The Lisbon Metro is the backbone of the local public transport system and the most straightforward way for tourists to get around.

Find out how much metro tickets cost, how often trains run and where to find official information.

Find a hotel near a metro station

The Lisbon metro is operated by ‘Metro Lisboa’, unlike the surface transport network, which is operated by Carris. You can find the clear and comprehensive official websites at the following addresses:

• Metro Lisboa: metrolisboa.pt
• Carris (buses, trams, funiculars): carris.pt

Map and metro lines in Lisbon

The Lisbon Metro network comprises a total of 44 km of track and 4 lines. The transport system is very reliable and takes passengers to all major transport hubs, the airport and the city centre.

You can find the official metro map on the website:metrolisboa.pt/diagrams-and-maps.

Metro lines are colour-coded.

• Red– connects LIS Airport, Oriente railway station and the northern part of the city centre, where you can change to three other metro lines heading towards the heart of Lisbon
• Blue– connects Santa Apolónio station, Rossio station (city centre) and Sete Rios station, and continues on to the suburb of Amadora
• Green– the busiest central line runs from Cais do Sodré, beneath the historic centre, to the northern outskirts of Lisbon
• Yellow– runs from the western part of the city centre to the northern suburb of Odivelas

Metro tickets

The same fares apply on the metro as on Carris trams and buses.

We explain the fare system in more detail in the Transport section.

How much does a metro journey cost?

If you’re only travelling by metro once and don’t want to buy multi-day tickets, simply tap your own payment card on the turnstile when entering and leaving the station. A charge of 1,92 eurwill be deducted from your card, and you can travel for up to 60 minutes, including any number of changes.

To buy a multi-day ticket, you first need to purchase a reloadable ‘Navegante’ card. The card itself costs 0,50 eur and can be topped up with individual tickets or a cash credit, from which the fare will be deducted via ‘zapping’.

If you choose the ‘zapping’ option, you will pay for each individual journey, or 60-minute period. You load credit onto the card, not specific tickets. This credit will be deducted gradually.

With the "zapping" option, there are no daily limits, so you will pay for every journey you make on that day. If you travel more than four times a day, it is worth buying 

• 1,90 eur – a 60-minute ticket on the Navegante card (unlimited transfers, including transfers to Carris trams or buses)
• 1,92 eur – a 60-minute ticket using your own contactless card (unlimited transfers within the metro network only)
• 1,72 EUR – a 60-minute fare via ‘zapping’
• 7,25 eur – 24-hour pass for the metro + Carris
• 10,35 eur – 24-hour pass for the metro + Carris + Transtejo ferries
• 11,40 eur – 24 hours on the metro + Carris + trains to Sintra or Cascais

How do I use the ticket?

You pass through the turnstiles when entering and exiting the station.

Simply hold your ticket up to the reader and the turnstile will open. Ideally, have your ticket ready to hand to avoid unnecessary queues.

You must tap your ticket or card against the turnstile when entering and leaving the station.

Is the Lisbon Metro open 24/7?

None of the metro lines run non-stop.

The Lisbon Metro runs to the same timetable every day. Don’t be surprised, for example when travelling to the airport or the railway station, that metro trains start running very late compared to other cities.

• First trains from terminal stations – 6.30 am
• Last trains from the terminus stations – 1.00 am

Trains run at intervals of between 5 and 8 minutes on weekdays and between 7 and 11 minutes at weekends.

Detailed timetables and a journey planner can be found on the website:metrolisboa.pt/timetables.