City Pass Lisbon: Transport card and tourist pass

Are you going to Lisbon soon? Then this article is made for you. We will talk in this article about the Lisbon city pass, an essential tourist pass for a stay in Lisbon. The Lisboa Card is the official tourist pass of the city of Lisbon but we will see that there are alternatives to this city pass of Lisbon.
Transport pass, tourist pass or multiple-stop bus, several solutions exist to save on your visits and on transport in Lisbon.

We will also see what activities are included in the Lisbon city pass, where to buy it, its price and its advantages. If you want to know more about things to do and see in Lisbon, go to our dedicated article.

> The Lisboa Card, the Lisbon city pass
> Alternatives to the Lisbon city-pass
> Summary: Lisboa Card and combined activities
> My opinion on the Lisbon city pass Lisbon City Pass:
Buy your city-pass for Lisbon and benefit from free admission and discounts on a large number of visits and excursions. Buy the Lisbon Card

The Lisboa Card, the city pass for Lisbon

Just like for the city of Porto which I recently told you about, the city of Lisbon does not have a multitude of city passes, unlike some cities like Venice.
In reality, there is only one city pass in Lisbon: the Lisboa Card. Although this article will focus on the advantages of the Lisboa Card, we will see that there is still another card that competes: the pass for the hop-on hop-off bus.

> Presentation of the Lisboa Card
> How long is the Lisboa Card valid for?
> How much does the Lisboa Card, the Lisbon city pass, cost?
> Where to get the Lisboa Card?
> What activities are included in the Lisboa Card?
> What transport is included in the Lisboa Card?
> Is the Lisboa Card really interesting?

Presentation of the Lisboa Card

The Liboa Card is by far the most complete city pass for visiting Lisbon. For those who are not familiar with the term "city pass" or "city card", here are some explanations.
A city pass is nothing more than a card which gives access, free of charge or with a reduction, to a set of visits, entries or excursions. Some city passes also include access to all or part of the city's public transport network.

Let's now look at the Lisboa Card. The advantages of this Lisbon city pass are multiple:

• Free entries:
  We will detail them a little later in this article, but the Lisboa Card gives free access to 35 museums, monuments or places of interest in the city.
• Reductions :
  In addition to free, you will get between 10 and 50% reduction in certain cultural centers and tourist points of interest as well as 5 and 10% reduction in certain shops.
• A transport pass:
  The Lisboa Card gives free access to the city's metro, bus, tram and train network. The duration of this access is linked to the validity period of the card. We will address this point a little below.
• Quick access:
  The Lisboa Card also gives quick access to 18 activities and places of interest, this means that for these places you will not have to wait in case of too many people.
• A mini guide to Lisbon:
  With the Lisboa Card you are provided with a mini guide to the city of Lisbon. This includes all the activities and transport offered by the city pass with, for each place, a summary of it.

How long is the Lisboa Card valid for?

The validity period of the Lisboa Card will simply depend on the option chosen.
When purchasing this city pass, you will be able to choose between 3 durations: 24h, 48h or 72h.
It is therefore during the chosen period that you will be able to take advantage of the advantages of the Lisboa Card, such as free access to museums or public transport.
During this period, access to city transport is unlimited.
Access to museums is only valid once per museum. It is not possible to visit the same museum several times with the same Lisboa Card.

How much does the Lisboa Card, the city pass for Lisbon, cost?

The price will depend on the duration chosen. We have seen that the durations were 24h, 48h or 72h, the prices therefore range from 20€ for a 24h city pass, to 34€ for 48h and to 42€ for 72h.

Where to get the Lisboa Card?

The first step will therefore be to buy your Lisbon city pass online. Once this step has been validated, you will receive a confirmation voucher.
This voucher is not the Lisboa Card, this will be collected on site.
With this confirmation voucher, printed or on your mobile, you will have to go to the Lisbon airport tourist office, located in the arrivals hall. It is open every day from 7 a.m. until 23:30 p.m.
Usually, it is also possible to collect your Lisboa Card at the tourist office located in the city center, Place du Commerce. During the Covid period, the withdrawal is made exclusively at the counter of the tourist office of the airport.

What activities are included in the Lisboa Card?

Let's now move on to the details of the activities included in this city pass.
Here is the list of the main activities, entrances or free excursions in the Lisboa Card:

• Jeronimos Monastery:
  Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jerónimos Monastery is one of the must-sees of a stay in Lisbon. Located in Belém, its construction began in 1501. The dimensions, style and decoration of this architectural complex make it a unique place not to be missed.
• Belem Tour:
  What monument symbolizes the city of Lisbon more than the Belém Tower? This tower, located in Belém on the banks of the Tagus, is one of the most touristic places in the city. Also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, a visit to this defense tower is not to be missed.
• Pilar 7 experience at the April 25 bridge:
  Located in one of the pillars of the unmissable 25th of April Bridge, Experience Pilar 7 offers its visitors a tour of what is, today, one of the most beautiful bridges in the world. The experience traces the history of the construction of the bridge. A virtual tour in augmented reality allows you to discover inaccessible places on the bridge.
• Lisbon Story Centre :
  A museum dedicated to the history of Lisbon, its monuments and the major events that have marked the city. A fun and interactive experience accessible to all.
• National Tile Museum:
  Widely used in Portugal, Azulejos, these small earthenware tiles, are honored in a museum dedicated to them. Located in a former XNUMXth century convent, this museum retraces the history of the use of these earthenware tiles.
• National Carriage Museum:
  A museum dedicated to carriages, one of the finest collections in the world. Prestigious carriages are on display. From different eras, they retrace the history of the different arts that come into play in the design of this means of transport.
• National Museum of Ancient Art:
  Admire an astonishing collection of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, furniture and pieces of jewelery from the XNUMXth, XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.
• Interpretation Center of Myths and Legends of Sintra:
  Located at the Lisbon Tourist Office, the Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretation Center will teach you more about the origins of the city as well as the legends surrounding its creation.
• Santa Justa Lift:
  It is the other icon of the city of Lisbon with the Belém tower. Located in the city center, the 45m high lift takes you gently to the heights of the city and offers you a breathtaking view of the city, the castle of San Jorge and its surroundings. A visit not to be missed in Lisbon.
• Mafra National Palace:
  A set of three monuments: a basilica, a royal palace and a convent. This place is one of the most important Baroque monuments in the country.

Other free activities are included in this Lisbon city pass:

• National Hall of Fame
• Palais national d'Ajuda
• Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
• National Museum of Contemporary Art
• National Museum of Ethnology
• National Costume Museum
• National Theater Museum
• National Museum of Archeology
• music museum
• The House-Museum of Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves
• National Museum of the Republican Guard
• Sacavém Ceramics Museum
• Portuguese Air Force Aviation Museum
• Batalha Monastery
• Alcobaca Abbey
• Convent of the Order of Christ
• neo-realism museum
• Michel Giacometti Labor Museum

As the list of museums, activities and other excursions included in the city pass is still long, I invite you to consult the mini guide made available to you with the Lisboa Card by clicking here.

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What transport is included in the Lisboa Card?

Most of Lisbon's public transport is included in the Lisbon city pass for the duration of your card's validity.

• Lisbon Metro:
  It's the easiest and most efficient way to get around the city. 4 lines cross the city of Lisbon, one of which goes to the center of the city at the airport.
• Carris Network:
  This is the network of buses, trams and elevators in the city of Lisbon. The tramway allows you, for example, to reach Belém. There are four lifts in the city: the famous Santa Justa lift, that of Glória, Lavra and Bica.
• Fertagus:
  This is the train that connects the two banks of the Tagus by taking the April 25 bridge.
• Aerobus :
  It is a shuttle exclusively dedicated to Lisbon airport. This takes you from the airport to the city center and vice versa, every 20 minutes.
• Train:
  The Lisboa Card also includes access to a number of trains including lines leading to Sintra, Cascais or Vila Franca de Xira.

Is the Lisboa Card really interesting?

It's time to ask ourselves the question of the interest of this city pass. Is this card really interesting during a stay in Lisbon? The answer will obviously depend on how useful you will be, the length of your stay or the number of museums you want to visit.
Let's take 3 different scenarios that will help you answer this question.

Case n°1: a short stay in Lisbon

Let's take the case of a short stay in Lisbon, for a single day.
Here are for me the essential things to do absolutely in Lisbon, even for a day, as well as the expenses that it would be possible to avoid with a city pass:

• 1 basic 24-hour transport card: €6,40
• 1 entry for the Belém tower: €3
• 1 entrance to the Jeronimos monastery: €10
• 1 access to the Santa Justa lift: included in the basic 24-hour transport card
• 1 return airport/city center: included in the basic 24-hour transport card

The two solutions are equal

If your visit to Lisbon stops at these few activities, then taking your activities separately costs the same price: €19,60 compared to €20 for the 24-hour Lisboa Card. The advantage of the city pass is that it will allow you to access the Belém tower and the monastery via quick access, without having to wait at the entrance which, in the case of a very short stay, can be interesting.

Case n°2: 3 days in Lisbon

Let's now take the case of a longer stay in Lisbon: 3 days to visit the essentials of the Portuguese capital will allow you to discover Lisbon but also to consider a half-day or a day in Sintra.

• 1 transport card 24h x 2 days: €12,80
• 1 24-hour transport card with train option to get to Sintra: €10,55
• 1 entry for the Belém tower: €3
• 1 entrance to the Jeronimos monastery: €10
• 1 access to the Santa Justa lift: included in the basic 24-hour transport card
• 1 return airport/city center: included in the basic 24-hour transport card
• 1 entrance to the Pena Palace and Park in Sintra: €12,60
• 1 entry for the Pilar 7 Experience: €5

The Lisboa Card is more interesting

This costs us €66,75 for these 3 days of visit. I have only counted the essentials here, you can add a few entries for museums as well. In this case, there is therefore no comparison between the price of these activities, which amounts to €66,75, and that of a 72-hour Lisboa Card, at €42.

Case n°3: 2 days in Lisbon with a visit to the Luz stadium

For the latter case, let's take the example of a slightly shorter stay, 2 days, including a visit which benefits from a reduction via the Lisboa Card.

• 1 transport card 24h x 2: €12,80
• 1 entry for the Belém tower: €3
• 1 entrance to the Jeronimos monastery: €10
• 1 access to the Santa Justa lift: included in the basic 24-hour transport card
• 1 return airport/city center: included in the basic 24-hour transport card
• 1 entry for the Luz stadium and the Benfica museum: €16,50 (instead of €14 with the Lisboa Card which offers 15%)

Advantage to booking à la carte activities but …

In this specific case, taking your activities separately will cost you €42,30 compared to €48 (€34 for the Lisboa Card 48h and €14 for entry to the stadium) with the Lisboa Card.
Note that this is a special case. Indeed, if you add to your visit the Pilar 7 Experience of the April 25 bridge, then the two solutions are at the same price.
It is therefore up to you to do the calculation according to your desires and the additional visits you wish to make.

Alternatives to the Lisbon city pass

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Lisboa Card is the only city pass in Lisbon. However, there are different alternatives to this city pass.

Hop-on hop-off bus + cruise + tram: valid for 72 hours

First possible alternative to the Lisboa Card: a pass giving access to the multiple-stop bus as well as a cruise, the tram and the city's lifts.
Present in many cities, these multiple-stop buses delight many tourists. Dedicated to visiting the city, these buses run on three different lines and make numerous stops at the main points of interest in the city.
Get on and off at any of the stops served by these buses and enjoy the explanations of the audio guide.
In addition to access to these bus lines, you will also have access to the city's tram, elevators and a cruise on the Tagus!
This pass is valid for a period of 24 or 72 hours, at the price of €15,30 for the first option and €40,50 for the second.

Buy the Yellow Bus card

Unlimited transport pass with private driver from the airport to your accommodation

Another pass allows you to use only the city's public transport: trams, buses, metros, lifts as well as private transport from the airport to your hotel. Private transport increases the price of the pass. This one is priced at €68,50 on you alone, but this price decreases if there are more of you. For example, for 4 people it costs you 41€ per person.
Note that this pass is also valid for 72 hours.

Buy this transport pass

Book your activities independently

Last solution, it is possible to book your activities independently without opting for a city pass. We have seen above that in some cases this may be more advantageous.

Here are some of the visits and activities included in the Lisbon city pass that you can book on your own.

• AeroBus:
  This bus allows you to reach the airport from downtown Lisbon or vice versa.
  It is priced at €3,60 per trip and per person.
• Private transport Airport – Downtown:
  You can opt for private transportation between the airport and your hotel. This private transport is not included in the Lisboa Card.
  The price is €16,80.
• Experience Pilar 7 :
  Discover the bowels of the April 25 bridge. Interior, exterior but also interactive experience to learn more about the history of this mythical bridge.
  Price: € 5
• Admission to Belém Tower:
  Entrance ticket to visit the unmissable Belém Tower.
  The unit price is €3.
• Jeronimos Monastery:
  Entrance ticket to the unmissable Jeronimos Monastery.
  Price: 10€.
• Cruise on the Tagus:
  Enjoy a cruise on the Tagus aboard a sailboat and discover Lisbon in a different light.
  Price: €19,50 per person.
• Sintra:
  Skip-the-line entrance to Pena Palace and Park in Sintra.
  Price: €12,60 per person.
• Entrance to the Luz stadium and the Benfica museum:
  Visit the legendary Benfica Lisbon stadium and its museum.
  Price: €16,50 per person.

Summary: Lisboa Card and combined activities

Here is a short summary of the different solutions available to you in terms of city passes and activity reservations for a stay in Lisbon.

My opinion on the Lisbon city pass

My opinion on the Lisbon city pass is clear: I strongly recommend that you purchase this Lisboa Card. I am usually a fan of city passes and look for them whenever I visit a city. Having tried several, the Lisboa Card is really interesting. In addition to free access to the various museums, discounts and fast access, the transport pass is particularly valuable in a city such as Lisbon. It will be almost compulsory for you to take public transport to get to Belém, one of Lisbon's must-sees.
Do not hesitate to leave me your opinion or your questions about this city pass in the comments, I will be happy to answer them.