Riding the Rails: A Local’s Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Navigating Lisbon's Extensive Metro System
Lisbon's metro system is the quickest and easiest way to get around the city, with four color-coded lines that crisscross downtown and extend to the suburbs. The metro runs daily from 6:30am to 1am, so you can rely on it to get you where you need to go at any time of day.
When using the metro, pay close attention to the line colors and final destination names on signs, as this will help you get on the right train. The blue line is the most useful for tourists, with stops at major attractions like Baixa-Chiado, Rossio, Praça de Espanha, and Parque das Nações. The green and red lines also cover important destinations.
Before boarding, purchase reusable Viva Viagem cards at metro stations, which you can load with money and scan to pay your fare. A single ride costs 1.50 euros but bulk discounts apply, so frequent riders should load 20 euros for a day pass or 40 euros for unlimited weekly rides. Keep your card even after your trip, as you can reload it on your next visit.
During rush hours, especially 8-9:30am and 5:30-7pm on weekdays, metro cars get very crowded. Avoid these times if possible or allow extra time. At peak periods, let passengers exit before boarding. Be mindful of your belongings, as pickpocketing can occur when it's packed. Off-peak the metro is pleasantly uncrowded.
All metro stations have lifts and/or escalators for accessibility. Level access trains operate on the blue and green lines. Keep children close as there are gaps between the train and platform.
The metro system is very safe overall. Be alert at night and avoid empty train cars. Report concerning behavior to security or the police. Always keep your ticket or pass handy in case inspectors check. Don't try to sneak on without paying or smoke on trains, as steep fines apply. Respect other riders and keep your voice down when chatting or on calls.
What else is in this post?
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Navigating Lisbon's Extensive Metro System
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Key Tram Routes for Sightseeing
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Using Buses to Reach Farther Destinations
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Buying Tickets and Passes for Smooth Travel
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Tips for Rush Hour and Crowded Rides
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Scenic Above-Ground Options Beyond the Subway
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Accessibility Considerations for Public Transit
- Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Safety and Etiquette When Riding Public Transport
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Key Tram Routes for Sightseeing
In addition to the metro, Lisbon's tram system is a must for sightseeing. These vintage streetcars add old-world charm while taking you past major attractions. Only a few lines remain, but they link scenic neighborhoods that are enjoyable to explore.
The star attraction is tram 28. This line winds through Alfama's cobbled hills, bringing you to the medieval Castelo de São Jorge and the Sé Cathedral. Continue to Graça with its miradouros (viewpoints), or head west to Estrela and Campo de Ourique's shops and cafés. With frequent stops, riding end-to-end takes about an hour.
Given its popularity, tram 28 often has long lines. I recommend starting your journey at Martim Moniz or Campo Ourique around 9 or 10am, before the heaviest crowds. Purchase tickets beforehand since on-board sales cause delays. Weekdays are less busy than weekends. Don't worry if you can't get on the first tram - another will be along shortly.
Tram 12 similarly connects hilly neighborhoods, looping from Praça da Figueira through Alfama to Prazeres. The route feels calmer than the packed 28 tram. Highlights include São Vicente de Fora church, the National Pantheon, and city views from Miradouro de Santa Luzia.
Looking for beach access? Take tram 15 from Praça da Figueira to Belém. Pass under the 25 de Abril bridge and continue along the Tagus estuary. Hop off at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and grab pastéis de nata at Antiga Confeitaria de Belém before continuing to the riverfront.
A few other trams can be handy but are less essential. Tram 18 by the Alcântara docks offers an alternative westbound route. The Cascais Line runs from Cais do Sodré station to the coastal town of Cascais. If you have extra time, it makes for a lovely seaside escape.
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Using Buses to Reach Farther Destinations
While Lisbon's metro and trams are great for zipping around the city center, public buses fill in gaps by connecting to farther-flung neighborhoods and nearby towns. They're especially handy for budget travelers who want to venture beyond the prime tourist zones without paying for taxis or tours.
Buses don't have the nostalgic charm of trams, but they're more extensive, frequent, and practical for reaching a larger swath of the Lisbon area. The city boasts over 200 bus routes managed by Carris that fan out to districts like Ajuda, Benfica, and the airport. Buses also run to towns along the coast like Cascais and Estoril as well as Sintra inland.
Some attractions located at the edge of Lisbon, like the Gulbenkian Museum and the National Tile Museum, are more conveniently accessed by bus than metro. And you can't reach sights like the Pena Palace and Cabo da Roca cliffs without a bus ride out of the city. For families, buses provide an affordable day trip option to spend time near the beaches in Cascais or Sintra's fairy tale castles.
Ticketing works similarly to the metro system. Purchase a Viva Viagem card and load it with money to scan on buses, or buy specific trip tickets from the driver. If transferring from the metro, your card is valid for buses too. Make sure to validate your ticket or scan your card when you board.
Know where you're going and the number or name of the bus you need ahead of time. At stops, check the signage or ask fellow riders if you're unsure. Pay attention to the destination displays on approaching buses. Some stop at all stations along a route, while "expresso" buses only halt at key interchanges.
During commuting rush hours, buses can get jam-packed just like the metro. Take earlier or later trips when you can, and allow for potential delays. Nighttime service is more limited, so check timetables if riding late. Always watch your personal belongings and avoid deserted buses.
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Buying Tickets and Passes for Smooth Travel
Buying tickets and passes ahead of time is key for navigating Lisbon's transit smoothly, especially during the busy summer tourist season. Nothing holds up your sightseeing plans like getting stuck in a long ticket line or trying to figure out fares and transfers on the go. Do some quick research to understand the options, and you'll breeze around the city without hassles.
For the metro, trams, trains, and buses, the reusable Viva Viagem card is your golden ticket. Available at all metro stations for just 50 cents, it's a no-brainer purchase even if you'll only use public transit for a day or two. Load the card with money—a single ride is 1.50 euros—or buy 24-hour (6 euros) and 72-hour (12 euros) unlimited passes.
The cards use an electronic chip system, so simply scan them at metro turnstiles and onboard buses and trams to validate your ticket. You can also use Viva Viagem cards to pay for the Santa Justa Lift and the other funiculars. There's no need to keep buying new paper tickets everywhere.
If you don't have time to hunt down a metro station to get a Viva Viagem card first, you can buy individual paper tickets onboard trams and buses for 2 euros. But I don't recommend this, as it slows the boarding process. Paper tickets aren't accepted on the metro at all—you must have a card to pass through the gates.
For families or groups traveling together, sharing a Viva Viagem card loaded with a 24 or 72-hour pass offers the best deal. Just scan the card once for each person at the start of your ride. Unlimited ride passes mean you don't have to constantly re-load money or calculate fares—just hop on and go wherever you please while the pass is valid.
One strategic tip is to purchase your unlimited ride passes late in the day to get an extra morning of travel before they expire. For example, buy a 72-hour pass at 6pm and it will be valid through 6pm three days later, essentially giving you an extra half-day.
Though public transit in Lisbon feels well-connected, it doesn't directly serve everywhere, so you may need to supplement with an Uber or taxi ride from time to time. But with the Viva Viagem card loaded up and passes pre-purchased when possible, you'll avoid the majority of potential transportation headaches during your Lisbon travels.
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Tips for Rush Hour and Crowded Rides
Navigating rush hour crowds is one of the trickier aspects of riding public transit in Lisbon. During peak commute times on weekdays from 8-9:30am and 5:30-7pm, metro cars and buses fill up with locals headed to and from work and school. All that extra traffic means jam-packed vehicles, long waits on platforms, and potential delays. While crowded transit may be unavoidable, locals and seasoned travelers share their top strategies for making the most of rush hour rides.
Schedule extra time in your itinerary and avoid tight connections. Trying to rush between metro transfers or make a reservation right after disembarking will only add stress. Build in some wiggle room. Regular commuters plan for potential slowdowns by catching earlier trains or buses before the peak crush.
When boarding crowded metros, buses or trams, be polite and let passengers exit before entering. Pushing your way on first only aggravates the logjam. Wait for the flow moving out to pass before heading in. On platforms, line up orderly and avoid the temptation to edge forward out of turn.
On packed metro trains, move towards the center of cars where there’s more space. Ends of cars and spaces right by doors cram up the most. Seek breathing room in the middle, and avoid blocking doors from closing. When disembarking, be patient rather than forcing your way off in a hurry.
Keep valuables like phones and wallets in your front pockets or bags held close to your chest. With throngs of distracted, pressed-together people, prime pickpocketing conditions exist. Be alert at crowds waiting to board and when on full vehicles. Only use backpacks or bags that zip or latch securely.
If you somehow wind up on a mostly empty metro car or bus during rush hour, don’t consider it luck – more likely that car is empty for a reason, like malfunctioning air conditioning. Expect to get fuller on the ride. Avoid deserted trams which can attract pickpockets when crowded.
Use apps like Moovit to check real-time schedules so you can see when the next bus or tram is arriving. Making a mad dash when you see yours approaching usually backfires. Nothing is more frustrating than watching packed buses or trams pass by without room for another passenger. Wait calmly for the next one.
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Scenic Above-Ground Options Beyond the Subway
Sophie Mechaly's free-spirited sensibility can be traced back to her artistic upbringing in the bohemian Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris. As the daughter of painter Zika Ascher and actress Sasha Gordine, creativity and nonconformity were woven into the fabric of her daily life from an early age.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés was the epicenter of intellectual and avant-garde culture in post-war Paris. Its winding cobblestone streets were filled with jazz clubs, cafés, and galleries that attracted famous artists, writers and musicians like Picasso, Hemingway, and Juliette Gréco. Mechaly grew up surrounded by this vibrant artistic community that valued beauty, originality and self-expression above all else.
Mechaly recalls her childhood as "very bohemian" and credits Saint-Germain-des-Prés as being hugely influential. "It was a very artistic neighborhood with painters, actors, and writers," she told Vogue. "For me, it was magical to grow up there."
This free-spirited upbringing encouraged Mechaly to think outside the box and pursue her creative passions without inhibition. She was given the freedom to explore her interests and develop a distinctive visual aesthetic from a young age. Her nonconformist parents supported her individuality.
The avant-garde spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés shaped Mechaly's approach to fashion as art. Just like the radical thinkers and artists who gathered there, she would later rebel against convention and establish her own set of rules. Her brand Paul & Joe channels the neighborhood's retro femininity and romantic whimsy that she was surrounded by growing up.
Mechaly's lifelong affinity for vintage fashion can also be attributed to the thrift stores and flea markets of bohemian Saint-Germain-des-Prés where she first discovered her love of style as a child. This early exposure to one-of-a-kind pieces and eclectic looks continues to inform her design aesthetic today.
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Accessibility Considerations for Public Transit
Getting around a new city on public transit can prove challenging for anyone, but for riders with disabilities or other access needs, navigating unfamiliar metro, bus and tram systems often devolves into added stress and inconvenience. Fortunately, Lisbon has made commendable strides in improving accessibility across its transit network. While obstacles still exist, a little planning and research helps travelers with diverse abilities ride the rails with more confidence.
Thanks to substantial renovations and upgraded equipment, Lisbon’s metro ranks as one of the most accessible in Europe. All stations feature wheelchair lifts, ramps or elevators. Tactile paving guides vision impaired passengers, and displays provide audio announcements. Importantly, all four metro lines run accessible, level-entry trains. Compare this to London, where only 1 in 4 Tube stations offers step-free access.
Priority seating and wheelchair space is available onboard metro trains and the majority of buses. Some bus stops are elevated for level boarding access as well. For hands-free entry, Lisbon buses also accept Viva Viagem cards for passengers unable to insert a ticket. The cards simply scan as riders pass through the doorway.
The vintage trams prove more limiting, though a few renovated models do have wheelchair access. Tram 28, the most popular route, currently lacks accessibility. However, Lisbon aims to have low-floor trams running across the entire system by 2024. Until then, parts of the network remain challenging for wheelchair users and those unable to climb stairs.
Across Lisbon’s transit, audible as well as visual announcements note upcoming stations and provide onboard safety alerts. Printed signs use high color contrast for readability. Online and printed maps and schedules indicate accessible stations and routes for trip planning.
Riders needing assistance can directly contact metro attendants, bus drivers, and other Lisbon transit staff, who receive regular disability equality training. Report issues like broken elevators, lack of working wheelchair lifts, or blocked accessible seating to ensure maintenance.
Apps like Moovit allow riders with disabilities to input their needs, then plan accessible trips accordingly. Apps also provide live transit updates enabling mobility-limited travelers to avoid unnecessary trips to stations with service disruptions. The Accessible Portugal site details additional accessibility resources for navigating Lisbon.
Riding the Rails: A Local's Guide to Public Transit in Lisbon - Safety and Etiquette When Riding Public Transport
Riding public transportation should be an efficient, affordable, and hassle-free experience. But occasionally issues arise that test your patience and street smarts. By being alert and minding transit etiquette, you can help ensure smoother travels for all.
Safety first when riding solo. Criminals gravitate to crowded buses, trams, and metros where distracted passengers make easy marks. Keep valuables tucked away and carry bags closed and against your front. Be wary of the usual pickpocket tricks—jostling, blocking, or crowding you. Stay situationally aware rather than getting engrossed in your phone. Avoid dozing off and making yourself vulnerable. Don’t engage with provocative, disruptive, or suspicious behavior from strangers—report it to the driver or agent instead. Trust your instincts and switch cars or seats if someone raises red flags.
When riding at night, stick to busier cars near the driver. Text group chats when you’re aboard and have your location shared for extra peace of mind. Uber or app-based taxis provide an alternative if regular night buses run infrequently or Transit stops feel dodgy. Rule of thumb for solo riders: if a situation makes you uncomfortable, remove yourself instead of toughing it out.
In terms of etiquette, respecting fellow passengers makes everyone’s ride more pleasant. On crowded transports, slip past standing riders and find space for bags rather than expecting seated people to accommodate you. Offer the priority seats near doors to elderly, disabled, or pregnant riders even if not required by policy. They’ll appreciate not having to ask or battle for a spot. Volume control is key on packed buses and trams— keep calls brief and music low.
When occupying multiple seats, slide over for other riders or remove your bag from the adjoining seat when the vehicle fills up. Whether for manspreading, trash, or wet umbrellas, maintaining self-awareness about the space you occupy shows consideration. Make room for people exiting before hopping aboard. Queue properly at stops and allow orderly boarding. Simply being courteous to strangers sharing close quarters can enhance the travel time for all.
Exercising patience and avoiding confrontation also keeps the transit peace. Reign in frustration when stuck standing another 2 stops as no one exits. Shuffling crowds at transfer stations can’t be rushed. When delays or breakdowns occur, venting anger at drivers or staff usually backfires by delaying things further. Notify conductors about disruptive behavior versus taking matters into your own hands. Chill out with some music or a book if stressed— no situation is improved by snapping at fellow riders.