Lisbon Public-Transport

Lisbon Public-Transport information

Funiculars and the Santa Justa Elevador

Lisbon's trio of funiculars are of practical use to access the steep sided hills of the city. Bica* funicular links Rua São Paulo with Bairro Alto (*under renovation until December 2006), while Gloria funicular runs from Restauradores, near the Lisbon Tourist Office, to Bairro Alto with lovely views over the city to St. George's Castle. Lavra line, opposite the Gloria terminal, climbs up to the gardens of Campo dos Mártires da Pátria. The century-old, vertical Santa Justa Elevador is mainly maintained as a tourist attraction but still carries passengers from the Rua de Santa Justa to the Largo do Carmo 45 metres above its base. At times the viewing platform alone can be visited, but this is still worth the short trip up the iron structure. Cost: EUR1.20.

Trolleys and Trams

Lisbon's tram network is a hundred years old and looking at some of the trams you can well believe it, although latterly the odd more modern vehicle has begun to ply some routes. The older trams are an endearing sight in the city and a tram journey is as much a tourist attraction as it is still a practical means of urban transport. Lines 12 and 15 from Praça da Figueira, and 28 from Martim Moniz are very picturesque routes and cover many of the major sights and churches. Tram ticket prices are yoked to bus tickets. Note you board the tram at the front and get off at the rear.

Buses

Over a hundred bus routes operate in and around Lisbon from early morning to after midnight, with eight nightlines running between 00h30 and 05h00. Naturally this means there's a bus for just about every destination you could want to visit in the city. For more information contact: Carris, Tel: +351 21-361-3000. The bus service is greatly reduced at night so make sure you know you can get back if you're planning to use buses throughout your stay.

Metro

Lisbon currently has four metro lines with plans underway for expanding the network in the near future. Trains run frequently from 06h30-01h00. For information contact: Metropolitano de Lisboa, Tel: +351 21-798-0600.

Ferries

Ferries run across the river from Praça do Comercio to a number of destinations. To Montijo the ferries begin at 06h40 and run until 23h00 at a cost of around EUR1.70. The town itself is reasonably attractive, but the views of Lisbon from the river are the real reason to take the trip.

Driving

Most international drivers' licences are valid for driving in Portugal - if your licence is not in English or Portuguese, you should bring along a fully translated version. While driving, your licence, passport and other vehicle documents must be carried with you at all times. The speed limit in is 50km per hour (31mph) in towns or villages, 90km per hour (56mph) on main roads and 120km per hour (75mph) on motorways. Visiting new drivers who have held a licence for under 13 months must not exceed 90km per hour (56mph) and must display a yellow disc with "90" in the rear of the vehicle. The minimum driving age is 18. Driving is on the right and you must overtake on the left-hand side. Motorways are called Auto-Estradas, denoted by the letter "A". Tolls are payable on the A1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Portugal takes drinking and driving very seriously. The blood/ Alcohol limit is 0.05% and results over 0.12% could land you in prison. In Lisbon and other cities, do not pass trams when passengers are disembarking. Parking on the street is generally free but can be difficult. Always park in the same direction as the traffic. Public parking can be expensive. Many visitors find driving in Portugal somewhat trying, if not actually terrifying. Wear your seatbelt (it's the law) at all times, and try not to get agitated by Portuguese drivers - they have a bad reputation for a reason. Take special care on unlit roads in rural areas, they can often be in a poor state of repair.

Rent a Car

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Taxis

Taxis in Lisbon are plentiful and it is easy to flag one down at any time of day. They are also metered. At night when the public transport runs to a reduced schedule, taxis are the favoured form of transport. Thankfully cabs are cheap enough that this shouldn't hit your pocket too hard. Ranks are situated in tourist areas and throughout the city and you should have no problem locating a cab. If you need to pre-book a cab ask your hotel or restaurant to obtain one for you.