Top Ways to Travel Around Lisbon

Despite its hills and cobbled streets, Lisbon is quite easy to navigate.

With its impressive and user-friendly network of buses, trams, suburban trains, and an efficient metro system, getting between key attractions is a breeze. To tackle the famous seven hills of Lisbon, you can hop on funiculars and elevators, which are among the city's most iconic transport options.

While exploring the historic capital on foot is a must, don’t miss the chance to ride Tram 28E. This charming tram winds through the historic center and offers a budget-friendly city tour. Here are the best ways to navigate Lisbon.

Walking is the ideal way to explore each neighborhood

Lisboetas cherish their morning and late afternoon riverside walks, and many visitors don comfy shoes to navigate Lisbon's historic districts on foot. While the winding narrow streets, courtyards, and stairs of Alfama, Mouraria, and Madragoa can be tough in the summer heat, it's an experience that tops the list for most visitors. Don’t forget that flatter riverside areas like Baixa, Cais do Sodré, Belém, and Oriente are easier to traverse and just as charming!

The striking black-and-white designs of the city’s calçada portuguesa (Portuguese pavements) are a hallmark of Lisbon, but be cautious—this surface isn’t the most walker-friendly during wet weather. The slick cobblestones can be slippery, especially when navigating steep downhill paths.

Navigate easily with the Viva Viagem travel pass

This versatile travel card provides access to the metro and all buses, trains, boats, and trams in Lisbon and nearby cities, allowing you to save compared to purchasing tickets onboard. The Viva Viagem green card costs €0.50 and can be purchased at vending machines and ticket offices at metro, train, and boat stations (note that there's a white card available, but it's not valid for Metro Transportes do Sul). Load credit onto the card and simply swipe it over the sensor to pay for public transport—this is referred to as 'zapping.'

If you plan to use public transport extensively in a single day, consider adding a 24-hour ticket to your Viva Viagem card. Make sure to select the right combination of 24-hour tickets for all transport modes you'll be using. The most straightforward option—Carris/Metro—lets you travel on buses, trams, elevators, funiculars, and the metro for €6.60.

CityMapper is the top app for maps and public transport for those visiting Lisbon, and it's popular among locals as well. While other third-party and government apps exist, they tend to be less frequently updated and not as reliable.

The metro system is highly efficient

Lisbon’s efficient metro system features four lines that connect the airport (Red Line), Baixa and Chiado (Blue Line), Mouraria and Alvalade (Green Line), and Saldanha and Campo Pequeno (Yellow Line). The Red Line intersects with the other three, making it easy to switch between lines.

Overall, the metro system is straightforward to use, and plans are in motion to expand it to areas like Belém and Campo de Ourique. However, keep in mind that the metro doesn't operate 24/7; services pause from 1am to 6am. It's advisable to review your planned route on a map before boarding, as it can often be quicker to walk between stations, especially on the Yellow, Blue, and Green lines.

Conversely, the metro is undoubtedly the easiest way to access attractions located further from the city center, such as Lisbon Zoo (Sete Rios), Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (São Sebastião), and Parque das Nações (Oriente).

The city is increasingly becoming more accommodating for cyclists.

With a goal to enhance cycling in the city, Lisbon's urban planners have dedicated significant resources to expanding the network of bike paths. However, drivers are still adjusting to sharing the road, indicating that this transition is ongoing. If you're inexperienced in navigating unpredictable traffic on a bicycle, it's advisable to stick to the riverside paths that are away from vehicular traffic.

To locate a bike in the city, download Gira, the official bike-sharing app from Lisbon City Council. It's popular among both locals and tourists, with numerous bike stations throughout the city center. Pricing depends on the type of pass selected; for instance, a visitor using the Daily Pass enjoys the first 45 minutes free, with a fee of €2 for the subsequent 45 minutes. Additionally, you can rent e-bikes and scooters through Lime (operated by Uber) and Bolt.

Buses can be quite packed.

While Lisbon’s bus routes are relatively straightforward, they are one of the most commonly used forms of public transportation by locals, which often leads to overcrowding. If possible, try to avoid taking buses during peak hours when riders are crammed in like the city’s renowned sardines.

Buses 728 (Oriente–Belém), 714 (Praça da Figueira–Belém), and 737 (Praça da Figueira–Castelo) are all excellent options for visitors, connecting key attractions, particularly in Belém, Parque das Nações, and the historic neighborhoods of Mouraria and Alfama.

Tram 28E provides the ideal sightseeing route.

Tram 28E is well-known for its scenic journey through the historic districts of Mouraria, Alfama, and Graça. However, you can also board any of the other vintage trams for a similarly delightful experience. Recommended alternatives include the 12E (Martim Moniz), 18E (Cais do Sodré–Ajuda), 24E (Praça Luís de Camões–Campolide), and 25E (Praça da Figueira–Campo de Ourique). The larger modern trams on route 15E connect Praça da Figueira to Belém and are frequently used by tourists heading to attractions like Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém.

It's important to note that while the charming, mustard-yellow trams are full of character, they serve more as a unique travel experience rather than a practical means of transportation in Lisbon. Not only are they less comfortable than other options, but they also don't cover extensive areas of the city and can get held up by poorly parked cars during peak hours.

Funiculars and elevators make navigating the hills easier.

Since the early 1900s, three funiculars (ascensores) and one historic elevator have assisted locals in avoiding the steep climbs of Lisbon. Each is numbered, but residents typically refer to them by the names of the streets they serve. Glória (51E) connects Restauradores to Bairro Alto, Lavra (52E) links Baixa and Jardim do Torel, Bica (53E) runs between Cais do Sodré and Bairro Alto, while the Santa Justa elevator (54E) links Baixa to Largo do Carmo in Chiado.

Tickets purchased onboard can be quite expensive, costing €3.80 for two rides on the funiculars and €5.30 for a round trip on the elevator. Instead, consider buying a Viva Viagem transport card to reduce the cost to just €1.35 per journey.

Trains are a faster option for reaching Belém.

Suburban trains on the Cascais Line leave from Cais do Sodré every 20 to 30 minutes. It’s often quicker to take one of these trains to Belém than to ride the tram, bus, or taxi, with the trip taking under 10 minutes. For a quicker journey to the eastern side of the city than the metro or bus, board the Azambuja Line train from Santa Apolónia to Oriente Station—a smooth ride lasting just eight minutes.

Five boat services operate across the Tagus River.

There are five boat routes that connect both banks of the Tagus River, making it the quickest, most economical, and straightforward way to reach the southern shore. Boats to Barreiro leave from Terreiro do Paço, while from the Cais do Sodré station, you can catch boats to Montijo, Seixal, and Cacilhas. Additionally, from Belém, you can take a boat to Trafaria and Porto Brandão.

Taxis in Lisbon are black with a green roof.

Taking a taxi can be a cost-effective option for longer trips and for airport transfers. However, language barriers may arise, and the quality of service can vary. Lisbon taxis are easily recognizable by their black color with a green roof. All taxis operate on a meter, which is activated as soon as you enter. Drivers are obligated to provide a receipt at the end of your journey, regardless of whether you request one. While some taxis accept card payments, it's advisable to have cash on hand.

Rideshare services tend to be more affordable than traditional taxis.

Ridesharing apps like Uber, Bolt, and FREE NOW are popular throughout Lisbon. These services are generally more affordable than traditional taxis and faster than public buses for traveling to the eastern (Oriente) and western (Belém) parts of the city. However, be aware that drivers may not always be well-acquainted with the city's layout. By law, all rideshare vehicles must display a TVDE sticker on their windshield.

Driving is advisable mainly for those with limited mobility.

Only consider driving in Lisbon if you need to cover significant distances quickly or if you or your companions have reduced mobility. Like any bustling city, Lisbon has its share of traffic jams and road construction, but the local habit of double parking adds an extra layer of frustration. Parking can be particularly challenging on weekdays when commuters fill available spaces in busy areas like Baixa, Chiado, and Mouraria.

Transportation options for accessibility in Lisbon

Lisbon presents several accessibility challenges, many of which are unlikely to be resolved soon. The historic calçada portuguesa sidewalks are uneven and not well-maintained, while trams navigate through narrow streets, limiting space for those with mobility issues. Travelers with disabilities may struggle with the narrow, ramp-less funiculars, and most trams are not designed for easy access, with tram 15E being the only one providing accessible boarding. Additionally, many buses lack the necessary accommodations for wheelchair users, and only a few metro stations have elevators. For more details, check out Dinogo Planet's free Accessible Travel guide.