Lisbon is easy to cross and surprisingly difficult to navigate badly. The city is compact, public transport reaches most areas and the airport sits unusually close to the centre. But hills, cobblestones, crowded trams and routes that look simpler on a map than they feel on foot can complicate even a short journey.
After living here for years, our approach is simple:
Take the Metro from the airport. Walk whenever the distance and hill make sense. Use public transport to connect neighbourhoods rather than trying to ride through every street. Call an Uber or Bolt when it is late, raining or your luggage makes public transport impractical. And skip the tuk-tuk.
The famous yellow trams are part of Lisbon, but they are not the best way to move through it. Taxis are legal and widely available, but they are not our preferred airport nor city option. Walking is usually the most rewarding choice, but “walkable” in Lisbon refers to distance, not necessarily effort.
This guide explains how to get around Lisbon, what transports in Lisbon make sense and what don’t and what we actually use and recommend.
Before you start planning, have a look at our local guide to Lisbon to know everything about what to, what to skip, what is overrated, what is unmissable. And do not skip our advice on the best pasteis de nata in Lisbon and the best traditional cafes in the city, far from the “specialty” coffees everyone recommends.
Getting From Lisbon Airport to the City Centre
Take the Metro in Most Cases
The Metro is our default recommendation from Lisbon Airport.
The Aeroporto station is located in the arrivals area and connects directly with the Red Line. From there, you can change to the Green, Yellow or Blue Line depending on where you are staying.
It is convenient, inexpensive and usually faster than sitting in road traffic.
The Metro currently operates daily from 06:30 until 01:00, including weekends and public holidays. The airport station has lifts, escalators and ticket machines, and you can travel using a valid transport card or a contactless bank card.
Take the Metro when:
- You arrive during operating hours
- Your accommodation is near a station
- You can manage your luggage independently
- You are staying around Saldanha, Alameda, São Sebastião or another conveniently connected area
- Traffic is heavy
The Red Line does not travel directly into Baixa, Chiado or Alfama, so most visitors need to change once. That is still generally straightforward.
The airport is close enough to central Lisbon that the journey rarely feels long.
Take Uber or Bolt When Arriving Late
When the Metro is closed (or close to closing) you can use Uber or Bolt.
The same applies when travelling with several bags, young children, reduced mobility or accommodation that is far from a useful station.
Lisbon Airport has an official pick-up area for ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt at P2, Level 2. Follow the instructions in the app rather than waiting directly outside whichever door you leave through.
Check the vehicle registration and driver shown in the app before getting inside.
Prices vary with demand and traffic, but the advantage is that you see the estimated fare and destination before the journey begins.
do not take an Airport Taxi
Licensed taxis operate from official ranks at Lisbon Airport and are a legitimate transport option. Trips into central Lisbon are metered so passengers need to make sure the meter is switched on and request a receipt.
Even so, we would normally choose the Metro or an app-based ride first.
The Metro is more convenient for many central routes, while Uber and Bolt provide greater fare transparency before the journey.
Most importantly, never accept a ride from someone who approaches you inside the terminal.
A simple airport rule:
Metro during normal hours, Uber or Bolt when the Metro is impractical, and never follow anyone offering transport inside the terminal.
Is Lisbon Easy to Walk Around?
Yes, Lisbon is easy to walk around and, in fairness, it is best understood on foot.
Walking allows you to notice the transitions between neighbourhoods, find small squares and understand how the city’s hills, viewpoints and river relate to one another.
Many central distances are short:
- Baixa to Chiado
- Chiado to Cais do Sodré
- Cais do Sodré to Santos
- Príncipe Real to São Bento
- Alfama to Mouraria
- Rossio to Avenida da Liberdade
But short does not always mean easy.
Lisbon’s hills can turn a 15-minute route into a steep climb. Traditional calçada portuguesa paving can become slippery when wet, and uneven surfaces are uncomfortable in poor footwear.
Google Maps may show the fastest route without communicating how sharply it rises.
The Lisbon Metro: Best for Crossing the City
The Metro is the easiest way to cover longer distances quickly.
It is especially useful for:
- Travelling between the airport and the city
- Reaching Saldanha and Avenidas Novas
- Moving between Alvalade, Arroios and the centre
- Getting to São Sebastião and the Gulbenkian
- Connecting to Oriente and Parque das Nações
- Avoiding traffic during commuting hours
Lisbon currently has four colour-coded lines:
- Blue Line: useful for Baixa-Chiado, Avenida, Marquês de Pombal and São Sebastião
- Green Line: connects Cais do Sodré, Rossio, Intendente, Arroios, Areeiro and Alvalade
- Yellow Line: serves Rato, Marquês de Pombal, Saldanha, Campo Pequeno and areas farther north
- Red Line: connects the airport, Oriente, Alameda and São Sebastião
The network does not reach every visitor neighbourhood directly.
Alfama, Belém, Estrela, Lapa, Campo de Ourique, São Bento and Santos require some combination of walking, tram, bus or train depending on the exact destination.
That is why Lisbon cannot be navigated by Metro alone.
Paying for the Metro
The Metro accepts occasional transport cards loaded with tickets, personalised Navegante cards and contactless bank cards. You must validate when entering and leaving through the gates.
For a short stay, contactless payment can be the simplest option when available and compatible with your card.
Use the same card or device consistently. Do not tap in with a physical card and attempt to tap out with the same card through a mobile wallet, as the system may read them as different payment methods.
For multiple journeys involving buses and trams as well as the Metro, compare the current day-ticket options at the machines rather than assuming individual fares will always be cheaper.
Transport products and prices change, so we would not build an itinerary around a fare copied from an old article.
Lisbon Trams: Useful Transport, Tourist Attraction or Both?
Lisbon’s trams are real public transport.
They are also among the city’s best-known visual symbols, which means certain routes now carry far more visitors than the small historic vehicles were designed to accommodate.
The result is a system with two different functions:
- Residents use trams to navigate areas without Metro coverage.
- Visitors use them to experience Lisbon’s historic streets.
Those uses do not always coexist comfortably.
Tram 28: Famous but Often Not Worth the Wait
Tram 28 crosses several historic neighbourhoods and passes through parts of Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, Estrela and Campo de Ourique.
The route is genuinely scenic. The experience is often not.
Queues at the main starting points can be long, vehicles become tightly packed and standing inside a crowded tram offers little of the view people expected. Pickpocketing is also a sensible concern in any highly congested visitor environment.
We would not never recommend to spend an hour waiting merely to complete the entire route.
Better options include:
- Boarding away from the most famous terminal stops
- Riding only one useful section
- Taking the tram early in the morning
- Walking through the neighbourhoods instead
- Using another tram or bus for the actual journey
Tram 28 is worthwhile when it arrives and has space. It is not essential to a successful Lisbon trip.
Tram 15: Useful for Belém, but Expect Crowds
Tram 15 connects central Lisbon with Belém. Modern vehicles generally operate on the route, making it more practical than the small historic trams. It is commonly used by visitors travelling to Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and the riverfront.
It can become crowded, especially around Cais do Sodré and Praça da Figueira.
The suburban train from Cais do Sodré to Belém is often a faster and more comfortable alternative, depending on your starting point and current service conditions.
Trams 24 and 25: Useful Alternatives
Other routes may be more useful than Tram 28 because fewer visitors treat them as mandatory attractions.
Tram 24 connects the central area with Príncipe Real and Campolide, while Tram 25 serves parts of Estrela, Lapa and Campo de Ourique.
Routes and service can be affected by roadworks, traffic and temporary changes, so check Carris information on the day rather than relying on an old route map. Carris provides current route planning and real-time vehicle tracking through its official platform.
Lisbon Buses: More Useful Than Visitors Realise
Buses fill many of the gaps left by the Metro.
They are particularly useful for:
- Estrela and Lapa
- Campo de Ourique
- Belém and Ajuda
- Graça and the hills
- Connections between residential neighbourhoods
- Journeys that would otherwise require several Metro changes
Visitors often avoid buses because the routes look more complicated than the Metro.
The main limitation is traffic. A route that appears quick can slow considerably during commuting hours or on streets shared with trams, deliveries and tourist vehicles.
Use buses when they provide a direct route. Avoid them when the Metro covers the same journey more reliably.
Funiculars and Lifts: Transport With a View
Lisbon’s funiculars and lifts were created to solve actual elevation problems.
They include:
- Elevador da Bica
- Elevador da Glória
- Elevador do Lavra
- Elevador de Santa Justa
Today they also function as attractions, which can generate queues disproportionate to the length of the journey.
They are useful when:
- The climb is genuinely difficult
- The queue is short
- The ride forms part of where you already need to go
They are less useful when:
- You wait longer than walking would take
- You are riding solely because a guide says it is essential
- Nearby escalators, streets or public lifts provide an easier alternative
The Santa Justa Lift is architecturally distinctive, but it is not the only way to reach the higher level near Carmo. Visitors often wait without realising they can walk around or use other connections.
Use the city’s lifts as transport when they help. Do not turn every one into a compulsory attraction.
Uber and Bolt in Lisbon
Uber and Bolt are widely used in Lisbon.
We use them when:
- Arriving late from the airport
- Returning after the Metro closes
- Travelling with luggage
- Heavy rain makes walking difficult
- Public transport requires several inconvenient changes
- A group can share the cost
- Mobility or fatigue makes hills impractical
They are particularly useful for neighbourhoods that lack direct Metro access, including parts of Estrela, Lapa, Campo de Ourique and Belém.
However, cars do not escape Lisbon traffic. During commuting hours, large events or road closures, the Metro may be substantially faster. Some historic streets are restricted or difficult to access, so the driver may need to leave you a short walk from the exact address.
Always check the licence plate before entering.
What About Regular Taxis?
Lisbon taxis are licensed public passenger services, and operators must meet national licensing requirements.
They can be useful when:
- One is available immediately at an official rank
- You do not have mobile data
- Your phone battery is dead
- You need assistance arranging transport
- An app price has increased sharply because of demand
Make sure the meter is used, and request a receipt when needed.
Our preference for app-based rides is about visibility and convenience, not a claim that every Lisbon taxi is unsafe or dishonest.
At the airport, we still prefer the Metro or a ride booked directly through an app.
Why We Do Not Recommend Lisbon Tuk-Tuks
Tuk-tuks are now impossible to miss in central Lisbon. They wait around Baixa, Alfama, Graça and the main viewpoints, offering private tours through the historic neighbourhoods.
We do not recommend them.
They Are Expensive for What They Provide
Prices can be high relative to the distance covered. For the same budget, visitors can often take several public-transport journeys, use a taxi or ride-hailing service when needed, and book a specialist walking tour with more historical depth.
They Are Not Comfortable
Lisbon’s streets are steep, narrow and uneven. An open or lightly enclosed vehicle moving over cobblestones can be noisy, bumpy and exposed to heat, wind or rain. The ride may look charming from the pavement and feel much less charming after an extended route.
They Contribute to Congestion
The historic centre already has limited road space shared by residents, public transport, deliveries, emergency access and pedestrians. Lisbon City Council has acknowledged significant pressure from the growing number of tourist transport vehicles. Recent municipal measures have expanded restrictions on tuk-tuk circulation, stopping and parking across hundreds of streets after complaints from residents and businesses.
They Add Noise to Residential Streets
Some tuk-tuks operate with amplified commentary or music, and even electric vehicles add activity to narrow streets where sound carries directly into homes. Traffic is already Lisbon’s largest source of environmental noise.
They Do Not Help You Understand the City Better
Lisbon’s historic neighbourhoods make more sense on foot. Their interest lies in the staircases, courtyards, small streets and transitions that a vehicle cannot properly access. Being driven rapidly between viewpoints reduces the city to a sequence of photo stops.
A tuk-tuk may be practical for someone unable to walk the hills, but that is a specific accessibility decision—not a reason every visitor needs one. For most travellers, we would choose a short taxi ride for the difficult climb and then explore on foot.
Bikes and E-Scooters
Lisbon has expanded cycling infrastructure, particularly along the river and through flatter parts of the city.
Cycling works best around:
- Belém
- Alcântara
- Parque das Nações
- The riverfront
- Selected protected routes through newer areas
It is less comfortable in steep historic neighbourhoods, on tram tracks or among dense central traffic.
E-bikes make the hills more manageable, but they do not remove issues with cobblestones, rails and limited road space.
Shared e-scooters can be useful for short, flat routes, but they should not be ridden carelessly on pavements or left blocking pedestrian access.
For a casual visitor, cycling beside the river makes sense. Cycling through Alfama because the distance looks short on a map usually does not.
Ferries: Public Transport With Some of Lisbon’s Best Views
Ferries cross the Tagus from terminals including Cais do Sodré, Terreiro do Paço and Belém. They are part of the metropolitan public-transport network, not merely sightseeing cruises.
Useful routes include connections to:
- Cacilhas
- Seixal
- Barreiro
- Montijo
- Trafaria and Porto Brandão, depending on the departure point and service
The Cais do Sodré–Cacilhas crossing is particularly easy to incorporate into a visit. It provides open views back towards Lisbon and connects with the south bank, where visitors can continue towards restaurants, the riverside or Cristo Rei.
The ferry is one of the rare cases where the practical transport option also provides one of the best perspectives on the city.
Trains for Belém, Cascais and Sintra
Lisbon’s suburban trains matter because several places commonly treated as Lisbon attractions or day trips sit outside the Metro network.
Use Cais do Sodré for trains towards:
- Belém
- Alcântara
- Estoril
- Cascais
Use Rossio for trains towards:
- Sintra
Use Oriente, Entrecampos or Sete Rios, depending on the service, for other suburban, regional and long-distance connections.
Do not confuse Metro stations with railway stations merely because they share a name or sit nearby.
Allow time to locate the correct platform, especially at larger interchanges such as Oriente.
Is Lisbon an Easy City?
Lisbon’s accessibility has improved, but the historic centre remains difficult.
Challenges include:
- Steep gradients
- Uneven and slippery paving
- Narrow pavements
- Stairs
- Older buildings without lifts
- Crowded historic trams
- Stations with entrances that may be distant from the platform lift
- Vehicles parked or stopped in pedestrian space
Many Metro stations provide lifts, but an accessible symbol at station level does not guarantee that every street exit is equally convenient.
Modern buses, Metro trains, ride-hailing services and newer parts of the city are generally easier than historic trams and old neighbourhood streets.
Travellers with limited mobility should choose accommodation carefully and not assume that a central address eliminates transport difficulties.
Saldanha, Avenidas Novas, Parque das Nações and flatter parts of Baixa are generally easier than Alfama, Graça or Bairro Alto.
Read our guide on the best and worst areas to stay in Lisbon for more information.
What Transport Pass Should You Buy in lisbon?
There is no single pass that is automatically best for every visitor. The right choice depends on how much you plan to walk and whether your day includes suburban trains.
Consider:
- Individual contactless Metro payments for occasional journeys
- An occasional Navegante card loaded with suitable tickets
- A Carris/Metro 24-hour option for a transport-heavy day
- Wider day products that include selected suburban rail services when visiting Sintra or Cascais
The Metro currently advertises a 24-hour “Travelling all Lisboa” product covering Carris, Metro and specified CP suburban lines, but products and pricing can change. Check the current conditions before purchasing.
Do not buy a multi-day product automatically at the airport.
Lisbon visitors often walk far more than expected and use less transport than a pass calculation assumes.
The Best Way to Get Around Lisbon
There is no single best way to move around Lisbon.
The Metro is the easiest option for covering longer distances. Buses and trams are useful when they fill gaps in the network. Uber and Bolt make sense when it is late, raining or luggage is involved.
But Lisbon should not be experienced entirely through a vehicle window.
The city reveals itself in the streets between the landmarks: the sudden views, small squares, tiled façades and sharp changes between one neighbourhood and the next. Walking is what connects those details, while public transport saves your energy for the parts of the city that are actually worth exploring on foot.
Use transport strategically rather than trying to complete Lisbon through famous rides and compulsory routes.
Take the Metro when it makes the journey easier. Ride a tram when it takes you somewhere useful. Use a ferry when the river is part of the destination. Skip the tuk-tuk and do not waste an hour queueing for Tram 28 simply because every guide says you should.