With NAVEGANTE or VIVA VIAGEM.
* This information was verified on June 30, 2025. Please check for any changes that may have occurred since then.
- Both cards costs €0.50 and allows you to load occasional trips or use the Zapping mode for public transport within the Lisbon metropolitan area. The cost per trip when using Zapping mode varies depending on the operator and line, but you can check it on the Navegante or the Portal Viva website.The card can be loaded with any desired amount and is reusable, making it ideal for those who use public transport occasionally.
- It serves all types of transportation including trams and elevators.
- For occasional trips on the Lisboa Metro, a single ticket costs €1.66 for one journey across the entire Metropolitano de Lisboa, E.P.E. network. However, for trips on the Metro Transportes do Sul (MTS), the cost per journey in Zapping mode is €0.85, valid across the entire MTS network.
- The Navegante Ocasional can be loaded with single journey tickets, 24-hour tickets, or with Zapping mode. Zapping mode allows you to load money onto the card, and the corresponding fare for each trip is deducted, making it an economical option for infrequent public transport users.
- For more information on prices and fares, it's recommended to consult the Navegante website, the Portal Viva website, and the Metropolitano de Lisboa website.
With a BANK CARD
- With recent developments, almost all public transport in Lisbon can now be paid for directly with a bank card. However, using NAVEGANTE or VIVA cards will save you money.
Metro, ferry and suburban train stations from any automatic ticket machine or ticket office. Ticket machines have an English version.
Lisbon is a city with over 30 centuries of history and hundreds of points of interest. It has many different neighborhoods and steep hills. Many tourists say that to know the whole city you need about 10 days. But even if you only have one day, you can get to know a good part of the city through a smart selection of places.
If you follow our plan you will get to know the main points of historical interest of the city, take a good set of photos to show to friends and remember later and relax (we think it's not worth seeing too many things in a stressed way — after all you're on vacation)
- Morning: Portas do Sol → Santa Luzia → Sé-Catedral → Alfama (2 hours)
- After Lunch: Rossio → Rua Augusta → Praça do Comércio (1.5 hour)
- Afternoon: Jerónimos Church and Monastery → Belém Tower → Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries) → MAAT → Pasteis de Belém (3 hours)
- Evening or Night: Elevador da Bica → Praça de Camões → Chiado → Elevador de Santa Justa (1.5 hour)
Within the city of Lisbon, according to UNdata 2017, there are 505,000 people, but if we consider the metropolitan area of Lisbon there are 2,800,000 people.
It's difficult to understand European Portuguese because in daily use we stress the vowels so much that "excelente" sounds "shlente"; "estamos" sounds "shtamos"; "piscina" like "pshina". This is so natural for us that we don't notice we are doing that.
Spanish says all the vowels so it's easier to understand. But if we speak slowly saying all the vowels it's easier to understand us. In fact if you read Portuguese you will notice that almost 80% of the words are the same or very similar to Spanish. The pronunciation is what makes it sound so different.
In Brazilian Portuguese we say all the vowels so it's easier to understand. As far as I know Portuguese is the only Romance language to have the nasal diphthongs [õj], [ɐ̃w] and [ɐ̃j], spelled õe, ão and ãe. That is probably its most striking feature.
- Hello, Hi: Olá
- Thanks: Obrigado
- You are welcome: De nada
- Good morning!; Good day!: Bom dia!
- Good night!: Boa noite!
- Please!: Por favor! / Se faz favor!
- Excuse me!: Desculpe!
- Yes: Sim
- No: Não
- Street: Rua
- Square (usually a large square): Praça
- Square (usually a small square): Largo
- Viewpoint: Miradouro
- Tram; Streetcar: Elétrico
- Can refer to the coffee, to an espresso or to a cafe: Café
- The famous Portuguese custard tart: Pastel de Nata
- Codfish: Bacalhau
The Portuguese gastronomy is very rich and diverse. Here are some suggestions:
- Bacalhau à Brás: Made from shreds of salted cod (bacalhau), onions and thinly chopped (matchstick-sized) fried potatoes, all bound with scrambled eggs; it is usually garnished with black olives and sprinkled with fresh parsley.
- Bacalhau à Gomes Sá: A casserole of bacalhau, potatoes, eggs, olives, olive oil and onion.
- Bacalhau à Minhota: A typical Portuguese dish, cod seasoned with pepper and salt, served with fried potatoes, drizzled with a sauce of olive oil, onion and garlic.
- Pastéis de Bacalhau: Cod fritters.
- Cozido à Portuguesa: Portuguese stew prepared with a multitude of vegetables (beans, potatoes, carrots, turnips, cabbages, rice), meat (chicken, chouriço, farinheira, morcela, and blood sausage), among others.
- Sardinhas assadas: Grilled sardines.
- Coelho à caçador: Stewed rabbit.
- Caldeirada: Fisherman's stew.
- Caldo Verde: Green soup.
- Frango de Churrasco: Roasted chicken.
- Caracóis: Snails.
- Arroz doce: Sweet, spiced rice pudding.
Restaurante Príncipe do Calhariz (closed on Saturdays). Typical restaurant where the locals go to eat every day. Portuguese food with a lot of choice. Meat, fish, seafood, salads, omelets, cheese and wine.
Must taste the tarts of Belém and the tarts of Manteigaria.
Although the oldest and most famous are those of Belém, those of Manteigaria have earned the reputation of being the best in the world. You should always eat them with cinnamon and, if possible, still warm. Manteigaria has three stores in Lisbon.
Take the tram 15 in Praça da Figueira, Praça do Comércio or Cais do Sodré.
- From the river: from Praça do Comércio walk east to Campo das Cebolas or to the Fado Museum. Enter one of the small streets and you are in Alfama.
- From the top of the hill: go to the Miradouro Portas do Sol or to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. You can walk or take the elétrico 12 or elétrico 28. Go down to Alfama.
- From the Sé-Catedral: Alfama is behind the church.
- By train: Take the train at Rossio Station. Sintra is the last station. The journey takes about 40 minutes. The first train leaves at 06:01 AM and the last one returns from Sintra at 00:20 AM. The ticket costs €4.50 round trip. Check the timetable here.
- By car: Sintra is a short drive from Lisbon. The town can be reached from Lisbon in just half an hour on the IC19 motorway.
- Palace and Park of Pena (half day) - search on the Internet or perhaps it's better to ask at the train station in Sintra from where to take the bus to the Palace. Down you can walk through the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors).
- Palácio da Vila (the Village Palace)
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Don't forget to taste a TRAVESSEIRO at Café Piriquita (light puff, rolled and folded seven times, and filled with delicious almond-and-egg-yolk cream and lightly dusted with sugar)
(2, 3 and 4 are everything in the village, 15 minutes walk from the station) - If you want to eat in Sintra, the best is the APEADEIRO Restaurant, which is next to the station. Frequented by both locals and tourists.
- CCB - Belém (Contemporary Art)
- Museu dos Coches - Belém (Coach Museum)
- MAAT - Belém (Art, Architecture and Technology)
- Calouste Gulbenkian - Metro São Sebastião (Decorative and Modern Art)
- Museu de Arte Antiga - Rua das Janelas Verdes (Ancient Art)
- Sé-Catedral - The oldest church in the city is the see of the Archdiocese of Lisbon. Since the beginning of the construction of the cathedral, in the year 1147, the building has been modified several times and survived many earthquakes. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural styles.
#Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque - Jerónimos Monastery - Former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém. One of the most prominent examples of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. It was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the nearby Tower of Belém.
# Late Gothic Manueline - Igreja de São Roque - One of the few buildings in Lisbon to survive the earthquake relatively unscathed. When built in the 16th century it was the first Jesuit church designed in the "auditorium-church" style specifically for preaching. It contains a number of chapels, most in the Baroque style of the early 17th century. The chapel of Saint John the Baptist, it was reportedly the most expensive chapel in Europe at the time.
# Baroque - Igreja de São Domingos - The church was dedicated in 1241 and was, at one time, the largest church in Lisbon. It is also important in the history of the inquisition; It was the site of the Lisbon Massacre of 1506, and now there is a monument in front to remember the event. Prior to the establishment of the modern Portuguese republic in 1910, the church typically hosted royal weddings. In 1959 the church was devastated when a fire broke out in the building. The restoration left many signs of the fire in place.
# Baroque - Basílica da Estrela - It was built by order of Queen Maria I of Portugal, as a fulfilled promise for giving birth to a son. Construction started in 1779 and the basilica was finished in 1790. The Estrela Basilica was the first church in the world dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
# Baroque and Neoclassical
Take a ferry at Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas which is in the town of Almada. It's just 10 minutes crossing the river and you will see the city from the other side.
Visit Campo de Ourique District. It is one of the few residential neighborhoods in Lisbon that has everything to live. It is a small town within the city.
In the center there are several parks.
Estacionamento Restauradores
Estacionamento Martim Moniz
Parque da Praça da Figueira
The 28 tram goes through a good part of the historic city. Due to its popularity, it's almost always crowded (like canned sardines). Instead of taking the tram at **Praça do Martim Moniz**, where you might wait over an hour in queues, consider boarding at **Praça São João Bosco** in the Campo de Ourique neighborhood. This way, you can enjoy the full journey ending back at Martim Moniz.
The tram stop at Praça São João Bosco is conveniently located in front of the famous Cemitério dos Prazeres. Since Campo de Ourique doesn't have a metro station and is a bit further from the center, you can easily get there by **taxi or Uber**. When your tram tour finishes, you'll be right in the city center!
Praça São João Bosco
Yes, Lisbon has several other tram routes that are also worth experiencing! Consider trying the **12, 15, 24, or 25** for different perspectives of the city.
-
By Train (approx. 3 hours): You can catch a train to Porto from **Santa Apolónia** or **Oriente** stations (both have direct metro access). For tickets and timetables, visit www.cp.pt.
-
By Bus (approx. 3 hours): Buses depart for Porto from **Sete Rios** (near Jardim Zoológico metro - blue line) or **Oriente** (red line). Check schedules and book tickets at www.rede-expressos.pt.
-
By Car (approx. 3 hours): Porto is about 300 km (186 miles) north of Lisbon. The journey via the **A1 highway** takes around three hours. Be aware that tolls can be quite expensive, potentially costing around **€25** for the one-way trip.
-
By Train: There are two main train services from Lisbon to the Algarve. The faster **Alfa Pendular (AP)** connects Lisbon and Faro twice daily (stopping at Albufeira and Loulé) in about three hours. The **Intercidades** train covers the same route three times a day, taking approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
If your destination is Lagos, Tavira, or Vila Real de Santo António, you'll need to transfer to a Regional train at Tunes. For these specific destinations, a bus might be more convenient, even if slightly longer. Trains depart from **Gare do Oriente** in Lisbon. Tickets start at **€22** one way and can be booked up to 60 days in advance on www.cp.pt.
-
By Bus: Regular bus services run throughout the day from Lisbon to various Algarve resort towns like Albufeira, Alvor, Armação de Pêra, Faro, Lagos, and Tavira. Travel times range from three to four hours, depending on your destination. The service is operated by Rede Expressos / Renex.
Buses can be boarded at **Sete Rios Bus Terminal** (blue metro line) or **Gare do Oriente** (red metro line) in Lisbon. One-way tickets are typically around **€16** and can be booked up to 30 days in advance on www.rede-expressos.pt.
-
By Car: Driving offers the most flexibility for exploring the Algarve and making stops along the way. The journey from Lisbon to the Algarve takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes via the **A2 motorway**, which connects to the A22 across the Algarve.
Keep in mind that tolls from Lisbon to the Algarve can be expensive, with the A2 alone costing around **€21** in tolls. The A22 within the Algarve is also a toll road (electronic only, no booths), which can further increase your travel costs.
In Portugal, employees typically receive **14 salaries** per year. As of 2023, the **average salary is €1500**.
The **minimum wage** in Portugal, as of January 2024, is **€820**.
Lisbon boasts one of Europe's mildest climates. Its southern latitude gives it a Mediterranean-like climate, while the Atlantic Ocean's moderating effect prevents extreme temperatures in both summer and winter. It's also incredibly sunny, with about **260 days of sunshine annually**.
- In **spring**, the average minimum temperature is 10ºC (50ºF) and the maximum is almost 20ºC (68ºF), with plenty of sunshine but occasional showers.
- By **May**, the average maximum temperature rises above 20ºC (68ºF), and in **June**, it reaches 25ºC (75ºF), with minimal rain.
- **July and August** are typically very sunny, hot, and dry, with an average maximum temperature of 28ºC (82ºF).
- **September** remains warm (average maximum of 26ºC) and has little rain, making it a great time to visit. **October** is also quite mild.
- **Winters** can bring considerable rain, wind, and colder temperatures, with an average minimum of 8ºC (46ºF) and a maximum of 15ºC (59ºF). However, even in winter, beautiful, sunny days can occur, with temperatures sometimes reaching 25ºC (75ºF).
While a minority of locals might feel inconvenienced by the large number of tourists, many view tourism as a positive development. In fact, numerous previously abandoned houses in the historic center have been recovered and brought back to life thanks to tourism, contributing to the city's vibrancy and economy.
While tipping is not mandatory in Portugal, it is certainly appreciated. If you've enjoyed excellent service, you can leave a tip (known as a *gorgeta*). A common range is **5% to 20%** of the bill. Alternatively, many people choose to **round up** the bill; for example, if the total is €27 or €28, they might leave €30. If it's €22 or €23, they might leave €25.
You've likely heard of the devastating Lisbon earthquake of **1755**, estimated at a magnitude of **8.5 to 9**. It's the largest known historic earthquake to have impacted Europe and northern Africa.
However, there's no need for excessive worry. Earthquakes with magnitudes less than 3 are generally not felt by humans, and such small tremors occur daily worldwide. Today, both building constructions and human resources are significantly better prepared for seismic activity. Furthermore, since it's largely beyond our control, it's best to enjoy your stay without undue concern.
For those curious about the seismic history, several other significant historical earthquakes, including those in **1356 (M8), 1531 (M7), 1909 (M6.3), and 1969 (M8)**, have caused notable damage in the Lisbon area. This is due to Lisbon's proximity to the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary, which extends from the mid-Atlantic Ocean ridge triple junction near the Azores eastward to the Strait of Gibraltar. Here, the Africa plate rotates counterclockwise relative to the Eurasia plate at a relatively slow rate of about **4 mm/year**.
Lisbon is situated atop one of the many onshore crustal faults that are seismically active at the Iberia and Africa continent margins. Studies suggest the return period for magnitude 6 to 7 earthquakes near Lisbon could be as short as **150 to 200 years**, making Lisbon the highest risk area in Portugal.
