Lisbon is a city that rewards the curious and punishes the rushed. Seven hills, a historic tram network that predates most living Lisbonites, a metro that doesn't go everywhere, and streets that Google Maps confidently routes you through while failing to mention they end in a staircase — navigating this city is half the adventure and half the headache.
This guide gives you the real picture: actual fares, the honest strengths and frustrations of each option, and how to combine them intelligently so you spend your time in Lisbon, not stuck waiting for the 28 tram.
The Viva Viagem Card: Your Foundation
Before explaining individual options, get this first. The Viva Viagem card (€0.50 at any metro ticket machine) is the reloadable transport card that works across all Lisbon public transit — metro, buses, trams, elevadores (funiculars), and the suburban Carris network.
You can load it two ways:
- Pay-per-ride (Zapping): Load credit and pay per trip. Metro rides run approximately €1.50–€1.90 depending on zones.
- Day/multi-day passes: A 24-hour unlimited pass costs around €6.80 and covers metro, buses, trams, and funiculars. A 48-hour pass runs ~€11.60. Worth it if you're moving around a lot.
Since 2024, contactless Visa and Mastercard payments also work at metro turnstiles and on buses — tap your card directly. But the Viva Viagem still makes sense for trams and funiculars where card readers can be inconsistent.
Getting from the Airport
Lisbon Airport (Aeroporto Humberto Delgado) sits about 7km northeast of the city center — closer than most European capitals.
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro (Red Line) | 25–35 min to Baixa-Chiado | ~€1.65 | Fastest budget option; runs 6:30am–1am |
| AeroBus (express) | 30–45 min | €4.00 | Drops near main hotels; more luggage space |
| Uber/Bolt | 15–25 min | €10–20 | Traffic-dependent; surge during peak |
| Taxi (metered) | 15–30 min | €15–25 | Fixed airport rate exists; ask for it |
Recommendation: Metro if you're light on bags and staying anywhere near a metro station. Uber or Bolt if you have heavy luggage, are traveling with family, or arriving late at night.
The Lisbon Metro
The metro is fast, air-conditioned, and covers the main tourist areas — with one important gap.
The four lines:
- Blue (Azul): Airport → city center (Santa Apolónia)
- Yellow (Amarela): Rato → Odivelas (northern suburbs)
- Green (Verde): Cais do Sodré → Telheiras
- Red (Vermelha): Airport → São Sebastião (connects to Oriente, the eastern hub)
What the metro misses:
Alfama, Bairro Alto, Chiado (partially), Belém, and the waterfront don't have metro stops. These are the neighborhoods most tourists spend the most time in. Plan accordingly — the metro gets you near, then you walk or take trams.
Hours: 6:30am–1:00am daily. No 24-hour service; budget for taxis or Uber late at night.
Price: Single trip ~€1.50–€1.90 depending on zones. Day pass covers unlimited rides.
Trams: The Real Lisbon Experience (and the Tourist Trap)
Lisbon's iconic yellow trams are a genuine part of city life — and also the most pickpocket-heavy environment in Portugal. Both things are true.
Tram 28 (the famous one)
The 28 winds through Alfama, Graça, and Chiado, crossing some of the steepest, most scenic streets in the city. It's legitimately beautiful and worth riding at least once. But:
- It's extremely crowded with tourists from mid-morning to evening
- Pickpockets work this line professionally — keep your bag in front of your body
- Wait times can hit 30–40 minutes during peak hours
- The route is slow; walking the same distance often takes less time
Best strategy: Take tram 28 early morning (before 9am) or late afternoon (after 5pm) when it's less packed. Enjoy it as an experience, not a time-efficient transport choice.
Tram 15E (to Belém)
Far more practical than the 28. Runs from Praça da Figueira along the riverfront to Belém — a 20-minute ride that deposits you near the Jerónimos Monastery, Pastéis de Belém, and the Monument to the Discoveries. This is the tram locals actually use.
Price: All trams cost approximately €3.00 if you buy a ticket onboard from the driver. With the Viva Viagem card, you pay the lower transit fare (~€1.50).
Funiculars (Elevadores)
Lisbon has three funiculars that tackle its steepest hills:
- Elevador da Glória (Restauradores → Bairro Alto)
- Elevador da Bica (Calhariz → Bica)
- Elevador do Lavra (Largo da Anunciada → Campo de Mártires)
Each costs around €3.80 single if buying onboard, or covered by your Viva Viagem card. The Bica funicular is genuinely scenic; the Glória is the most useful for getting to Bairro Alto without climbing. The Elevador de Santa Justa is technically a lift (not a funicular) and connects Baixa to Chiado — €5.30 for tourists, or free if you have a transit pass and approach from the upper Chiado side.
Buses
Lisbon's bus network fills the gaps the metro and trams don't cover, including routes to:
- Belém (bus 728, 714 from Cais do Sodré)
- Cascais coastal line connections
- Eastern waterfront and Parque das Nações
Key bus routes for tourists:
| Route | From → To | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 714/728 | Cais do Sodré → Belém | Every 10–15 min |
| 744 | Marquês de Pombal → Airport area | Every 20 min |
| 201 | Oriente → Expo area | Every 15 min |
Apps that help: The official Carris Metro app shows real-time arrivals and lets you plan routes. Google Maps works reasonably well for Lisbon buses too.
Taxis
Lisbon's yellow taxis are metered, regulated, and generally honest. A few things to know:
- Flag fare: ~€3.25 base, then ~€0.47/km (Day rate; higher at night and weekends)
- Luggage surcharge: €1.60 per piece of large luggage
- The airport has a fixed-rate zone for the city center — ask the driver before you go
Taxis are most useful for late nights (metro closes at 1am), heavy luggage situations, and trips to areas poorly served by transit (parts of Parque das Nações, Lumiar, etc.).
Ride-Sharing: Uber and Bolt
Both operate extensively in Lisbon. Bolt is often cheaper and has better surge pricing behavior. Drivers are plentiful in the city center; wait times are typically 3–7 minutes during normal hours.
Typical fares:
- City center to Belém: €8–14
- Airport to Baixa: €12–20
- Alfama to Parque das Nações: €10–16
Both apps accept international cards. No cash needed.
One note: Uber and Bolt face occasional driver scarcity during large events (NOS Alive, Rock in Rio Lisbon, Lisbon half-marathon). Book a taxi or metro those days.
Cycling and Scooters
Lisbon has expanded its cycling infrastructure significantly, but the hills are unforgiving. The BIPLis bike-share network and Gira (the city's official e-bike share) make cycling practical along the waterfront and in flat areas like Parque das Nações. Gira memberships start at €2/day.
Electric scooters (Bird, VOI, Lime) are scattered across Baixa and Belém — legal, convenient, and €0.15–0.25/min. Not recommended in Alfama (the cobblestones and stairs make them dangerous).
Getting to Day Trips: Sintra, Cascais, and Setúbal
These are the three most common day trips from Lisbon, and the train handles all of them beautifully.
| Destination | Train from | Journey | Price (return) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sintra | Rossio Station | ~40 min | ~€4.60 |
| Cascais | Cais do Sodré | ~40 min | ~€4.60 |
| Setúbal (via Setúbal line) | Barreiro (ferry from Terreiro do Paço) | ~50 min | ~€6.00 total |
Important: For Sintra, buy your return ticket before boarding — the tiny Sintra station gets crowded. For Cascais, the coastal train line along the Tagus estuary is one of the most scenic commuter journeys in Europe.
The Honest Breakdown: Which Transport When
| Situation | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Airport arrival with luggage | Uber/Bolt or AeroBus |
| Airport arrival, light bags | Metro Red Line |
| Alfama exploration | Walk (metro to Martim Moniz + uphill) |
| Baixa/Chiado shopping | Metro or walk |
| Reaching Belém | Tram 15E or Bus 714/728 |
| Evening in Bairro Alto | Elevador da Glória or Uber |
| Late night return | Uber/Bolt (metro closed) |
| Day trip to Sintra | Rossio train |
| Day trip to Cascais | Cais do Sodré train |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Relying on tram 28 as your main transport — it's slow, crowded, and theft-prone
- Forgetting Belém isn't on the metro — the tram or bus is required
- Not validating your ticket — inspectors do check; fines start at €120
- Expecting 24-hour metro — Lisbon's metro closes at 1am
- Ordering taxis at the airport without confirming the fixed rate — ask explicitly
Let Faroway Handle the Routing
Mapping every transit connection manually gets old fast. Faroway builds your Lisbon itinerary with the transport logic already figured out — grouping attractions by neighborhood so you're not zigzagging the city, flagging the best transport modes for each part of your day, and building day trip options like Sintra and Cascais into your schedule at the right timing.
Tell Faroway your dates, interests, and pace. It outputs a personalized, logistically sensible Lisbon plan — including how to get from A to B without accidentally spending 40 minutes waiting for the 28 tram.
Transport Cost Summary (7-Night Trip)
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Viva Viagem card | €0.50 |
| 5 day passes (€6.80 each) | €34.00 |
| Airport taxi/Uber (×2, arrival + departure) | €30–40 |
| Sintra day trip train return | €4.60 |
| Cascais day trip train return | €4.60 |
| Evening Ubers (2–3 late nights) | €25–35 |
| Total estimate | €99–119 |
Lisbon is one of Western Europe's most affordable cities to get around. The public transit network is good enough to cover most of your needs; Uber fills the gaps. Budget €100–120 for the full week and you'll have everything covered.
Start planning your Lisbon trip — routes, timing, neighborhoods, and all — with Faroway.
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Written by
Faroway Team
The Faroway team is passionate about making travel planning effortless with AI. We combine travel expertise with cutting-edge technology to help you explore the world.
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