By car
Lisbon has a variety of roads and motorways for those who want to use their car when visiting. However, using a car in Lisbon is complicated not only because there are many roads, but mainly because of the city's heavy traffic. In recent years this has been a growing problem, which is why using a car is not advisable. There is an additional problem with parking, which is expensive and scarce, especially in the red zones, that is, in the historic districts. Throughout the area Low It is quite difficult to find parking. Covered parking lots are also very expensive, so it is advisable to use them only when strictly necessary.
In any case, if you are driving, these are some of the main roads in the Lisbon region:
- There are two motorways that surround the city: the CREL (Circular Regional Exterior de Lisboa) which is further away and the CRIL (Circular Regional Interior de Lisboa). The first goes from Alverca to Caxias and is paid; the second goes from Expo to Algés and is free.
- The IC19 (Complementary Itinerary 19) is a motorway that connects the city centre to Sintra and is usually quite congested. It is free of charge.
- To the south, there are two bridges that serve as gateways to Lisbon for those coming from the south bank: the 25 de Abril Bridge between Almada and Alcântara; and the more recent Vasco da Gama Bridge, which connects Montijo to the Expo. Both are toll bridges.
- We also have important motorways that connect Lisbon to the north via the A1 and A8, to the south via the A2 and A12; and to the west via the A5. All of them are toll roads.
- Within the city there are also some major roads to enter or leave Lisbon, such as the Segunda Circular, Eixo Norte-Sul, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, Avenida 24 de Julho and Avenida da Índia. All of these roads, as they are located within Lisbon, are free of charge.
Public transport
Lisbon offers several ways to get around without needing to use a car. For visitors, using public transport is the cheapest and most worry-free way to enjoy the city. The capital's public transport is subject to wear and tear and waiting times can be long at certain times of the day, but it is still the best way to visit the city.
The subway
The quickest way to get around Lisbon is by using the Lisbon metro, simply known as the metro. The metro in Lisbon is not as extensive as in other European capitals and the terrain has not helped its expansion because Lisbon is not a flat city.
However, there are still four lines serving 56 stations along its 44km network. With 162 million passengers in 2017, the metro continues to be the ideal way to get around Lisbon.
O Viva Card is what you should buy before you get on the metro. There are machines in the station lobby and you can buy it for 50 cents. Then just top it up with the amount you want. Each trip with the Viva Card It costs around €1.30 and you can use it on the entire Metro network.
The other option is to buy a day ticket, which costs just over €6. In this case, the ticket is valid for 24 hours and you can make as many trips as you want on the Metro and Carris (Lisbon's bus network). Of course, this option is only worth it if you plan on having a full day of traveling from one place to another. If this is not the case, opt for the “zapping” option (the cost of the trips is deducted from the card balance). The way you want to use the card – day ticket or zapping – is decided at the machine when you buy it.
Rails
In Portugal, we call buses buses. In Lisbon, the company that operates the bus network is called Carris and covers the entire city. In addition to the metro, Carris is your best bet if you want to see the city better or if the metro doesn't get you where you want to go. Carris buses are quite acceptable in terms of comfort and you can use the Viva Card.
Don't buy a bus ticket because it's much more expensive and don't forget that you have to top it up in the metro machines beforehand (one card per person). The problem with buses is the somewhat chaotic traffic in Lisbon, although there are now many special lanes for them to run on. But they can still be slow.
The trams also belong to Carris and are so typical that you should really try riding them. You should use the Viva Card since the tickets for trams are even more expensive. If you are in a hurry, avoid them because they are not the best way to get around. And they only run in the oldest part of Lisbon, especially in Baixa.
The rest
In addition to the Metro and Carris, we also have CP – Comboios de Portugal – which operates some train lines in Lisbon. There are two that you will eventually want to use: the Cascais line that leaves from Cais do Sodré and runs through the entire Line, that is, roughly the stretch that goes from Algés to Cascais. The other is the Sintra line that leaves Restauradores right in the center and goes to Sintra. The Cascais and Sintra areas are worth a visit because they have interesting areas to visit, but of course when you get there you will need some other form of transport otherwise you will be very limited to the area where the train ends.
In addition to CP, there is also a taxi network that can be used throughout greater Lisbon. Taxis are regulated, but they usually charge for luggage and are more expensive after 10 pm or if you leave the Lisbon area. However, they are the most convenient way to get around quickly and comfortably. There are also rental vehicles available through mobile applications; Tuk-Tuk's which can be an interesting service to use, especially in the area of Castelo de São Jorge and Alfama; or even a network of bicycles and scooters (scooters) if the weather allows it and your physical resistance is also good.
Portugal Afora
Finally, there is the service of Portugal Afora. Our service offers a highly personalized car tour and complements all other forms of transportation. It is the ideal way to get to know the more distant and difficult to access points of Lisbon. For example, you can visit the entire Sintra area with us in the morning, visiting the most distant points, and then in the afternoon, alone, spend some time visiting a palace, returning to Lisbon at the end of the day by train. The options are whatever suits our customers. And of course, with us you are always guaranteed a cozy tour with typical Portuguese hospitality, a chat about the places we visit and a friendly smile when you say goodbye.