Using the Lisbon Metro

The metro is useful for longer journeys across Lisbon, especially from the airport. Start with the station closest to your destination, then check the walking route from its exit. A central station can still leave you with stairs or an uphill walk.

Find your line and direction

Use the official network map and follow both the line colour and the destination shown on the platform. Check service notices on the day: planned extensions and engineering works are a reason to use the current map rather than a saved screenshot from an old article.

From Aeroporto, take the Red Line. Alameda connects with the Green Line for Rossio and Baixa-Chiado; Saldanha connects with the Yellow Line for Marquês de Pombal. That last journey requires a change: there is no direct airport-to-Marquês train. For Belém, plan an onward surface connection; Belém is not a metro station.

Tickets and contactless payment

You can load an occasional transport card at a station machine, or use a supported contactless bank card directly at the gates. With bank-card payment, each passenger must use their own card or device, and the same one must be used at entry and exit. A phone wallet and its linked physical card are not interchangeable within that journey.

See our 2026 fare comparison for single tickets, zapping and day tickets. Zapping is prepaid credit on a transport card; paying with a bank card is a separate product. Keep that distinction in mind when comparing the price.

A Carris/Metro single permits eligible transfers within 60 minutes, but not two consecutive entries into the metro after exiting. A 24-hour ticket runs from first validation, rather than expiring automatically at midnight. Read the operator’s conditions for the product you buy.

At the gates and on the train

Validate at the entrance and retain your card for the exit. If a gate rejects it, use the help point or ask station staff rather than buying a second product at random. On the platform, let passengers off first and keep luggage clear of doors and priority spaces.

Keep bags and valuables close in crowded carriages. For wider visitor assistance and the tourist-police contact, see safety in Lisbon.

Hours and step-free access

Normal metro opening is 06:30–01:00 daily, including weekends and public holidays. Check the official timetable and leave a margin if you need to change lines near closing time; a late flight can require another way into town.

Check line and lift status before travelling if lifts are essential. Accessibility depends on your whole route, including the street entrance and any interchange. Do not assume every station has a working step-free route.

For arrivals with bags, compare the metro with the alternatives in our airport transfer guide.