Public Transport in Lisbon: Apps, Tickets & Tips 2026

Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) sits just 7 km from the city centre — closer than almost any other European capital. Since the AeroBus was discontinued, the Metro Red Line is now the best option for almost every traveller.

Metro Red Line (RECOMMENDED)

• Route: Aeroporto → Alameda (transfer to Green Line) → Saldanha (transfer to Yellow Line) → São Sebastião (transfer to Blue Line)
• Time: 20–25 minutes to the centre; ~10 min to Alameda; ~12 min to Saldanha
• Price: €1,90 with a Navegante Occasional card (€0,50, buy from the vending machines in arrivals)
• Frequency: Every 6–9 minutes, 06:30 – 01:00 daily
• Note: The metro station is INSIDE the terminal (signposted from arrivals — follow the M symbol).

Carris bus 744 / 783

• 744: Airport → Marquês de Pombal (city centre)
• 783: Airport → Amoreiras (western city)
• Price: €1,90 with a Navegante card, €2,30 in cash on board
• Suitable for: Travellers heading to neighbourhoods not on the Red Line, or carrying heavy luggage who want to avoid metro stairs at transfer stations

Age Limits & Prices

Tips for Families

• Children under 4 travel free on Metro, Carris buses & trams, Transtejo ferries and CP trains — no card needed
• The Lisboa Card child rate (4–15) is the strongest deal for families visiting attractions like Jerónimos and the Castle
• Strollers are allowed on the Metro — use the lifts; the older trams 12, 15E, 18, 24E, 25 and 28 are NOT stroller-friendly (steps, narrow aisles)
• The Navegante 4_18 and Sub23 free-travel programmes only apply to students registered in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area — not to visiting children

Cost Estimate for a 3-day Family Trip (2 adults + 2 kids 6/9)

• 2 × Lisboa Card 72h adult: €124
• 2 × Lisboa Card 72h child: €70
• Total: €194 — includes unlimited transport + 50+ free entries (Jerónimos, Belém Tower, St. George's Castle, Sintra/Cascais train)

★★★☆☆ 3 / 5

Lisbon's accessibility has improved dramatically — the Metro now has 46 stations (~82%) with lift access, and most Carris buses are low-floor. But the city's hills, cobblestones and historic trams remain serious obstacles, and a few core city-centre metro stations still lack lifts.

Metro: Mostly Accessible

• Lifts: 46 of 56 stations have lifts (~82%); 117 lifts across the network (figures as of late 2025). Recent additions: Campo Pequeno and Picoas got lifts in 2025.
• Still without lift access: A handful of older central stations — verify before travelling via the Metro de Lisboa live status page.
• Tactile guidance paths: Standard at all stations
• Real-time lift status: Check metrolisboa.pt before relying on a transfer

Buses: Largely Accessible

• Carris and Carris Metropolitana operate predominantly low-floor fleets with ramps
• The driver deploys the ramp on request — board at the front door
• Tighter routes through Alfama and Chiado may still use smaller, non-accessible vehicles

Trams: Mixed

• Tram 15E (Praça da Figueira – Belém): Modern Articulado low-floor trams with wheelchair access — the only fully accessible historic-feeling route
• Trams 12, 18, 24E, 25, 28 (Remodelado historic): NOT wheelchair accessible — three steep steps, ~45 cm aisle, no ramps
• Funiculars (Glória, Bica, Lavra) and Santa Justa Lift: NOT wheelchair accessible — steps and narrow turnstiles

Transtejo Ferries

• Cais do Sodré, Belém and Cacilhas terminals have step-free boarding
• On-deck wheelchair spaces; staff will assist if you flag them at the gate

Assistance & Discounts

• Metro assistance: Free service — call +351 213 500 115 in advance for help at major interchanges
• Companion travel: Disability concessions exist for Portuguese residents; non-residents pay the regular fare
• Guide dogs: Allowed on all Metro, Carris and Transtejo services

Best Accessible Tourist Routes

Visual Impairment

• Tactile paving: Installed at all Metro platforms and most major bus stops
• Braille: Lift buttons and station name plates on platforms have Braille
• Audio announcements: All Metro trains announce the next station; lifts announce the floor
• Recommended: Use the Navegante card (single beep on tap) rather than contactless bank card; the touchscreen ticket machines have no audio guidance

When does the Metro stop?

The Metro runs until 01:00, with last trains leaving terminal stations at 01:00. After that, the Carris Rede da Madrugada (night-bus network, lines 201–210) covers the main corridors until daytime services resume around 05:00–06:00. Since April 2025, Carris Metropolitana has run a 24-hour bus network in parts of the Lisbon metropolitan area with over 70 night schedules.

Rede da Madrugada Night Buses

Ten core night-bus lines (201–210) link Cais do Sodré, Marquês de Pombal, Saldanha, Oriente and the outer parishes between 01:00 and 06:00. Pay the regular €1,90 Carris/Metro single with your Navegante card, or €2,30 in cash.

Useful night buses for tourists:

Do this

• Tap your card on every boarding — including on Carris buses and trams, even with a 24h pass. Inspectors fine for unvalidated tickets.
• Buy the Navegante card before your first trip — €0,50 at any vending machine. Paying cash on board costs 20–75% more.
• Use the Metro for cross-city moves — buses get stuck in steep cobbled streets and historic-centre traffic.
• Stand right on escalators — Lisboners walk on the left.
• Carry your Navegante carefully — it's paper. A wet wallet ruins it; the chip survives bending but not a washing machine.

Don't do this

• Contactless works on Metro, city Carris buses and trams — but costs more than a Navegante card (bus €2,10 vs €1,72; tram €3,10 vs €3,00). For frequent use, the Navegante card is better value. Contactless does NOT work on Carris Metropolitana regional buses (routes to Sintra, Cascais etc.).
• Don't take tram 28 with valuables on display — it's Europe's most pickpocketed line. Phone in front pocket, wallet in a money belt.
• Don't rely on the AeroBus — it's gone.
• Don't share one Navegante between two passengers — the card is single-rider only; tapping twice in succession won't register a second fare.
• Don't board the funiculars (Glória, Bica, Lavra) at peak times — they're always packed; a 10-minute uphill walk often beats the 30-minute queue.

Transtejo & Soflusa Ferries

Lisbon sits on the north bank of the Tagus; ferries are part of daily commuting and a cheap way to see the city from the water.

• Cais do Sodré ↔ Cacilhas: €1,55 single — included in the €10,35 24h Carris/Metro/Transtejo pass. Every 10–20 minutes; 10-minute crossing.
• Belém ↔ Trafaria/Porto Brandão: €1,55 single
• Terreiro do Paço ↔ Barreiro (Soflusa): €2,80 single — gateway to Alentejo trains
• Pay with Navegante (Zapping) or buy a single from the terminal vending machine

Cycling & Scooters

Cycling in central Lisbon is challenging because of the hills, but the riverside path between Belém and Parque das Nações is flat, scenic and well-marked.

• GIRA (Lisbon city bikes): 130+ stations, electric assist on most bikes — register via the GIRA app. €2/day or €25/month, plus per-trip fees
• Bolt / Lime / Bird e-scooters: Widely available — €1 unlock + ~€0,20/min. Banned on most pavements; check sober before riding home from Bairro Alto
• Cobblestones: Brutal on small wheels — stick to asphalted bike lanes

Lisbon has excellent 4G/5G coverage across the city and on the Metro. EU roaming applies for European travellers, but visitors from outside the EU should get an eSIM for the best rates. Free WiFi is available at the airport, on Carris buses and at most cafés.

Lisbon's hilly cobbled streets and narrow tram alleys make rolling a suitcase a punishing exercise. Drop your bags first — most luggage networks cluster near the main stations (Oriente, Santa Apolónia, Rossio) and around Baixa-Chiado.