How to Save Money on Public Transportation in Lisbon
| Ticket/Pass Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Metro Single Ticket | €1.80 |
| 24-hour Pass | €6.80 |
| Bulk Discount (zapping) | €1.61 |
Ticket Types & Cost
| Mode of Transportation | Cost |
|---|---|
| Santa Justa Lift | €6.00 (round trip) |
| Electrico (Tram) | €3.10 |
| Elevators | €4.10 |
| Bus | €2.10 |
Modes of Transportation & Cost
| Single Use Paper Ticket | No |
| Reusable Card | Optional 0.50 euro (required for passes and zapping) |
| App | Yes, but for planning routes only |
| Validation | When entering and exiting the metro station, only when boarding the bus/tram |
| Free Transfer | Unlimited for one hour on bus or tram (not on the metro) |
| Free Zone | None |
| Free Days | None |
| Closed | None (Closes earlier on December 24th and opens later on December 25th) |
| Is the pass shareable? | No. You validate by tapping on and off, so you can’t share a pass |
General Information
| Duration | Online (discounted) | In Person |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hr | €25,65 | €27,00 |
| 48 hr | €41,80 | €44,00 |
| 72 hr | €51,30 | €54,00 |
Lisboa Card
There are two main ways to pay for the metro; a bank card with tap to pay or a navegante card that can be loaded with passes or money.
You can load money in the following amounts: 3€, 5€, 10€, 15€, 20€, 25€, 30€, 35€ or 40€. A ride on the metro, bus, or tram from a card with money loaded on has a discount and is 1.61€ instead of 1.80€. Trips on elevators, ferries, and trains also has a discount, but it varies. You’ll see this referred to as zapping.
If you’re using your bank card to pay make sure you tap your card and not your wallet to ensure the correct card is used and there are no duplicate payments.
You must validate upon entry and exit for the metro so each person must have their own card. This makes it difficult for families to use bank cards to pay.
Unless you plan on walking everywhere (which isn’t recommended since Lisbon is very hilly), a day pass is your best option. As long as you take the metro (or other public transportation) 4 times, you’ll get your money’s worth. If you’re taking the bus, the electrico, or any lifts the amount of rides needed to make a day pass worth your money is even less.
A Lisboa Card is another option for public transportation and can be worth it if you plan on visiting a lot of museums and paid attractions. Compare the costs of the museums you want to visit and public transportation to make sure the card is worth it for you. The day pass is valid for 24 consecutive hours from validation and not just one calendar day.