Metro System
Lisbon's metro is clean, efficient, and covers most tourist areas with 4 color-coded lines spanning 44.5 km with 56 stations.
Lines Overview
- Blue Line (Azul - Seagull): Santa Apolónia ↔ Reboleira (passing through city center)
- Yellow Line (Amarela - Sunflower): Rato ↔ Odivelas (serving northern districts)
- Green Line (Verde - Caravel): Cais do Sodré ↔ Telheiras (riverside to north)
- Red Line (Vermelha - Orient): São Sebastião ↔ Aeroporto (essential for airport access)
Operating Hours
- Daily: 6:30 AM - 1:00 AM (including weekends and holidays)
- Frequency Peak Hours (7:10-9:45 & 16:30-20:00): Every 6 minutes
- Frequency Off-Peak: Every 7-9 minutes
- Frequency Late Evening: Every 8-10 minutes
- Weekend Frequency: Every 8-9:25 minutes
Key Tourist Stations
- Aeroporto: Airport connection
- Baixa-Chiado: Downtown and Chiado district
- Terreiro do Paço: Praça do Comércio waterfront
- Cais do Sodré: Trains to Cascais, Time Out Market
- Oriente: Oceanarium and Parque das Nações
- Rossio: Trains to Sintra
Iconic Trams
Tram 28E - The Tourist Classic
- Route: Martim Moniz → Graça → Alfama → Baixa → Chiado → Estrela
- Duration: 40 minutes end-to-end
- Tips: Board early morning or late evening to avoid crowds
- Warning: Pickpockets target tourists on this route
Tram 15E - The Belém Express
- Route: Praça da Figueira → Cais do Sodré → Alcântara → Belém
- Modern trams: More comfortable with air conditioning
- Best for: Reaching Belém's monuments
Tram 12E - The Alternative
- Route: Circular through Alfama
- Less crowded: Alternative to Tram 28E
- Covers: Castle area and viewpoints
Funiculars & Elevators
Historic Funiculars
- Elevador da Glória: Restauradores → Bairro Alto
- Elevador da Bica: Cais do Sodré → Bairro Alto
- Elevador do Lavra: Oldest (1884), Av. Liberdade area
Elevators
- Elevador de Santa Justa: Neo-Gothic iron elevator, €5.30
- Elevador do Castelo: FREE, avoids steep climb to castle
Transport Cards
Viva Viagem / 7 Colinas Card
- Card cost: €0.50 (valid 12 months, rechargeable)
- Single journey: €1.65 (metro/bus/tram, valid 1 hour)
- 24-hour ticket: €6.60 (unlimited Carris + Metro)
- Zapping: €1.47 per journey with €9.00 daily cap
- Where to buy: Any metro station, some kiosks
Lisboa Card (Tourist Pass)
- 24 hours: €27 adults / €18 children
- 48 hours: €44 adults / €24.50 children
- 72 hours: €54 adults / €30.50 children
- Includes: FREE transport + 51 museums + discounts
- Worth it if: Visiting 2+ paid attractions daily
Bus System
Useful Tourist Routes
- 728: Circular route covering major sights
- 737: Castle and Alfama circuit
- 714: Praça Figueira → Belém
- 758: Cais do Sodré → Campo de Ourique
Night Buses (Rede da Madrugada)
- Operate 12:00 AM - 5:00 AM
- Main hub at Cais do Sodré
- Less frequent, plan ahead
Alternative Transport
Taxis
- Base fare: €3.25 day / €3.90 night (after 9 PM and weekends)
- Per km: €0.47 day / €0.56 night
- Airport: €12-15 day / €15-20 night to city center
- Luggage: €1.60 per piece in trunk
- Apps: Uber, Bolt, FreeNow (often cheaper, €10-18 airport to center)
Tuk-Tuks
- Tourist-oriented, not regular transport
- Negotiate prices beforehand
- €45-70 for 1-hour tours
E-Scooters & Bikes
- Lime, Tier, Bird: E-scooters throughout city
- Gira: Municipal bike-sharing system
- Warning: Steep hills challenge cyclists
Money-Saving Tips
- Zapping on Navegante card offers slight discounts
- Metro+Bus transfers within 1 hour count as single journey
- Group tickets available for families
- Walk between close neighborhoods - many are connected
- Avoid buying tickets on board (more expensive)
Practical Tips
- Validate tickets before boarding (risk €100+ fine)
- Keep tickets until exiting stations
- Rush hours: 8-10 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM
- Escalators: Stand right, walk left
- Accessibility: Most metro stations have elevators
- Free WiFi: Available in many metro stations
Apps & Resources
- Citymapper: Best for route planning
- Moovit: Real-time arrivals
- Lisboa Viagem: Official app
- Google Maps: Works offline