Destinations > Portugal > Lisbon > Local Transport

Lisbon (Lisboa)

Local Transport

Lisbon's transport network is made up of trams, buses and a metro. Compared with other European cities, Lisbon is a cheap city to get around.

BUS, TRAM & ELEVADOR

Buses, trams, elevadors (funicular trams) and the Santa Justa elevator are operated by Carris (website www.carris.pt).

Trams have a good coverage in the older part of the city. Line 28 is popular with tourists and runs through some charming neighbourhoods.

There are three elevadors (funicular trams) which run up the hills between the Baixa and Bairro Alto neighbourhoods. These are supplemented by the Santa Justa elevator. This huge iron elevator is extremely popular with visitors to Lisbon and is a tourist attraction in its own right.

Individual bus, tram and elevador tickets cost €1.20, however prepaid tickets (called BUC) work out around half the price.

METRO & SUBURBAN TRAIN

Lisbon's metro (website www.metrolisboa.pt) consists of four lines; it runs from 6.30am to 1am. Single trips on the metro cost €0.70 for one zone or €1 for two zones, a return ticket is €1.20, a carnet of ten metro tickets is €6.15 for one zone or €9.25 for two zones.

The metro is supplemented by five suburban train lines, four operated by Caminhos de Ferros Portugueses (website www.cp.pt/servicos/p_lisboa.html) and the other line run by Fertagus (website www.fertagus.pt).

Trains run by Caminhos de Ferros Portugueses (CP) are handy for making day trips from Lisbon or for commuting into the city if you're staying at one of the hostels outside town. They are useful for getting to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. Fertagus trains, which cross the Tagus River (Rio Teja) are of little use of most backpackers.

FERRY

Both CP and Transtejo (website www.transtejo.pt) operate ferries on the Tagus River. CP ferries are primarily for making connections between the city centre and Barreiro on the south shore where they meet us with the rail line for trains to the Algarve. Transtejo ferries go to Montijo, Seixal and Cacilhas.

TRAVEL PASSES

Intermodal passes that allow you to ride the metro as well as Carris buses, trams, elevadores and the Santa Justa elevator cost €3 for a day pass and €12.10 for a five-day pass.