Thinking of visiting Lisbon and wondering how much public transportation will cost? Are you thinking of moving to Lisbon and planning out your budget? Lisbon has a lot of public transportation options and can be very confusing. After living in Lisbon for the past 5 years, I am going to break down the price of each mode of transport.
What Is The Cost Of Public Transportation In Lisbon?
The Metro (Subway) in Lisbon is by far my favorite mode of transportation after walking. It is fast, convenient and cheap. The nice thing is that you can get metro cards that also work with other networks such as the bus system, trains, and ferries. Before you take your first ride, here are a few things you need to know:
- You need to pay for your metro card, the cost is 0,50€.
- Each ride is 1,50€.
- Each person that is with you needs to have their own Metro card. Lisbon’s metro is not like NYC’s where you can swipe someone in and it is taken from your balance.
- You need to swipe in AND swipe out of the metro.
- Carris is the network for Lisbon’s buses, trams, and funiculars. It is separate from the Metro system.
- Transtejo is the ferry system that crosses the Tejo river.
- Comboios de Portugal handles the actual trains.
If you do not find the information you were looking for here, you can click here to go directly to the Metropolitano de Lisboa site.
What Are The Best Transportation Options For Tourists In Lisbon?
If you are coming in as a tourist and plan on doing lots of site seeing, one of the following unlimited 1-day ride options may be perfect for you:
1-Day Ticket – Carris/Metro
- Valid for 24 hours after your first swipe into the network.
- Unlimited rides on Carris and Metro networks.
6,45€ (Plus the cost of the card)
1-Day Ticket – Carris/Metro/Transtejo (Cacilhas)
- Valid for 24 hours after your first swipe into the network.
- Unlimited rides on Carris, Metro, and Transtejo networks.
9,60€ (Plus the cost of the card)
1-Day Ticket – Carris/Metro/Comboios de Portugal
- Valid for 24 hours after your first swipe into the network.
- Unlimited rides on Carris, Metro and CP (Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja and Sado lines).
9,60€ (Plus the cost of the card)
You can also use the zapping option. In this case you buy your card, and you pre-pay for trips at a reduced cost of 1,35€ per ride. You will need to charge your card in the following increments:
- 3€
- 5€
- 10€
- 15€
- 20€
- 25€
- 30€
- 35€
- 40€
Each time you take a trip, 1,35€ will be deducted from the value that is on your card.
If you switch companies (for example, transfer from the metro to the ferry), you will be charged by each one.
If you leave the metro and get back in, that will count as 2 rides.
What Are The Best Transportation Options For Residents In Lisbon?
There are various options for residents in Portugal. If you don’t use public transportation often, the zapping option may work well for you. However, if you are a more frequent user of the metro, these will save you quite a bit. Kids under 12 ride free.
Monthly Navegante Metropolitano
- Valid in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area
- If you are over 65 years old, you pay only 20€
- There is a family pack available at 80€. With it your entire family can ride on the regular public passenger transport services in the 18 municipalities of the metropolitan area of Lisbon for the price of 2 passes.
40€
Monthly Navegante Municipal
- Valid in Lisbon, Amadora, and Odivelas.
- You pay 15€ if you are a senior (65 or older), retired, or pensioned.
- With the family pass, all members of your household can use all regular public passenger transport services, within the geographical limit of the municipality selected by the household, among the 18 municipalities that make up the metropolitan area of Lisbon for the price of 2 passes.
30€
Monthly Navegante Municipal
- Valid in Lisbon, Amadora, and Odivelas.
30€
The Pass Social + option is for lower income families, so if you want more information on that, check out the website for the Metropolitano de Lisboa.
If you have questions, leave it in the comments.
Did you know dogs are allowed to ride the metro in Lisbon? Learn all about public transportation for dogs in Lisbon here.