Overview
The Lisbon Metro (Metro de Lisboa) is a rapid transit system serving Portugal's capital. Opened in December 1959, it was the first rapid transit system in the country. As of 2023, the network operates four lines across 44.5 kilometres (27.7 miles) of track and serves 56 stations. For visitors, the Metro is an efficient way to travel across much of the city—it operates daily from 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., with trains arriving typically every 6 to 12 minutes depending on the time and day. To ride, you purchase a single journey ticket or a prepaid pass (using a reusable navegante card), tap it at the barrier to enter the platform, board a train heading in your desired direction, and tap again to exit at your destination station.
The network
The Lisbon Metro comprises four colour-coded lines serving different parts of the city:
- Blue Line (Linha Azul): Runs from Colégio Militar/Luz in the northwest to Terreiro do Paço in the city centre's lower district (Baixa). This is one of the original lines, restructured in 1995.
- Yellow Line (Linha Amarela): Connects Campo Grande in the north to Rotunda (now Marquês de Pombal) in the city centre. Also formed from the original network's restructuring in 1995.
- Green Line (Linha Verde): Runs from Telheiras in the north, through the city centre via Rossio, to Cais do Sodré on the waterfront. The central section opened in phases from 1963 onwards, with further extensions added later.
- Red Line (Linha Vermelha): Connects Alameda in the central east to Oriente in the northeast, passing through Lisbon Airport. Inaugurated on 19 May 1998 in time for Expo '98, this line includes an extension to Lisbon Airport opened in September 2013.
Beyond the Metro, Lisbon's public transport includes suburban rail (CP trains to nearby towns such as Sintra and Cascais), tram services (Carris operates traditional tram lines in the historic centre), buses (Carris city buses and long-distance express services), and ferries across the Tagus River. The Metro is the fastest way to traverse the city; buses and trams are useful for shorter distances and neighbourhoods not served by the Metro.
Tickets & fares
All Metro tickets and passes require a reusable navegante card, which costs approximately €0.50 to purchase initially and can be used for all fare types.
Fare types and prices
- Single journey: Approximately €1.90 for a paper ticket; €1.92 if using contactless card payment directly at the barrier.
- Zapping (prepaid credit): Approximately €1.72 per metro ride. You load credit onto your navegante card (in amounts from €3 to €40, valid for one year), and the fare is deducted with each journey. Zapping credit is also usable on trams, buses, ferries, and trains to Cascais and Sintra.
- 24-hour unlimited pass: Approximately €7.25, covering unlimited travel on the Metro, buses, and trams (but excluding suburban trains to Sintra and Cascais).
- Senior pass (Navegante Urbano 3ª Idade): Free monthly pass for passengers aged 65 and over, covering the Metro and other local transport. Requires proof of tax residency in Lisbon municipality (certificate not more than six months old) and annual renewal.
- Youth pass (Sub-23): Available for passengers aged 4–23 (extended to age 24 for students in certain degree programmes with proof of enrolment). Requires a personalized navegante card.
- Circula PT discount scheme: Offers 25% to 50% fare reductions for low-income passengers and those with certified disabilities (60% or more), depending on eligibility tier. Requires application at designated customer service points.
Where and how to buy
Tickets and passes are available at ticket machines in every Metro station, which accept coins, banknotes, and card payments (including contactless). Each passenger must have their own navegante card. Single journey tickets can be purchased one at a time, but there are no return tickets—multiple singles must be purchased separately. The navegante card itself is reusable and can be registered for personal use.
From the airport
Lisbon Airport (Aeroporto Humberto Delgado, also known as Aeroporto da Portela, located 7 kilometres north of the city centre) is served by the Red Line (Linha Vermelha) of the Metro. The airport Metro station is situated just outside the arrivals building at Terminal 1. The Red Line runs directly from the airport towards the city centre; however, the airport station is on the outer edge of the network, so you will need to transfer to another Metro line (the Blue, Yellow, or Green lines) to reach central areas such as Baixa-Chiado, Alfama, or Rossio. The journey from the airport to the central Saldanha station takes approximately 16 minutes; reaching Baixa-Chiado with a line change requires less than 25 minutes. A single journey using the zapping function on a navegante card costs approximately €1.75.
Alternatives to the Metro include buses 22, 44, 83, 705, 708, 744, 745, and night bus 208 (board fare approximately €2, though large luggage is not permitted on these services). Taxi fares from the airport to the city centre are approximately €16, with an additional €1.20 per item of luggage; ensure the taxi has a working meter before boarding. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt operate from a designated pre-reserved area and cost around €13 to the city centre. Cycling is also feasible for those arriving for a cycling trip, following the long, straight Avenida Almirante Gago Coutinho towards the city centre.
Etiquette & customs
Lisbon Metro users generally follow standard urban transit courtesy. Queue in an orderly manner when boarding, and allow passengers to exit before you enter. On escalators, stand on the right side to allow others to pass on the left. Priority seating (marked on trains) is reserved for elderly passengers, those with disabilities, pregnant women, and passengers with young children; please vacate these seats if someone in need boards. Eating and drinking are discouraged on the Metro; keep food and beverages for consumption elsewhere. During rush hours (typically 7–9 a.m. and 5–7 p.m. on weekdays), trains are crowded—hold onto handrails, keep bags close, and be mindful of other passengers' space.
Survival terms
- Metro / Metropolitano: Subway / rapid transit system
- Bilhete: Ticket
- Linha: Line
- Entrada: Entrance
- Saída: Exit
- Baldeação: Transfer
- Viagem simples / Bilhete simples: Single journey / single fare
- Passe diário: Day pass
- Navegante: The reusable smartcard used for all tickets and fares
- Zapping: Prepaid credit system loaded onto a navegante card
Keep a small amount of cash (coins and notes) or a contactless bank card handy for ticket machines, as not all vendors accept every payment method.