Lisbon is a beautiful city with lots to see and do. The best way to explore the city is by using public transportation. Fortunately, Lisbon has an extensive public transportation system that includes buses, metro, trains, boats, elevators, and funiculars.
To pay for all public transport the Viva Viagem card is probably your best friend as you can load a daily ticket, valid for 24 hours when first used or several tickets at discounted prices. The card is rechargeable and can be used on all modes of public transport in Lisbon and costs €0.50 to purchase. Especially for the funicular's its worthwhile as the on the door price is significantly more than with a pre-paid ticket. It is not a must as you can also purchase tickets in buses and at train stations, however it is advisable if you plan on using public transport throughout your stay. You can also prepay for individual tickets and use zapping if you only plan to do one or two trips on any given day. New: use your contactless card where you can tap in and out.
For families with small kids we recommend the daily pass as it gives you freedom to navigate through the city and hop on and off whenever you like and your little ones feet are tired of walking! Do note transport is for free for under 5s, no ticket needed as long as they are travelling with a paying adult.
To pay for all public transport the Viva Viagem card is probably your best friend as you can load a daily ticket, valid for 24 hours when first used or several tickets at discounted prices. The card is rechargeable and can be used on all modes of public transport in Lisbon and costs €0.50 to purchase. Especially for the funicular's its worthwhile as the on the door price is significantly more than with a pre-paid ticket. It is not a must as you can also purchase tickets in buses and at train stations, however it is advisable if you plan on using public transport throughout your stay. You can also prepay for individual tickets and use zapping if you only plan to do one or two trips on any given day. New: use your contactless card where you can tap in and out.
For current fares please check directly on the local transport site
Overview Public Transport Options
Tram 28 is the most notorious transport, however also the most crowded. We spend a whole summer hopping on and off in 2021 when they city was still empty and absolutely loved to check out the playgrounds along the route (at the time our daughter was 3 years old). To grab a seat now, you either have to be very lucky, be at the start of the line or catch it very early or later on in the evening. Anytime you hop on it will be a special experience. A great alternative is tram 12 that used to go around Alfama in a loop. It now goes all the way to Bairro Alto/Chiado as there is some construction at the end of the loop and the tracks are blocked! They typically start between 6:30-7am and stop at 11:30pm to midnight depending on the route.
Buses are the most common form of public transportation in Lisbon, and they serve most parts of the city. There are several different bus routes, and the buses operate daily from 5:00am until midnight.
The metro is another convenient way to get around Lisbon. It has four lines that connect different parts of the city, and the trains run from 6:30am until 1:00am.
Especially if you are coming from the airport and want to save some bucks you can opt for the subway (usually around ~ 40 min to get to the historic downtown) or the aerobus (separate ticket).
Trains are an excellent way to travel to places outside of Lisbon, such as Sintra, Queluz, Belem, Cascais, and Setúbal. There are several different train stations in Lisbon, including Santa Apolónia, Oriente, and Rossio. It is to note that some stations have gates to access whereas others do not. If the latter is the case, look for the touch in and touch out hub to not incur a penalty before leaving the station. Also arrive in advance of the departure time as not only do doors close earlier for a timely departure, the trains can get overcrowded and you may end up standing your whole journey.
Boats are another unique way to explore Lisbon. The local ferry connects Lisbon to Cacilhas, Seixal, and Montijo, and the river cruise takes you along the Tagus River, where you can enjoy stunning views of the city.
Lisbon also has several elevators and funiculars that are worth experiencing, especially if you're exploring the historic neighborhoods of the city. The Elevador da Glória connects Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto neighborhood, Elevador Bica connects Cais do Sodré (Santos) to Bairro Alto. The Elevador Santa Justa connects Baixa to the Carmo Square. It was build by Gustav Eiffel. Ascensor da Lavra is the oldest and connects the Anjos neighborhood to the Torel Garden. They run from ~7am till midnight with the exception of Ascensor da Lavra that stops running at 9pm.
When using these elevators and funiculars, it's worth noting that they can get busy during peak times, so it's best to plan ahead and allow extra time for waiting. Nevertheless, they are an excellent way to experience Lisbon's unique urban landscape while saving some energy and avoiding walking up steep hills.
Additionally, there are several bike and scooter rental services are available throughout the city, making it easy to explore Lisbon on your own.
And if exploring on your own is not enough and you want to dwelve into the history of Lisbon in more detail and at a fast pace, we can organise experiences for you with tuk tuk or in a private air conditioned vehicle. We also have 15% discount for Hippotrip and 10% for Lisboat. Ask us for details and we gladly help you plan your trip! Check out all experiences https://ldapartments.pt/offers/ or email us @ reservations@ldapartments.pt
Overview Public Transport Options
Tram 28 is the most notorious transport, however also the most crowded. We spend a whole summer hopping on and off in 2021 when they city was still empty and absolutely loved to check out the playgrounds along the route (at the time our daughter was 3 years old). To grab a seat now, you either have to be very lucky, be at the start of the line or catch it very early or later on in the evening. Anytime you hop on it will be a special experience. A great alternative is tram 12 that used to go around Alfama in a loop. It now goes all the way to Bairro Alto/Chiado as there is some construction at the end of the loop and the tracks are blocked! They typically start between 6:30-7am and stop at 11:30pm to midnight depending on the route.
Buses are the most common form of public transportation in Lisbon, and they serve most parts of the city. There are several different bus routes, and the buses operate daily from 5:00am until midnight.
The metro is another convenient way to get around Lisbon. It has four lines that connect different parts of the city, and the trains run from 6:30am until 1:00am.
Especially if you are coming from the airport and want to save some bucks you can opt for the subway (usually around ~ 40 min to get to the historic downtown) or the aerobus (separate ticket).
Trains are an excellent way to travel to places outside of Lisbon, such as Sintra, Queluz, Belem, Cascais, and Setúbal. There are several different train stations in Lisbon, including Santa Apolónia, Oriente, and Rossio. It is to note that some stations have gates to access whereas others do not. If the latter is the case, look for the touch in and touch out hub to not incur a penalty before leaving the station. Also arrive in advance of the departure time as not only do doors close earlier for a timely departure, the trains can get overcrowded and you may end up standing your whole journey.
Boats are another unique way to explore Lisbon. The local ferry connects Lisbon to Cacilhas, Seixal, and Montijo, and the river cruise takes you along the Tagus River, where you can enjoy stunning views of the city.
Lisbon also has several elevators and funiculars that are worth experiencing, especially if you're exploring the historic neighborhoods of the city. The Elevador da Glória connects Restauradores Square to the Bairro Alto neighborhood, Elevador Bica connects Cais do Sodré (Santos) to Bairro Alto. The Elevador Santa Justa connects Baixa to the Carmo Square. It was build by Gustav Eiffel. Ascensor da Lavra is the oldest and connects the Anjos neighborhood to the Torel Garden. They run from ~7am till midnight with the exception of Ascensor da Lavra that stops running at 9pm.
When using these elevators and funiculars, it's worth noting that they can get busy during peak times, so it's best to plan ahead and allow extra time for waiting. Nevertheless, they are an excellent way to experience Lisbon's unique urban landscape while saving some energy and avoiding walking up steep hills.
Additionally, there are several bike and scooter rental services are available throughout the city, making it easy to explore Lisbon on your own.
And if exploring on your own is not enough and you want to dwelve into the history of Lisbon in more detail and at a fast pace, we can organise experiences for you with tuk tuk or in a private air conditioned vehicle. We also have 15% discount for Hippotrip and 10% for Lisboat. Ask us for details and we gladly help you plan your trip! Check out all experiences https://ldapartments.pt/offers/ or email us @ reservations@ldapartments.pt
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