Complete Guide to Lisbon Transportation: Getting Around the City
Navigating any new city can be a challenge, but luckily, with a little help from this complete guide to navigating Lisbon transportation, you will be a pro before you even arrive!
Even with it’s hilly terrain, Lisbon is a very walkable city. If you aren’t up for the hills or want to venture a bit further, Lisbon is very well connected by a multi-modal transit system. While Lisbon’s inter and intra-transit system, with its trains, trams, trolleys, metro, buses and boats (oh my!) can seem a bit overwhelming, it is quite easy to navigate with the right tools.
Lisbon also offers easy and affordable ride share options, including Uber and Bolt.
With this guide, I will arm you with all the tools you need to navigate Lisbon transportation like a local.
Guide to Lisbon Transportation
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📍Where to Stay in Lisbon: Best Neighborhoods & Hotel Recommendations
🍸Cocktail Lovers’ Guide to the Best Cocktails in Lisbon
📋The Perfect 3 Day Lisbon Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
🛏️Best Hostels in Lisbon: For Every Type of Traveler
🛍️Essential Souvenirs from Lisbon: Your Ultimate Shopping Guide
Car Rental in Lisbon
“Do I need a car in Lisbon?” NO.
Driving, and parking, in Lisbon is not worth the hassle.
Streets are extremely narrow and not clearly marked and keeping with traffic can be challenging. Parking in Lisbon is very limited, and visitors often find deciphering parking and traffic signs very difficult.
Driving is also just unnecessary, as Lisbon is very well connected by public transit and car services such as Uber and Bolt are readily available all hours of the day at very affordable rates.
If you do opt to have a rental car in Lisbon:
🅿️Pre-book parking or book a hotel with parking
🛑Familiarize yourself with parking and traffic signs and rules
What to do if you get a parking ticket in Lisbon:
The first thing to do if you get a parking ticket in Lisbon is to look at the ticket for instructions on how to pay. There are different ticket issuing entities and the ticket will provide payment options. Be sure to keep the ticket to make payment.
🏤 Payshop/CTT: Use the payment notice at any Payshop agent or CTT Post Office. This is typically the most efficient way to pay a parking ticket in Lisbon for tourists, as you can just walk in and make the payment (be sure to get a receipt).
🏧ATM/Homebanking: ATM payments can only be made using Portuguese bank card/online banking for "Payment for Services" using the Entity and Reference Number on the slip. If you have a local airbnb host, or hotel concierge, they may be able to help you make the payment via ATM or online banking.
📧Email EMEL (Tourists): Email info@emel.pt with your ticket number (Nº de processo) and plate number (Matricula) to request IBAN/SWIFT details for a bank transfer. This is an effective option if you get a parking ticket as you are leaving the city or don’t have time to go to a CTT or Payshop, but may accrue additional fees depending on your bank’s international transfer policies.
💶In-Person: Visit an EMEL office (like Loja Cidadão in Laranjeiras or Saldanha) for fines issued by EMEL.
Contact Rental Company: They will usually charge your credit card with the fine plus a processing fee if you don't pay it directly. While this many seem like an easy option, you are at the liberty of the car rental company paying the fine efficiently and may face additional charges and fees.
⭐Parking tickets become increasingly more expensive as time passes, so be sure to pay your ticket efficiently to avoid (much) higher fines.
If you are planning to drive between cities, or taking day trips from Lisbon:
Pre-arrange parking with your accommodation or a local garage
Pick up a rental car for the day, or on the day you are departing for your next location.
👶If traveling with children:
In Portugal, children under 12 years old or 135 cm (53 inches) tall must use a car seat when traveling by car. The car seat must meet the EU regulations and be appropriate for the child's weight and height (there are different types depending on child’s weight and age). Additionally:
Must be rear-facing until the child weighs 19.8 lbs
Must be rear-facing until the child is at least 15 months old
What to do if you need a car seat while in Portugal:
When you rent a car, rent a car seat as well from the rental car company. This is the easiest option and can be done when you select your rental online.
Bring your own car seat with you. Just be aware many car seats from US and Canada don't necessarily meet EU standards. This is generally not at issue except in the very unlikely event you get stopped and the car seat is inspected.
✈️For my Complete Guide to Getting to the City Center from Lisbon Airport, click here!
Navigating Lisbon Public Transportation
Lisbon’s public transportation system consists of trains, trams, metros, buses, funiculars and ferries.
While it can seem daunting to navigate so many options and (literal) moving pieces, Lisbon’s transit system is quite straightforward and easy to navigate with a little patience and the help of Google Maps.
⭐Be sure to double check the icon for transit as it can be a bit confusing to decipher between above ground trains, metros, trams, and buses.
A standard single ride metro ticket will cost 1.80 and can be paid by tapping your contactless credit/debit card or using the Caris Navegante card which can be purchased at any station.
The ‘Navegante Occasional’ card is for occasional users of public transport, it may be topped up with tickets or money (pay as you go ‘zapping’ credit).
This card is valid for all inter-city member operators.
24 Hours tickets are also available
🚃🚆Carris/Metro
6,80€
Valid for unlimited journeys on Carris and Metro networks
🚃🚆⛴️Carris/Metro/Transtejo (Cacilhas)
9,80€
Valid for unlimited journeys on Carris, Metro and Transtejo (Cacilhas river connection)
🚃🚆🚂Carris/Metro/CP
10,80€
Valid for unlimited journeys on Carris, Metro and CP (Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja and Sado lines)
⭐All 24 hours tickets are valid during the 24 hours following the first validation, not purchase.
For more detailed information on ticket and transit types: Click here
The Lisboa Card, which includes entrance to many of Lisbon’s attractions, and offers local discounts also includes unlimited travel on the Lisbon subway, buses, trams and funiculars of CARRIS lines. Also includes CP Train to Sintra, Cascais and south margin of Tagus river, as well as the LIS airport metro transfer to the city.
For Details on the Lisboa Card: click here
👶If traveling with children on Lisbon public transportation:
Children up to the age of 3 can use the Metro free of charge, as long as they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket
Car seats are not mandatory on public transportation so therefore taxis for example don't require them and very few have car seats for you to use. Your children would be in rear on your lap or buckled in if they are older.
In Portugal, there's a law that if you have a baby under 2, are pregnant or have a disability, you can skip the line, board first, and have access to priority seating.
For information for Inter-City Trains (such as Sintra and Porto), visit the Comboios de Portugal website here
Lisbon Taxis and Ride Share
🚕Taxis in Lisbon
Taxis are in abundance and widely available in Lisbon, however; can be more expensive than ride share options and fares are more expensive evenings and weekends.
Some taxis will take credit cards, but the majority are cash only - so be sure to clarify with the driver if planning to use a card.
Taxis can be hailed on the street, or called via the MyTaxi app.
⚠️ It is not recommended to take Taxis from the airport as the fare is often greatly inflated and service is often subpar. If you do opt for a taxi from the airport: ONLY take a taxi from the stand and assure the meter is on.
🚗Lisbon Ride Share
The two ride share options in Lisbon are Uber and Bolt.
While Uber is familiar to most travelers, Bolt is commonly used in the EU and is generally a more affordable option in Portugal.
Both apps work universally, there is no “Portugal” Uber or Bolt, just use your app as usual.
Both services are available 24 hours per day, every day of the year and are generally more affordable than taxis.
Any car operating as a ride share service MUST have a TVDE sticker (TVDE significa Transporte em Veículo Descaracterizado a partir de Plataforma Eletrónica) which indicates they are a legally operating vehicle with a ride share platform. You will see this emblem on the upper corner of the windshield.
Cash payment is not accepted, and a credit/debit card must be attached to your account.
⭐Pro tip: If you are new to Bolt, download the app immediately before, or on, arrival to get an introductory discount.
Download the Bolt App Here
✈️From Lisbon airport - the Ride Share pick up is located in the P2 Parking lot. As you exit the terminal, turn left toward the Starbucks and proceed through the doors to the parking lot.
For my Complete Guide to Getting to City Center from Lisbon Airport, click here!
⚠️Never accept a ride from any unofficial taxi or Uber/Bolt driver. Official drivers will never approach passengers and offer a ride.
🪙Tipping Drivers
Tipping taxis/drivers is not common practice in Portugal. If you appreciated the service, you can round up the total or tip a small amount (10% is standard).
Uber: allows riders to tip and review any time after you the ride is complete.
Bolt: has a short period in which you can review and tip your driver, so if you intend to tip, be sure to do it as soon as your ride ends.
👶If traveling with children
Car seats are not mandatory on Uber/Bolts. Very few Ubers will have car seats if you are looking to use one. Bolt offers an option to request a car with car seat but the feedback I have seen is that there are few and it takes forever to find one.
Walking in Lisbon
The best way to see Lisbon is on foot, and while Lisbon is a very walkable city, it can come with some challenges.
While “walking” seems pretty straight forward, in Lisbon it can feel like an Olympic sport, filled with hills and stairs and twists and turns.
🗺️Google and Apple Maps are both helpful for navigating the city, and have some features that can be especially useful:
Incline: This will show you just how uphill your walk will be, as well as where those inclines are along the way
Apple and Goole Maps indicate where stairs are
Both have “Street View” and “preview route” features which help gauge not only hills and stairs, but can help clarify when you think the narrow alleyway can’t possibly be the correct route (it usually is).
⭐Pro tips ⭐
🔍Use “street view” when choosing accommodations to have an accurate idea of what the terrain surrounding the area is.
👶🧑🦽➡️If traveling with a stroller or mobility issues - You can avoid the stairs and find public elevators by: Opening walking directions, clicking the tree dots, choosing “options” and toggling on “Wheelchair accessible”
