar 28E. To Belém (Torre de Belém, Jerónimos Monastery) take the modern 15E streetcar. Bus 728 (Parque das Nações - Belém) offers a panoramic route along the Tagus.
  • Central transfer points: Baixa-Chiado, Marquês de Pombal and Cais do Sodré are important hubs - lines intersect here, making it easier to find your way around.
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