The Lisbon Card: Is It Worth It?

For travellers who like to pack plenty of sightseeing into their trips or get full use out of a city’s public transport, city passes are often well worth the initial investment. Like any travel card, the Lisbon Card (or Lisboa Card, as it’s officially known) works best for these kinds of travellers. Getting the most out of what it offers requires a fair amount of planning. But squeeze everything you can out of the Lisbon Card, and you can save a lot.  

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about the Lisbon Card, including what it includes, how much it saves, and whether there are any better alternatives. 

What Is the Lisbon Card?

The Lisbon Card (Lisboa Card) is the Portuguese capital’s official tourist pass. It offers unlimited use of Lisbon’s public transport network (buses, metros, trams, funiculars), free entry to major Lisbon attractions, and discounts on shopping, nightlife, and tours in Lisbon.

The Lisbon Card is available as a 24-hour, 48–hour, or 72-hour pass. Generally, the longer the pass, the better the value, given the reduced daily rate of the 48-hour pass and 72-hour pass. Below is a table breaking down the costs of each Lisbon Card. 

*Please note that children under 4 get in for free, without needing a ticket. 

You can purchase your Lisboa Card online, at the Ask Me Lisboa desk at the airport, or at several Ask Me Lisboa centres throughout the city. When purchasing your Lisboa Card online, you will get a confirmation email and voucher, which you show at the Tourist Information desk at Lisbon Airport Arrivals. Here, you can pick up your Lisbon Card.

Pro tip: Purchasing your Lisbon Card in advance and activating it upon arrival allows you to ride the metro for free from Lisbon airport to your accommodation in the city centre.

🔗Purchase your Lisboa Card online

Enjoy free tram and public transport rides with the Lisboa Pass

How to Use the Lisbon Card

The Lisbon Card only becomes active after you first use it, so it’s fine to purchase it in advance of your trip. When you first use the pass, you should write the date and time on the back of the card so officials can check its validity. After that, you can use the Lisbon Card like any other ticket by holding it against the readers at the barriers to the metro or onboard public transport or presenting it at the ticket office of Lisbon’s partner attractions.

What’s Included with the Lisbon Card

Free Public Transport

The Lisbon Card grants holders free use of Lisbon’s extensive public transport network (metro, buses, trams and funiculars). It also covers the fare of train journeys to Sintra, Cascais, and the southern side of the Tagus River. 

Free or Discounted Entry to Lisbon’s Attractions

The Lisbon Card gives you access to more than 50 top attractions, including some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. For some attractions, the Lisbon Card guarantees your free entry; for others, it offers discounts of between 10% to 50%. 

 Pro tip: Avoid activating your card on Mondays, when many museums are closed

Here are a few highlights you’ll want to consider:

Must-See Sights that Partner with the Lisboa Card:

• Belém Tower – Sixteenth-century fortification on the bank of the River Tagus and a symbol of Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. Adult ticket price: €15. 
• Jerónimos Monastery – Early sixteenth-century architectural masterpiece, UNESCO site, and the birthplace of Lisbon’s beloved Pastel de Nata. Adult ticket price: €18.
• Lisboa Story Centre – Thoughtfully laid out, interactive museum through Lisbon’s wild and wonderful past. Adult ticket price: €7.50.
• MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology). Trendy contemporary museum in Belém showcasing permanent and temporary exhibitions. Adult ticket price: €11.
• National Pantheon – Seventeenth-century church converted into the monumental resting place of important Portuguese figures. Adult ticket: €10.
• Santa Justa Elevator – Beautiful, old-world lift which connects downtown Lisbon to the lower streets of Bairro Alto (a hopping nightlife area).

Hidden Gems that Partner with the Lisboa Card

One of the less talked about benefits of the Lisbon Card is that it encourages exploration beyond the city’s main attractions. Places like the Codfish Museum—a surprisingly fascinating spot devoted to Portugal’s beloved bacalhau—are included, giving you the nudge to go off-piste.

Other under-the-radar highlights:

• Sintra Myths and Legends Interactive Centre – Immersive cultural centre focusing on mysticism, secrets and romanticism in Lisbon through history, music and literature.
• Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) – Set in the early sixteenth-century Madre de Deus Convent, this museum documents the history of the tile, from the fifteenth century through to the present.
• Carris Museum – For train and transport enthusiasts, this museum offers a deep dive into Lisbon’s iconic tram network.
• Cascais Cultural Centre – Cultural centre set upon the site of a former convent and a hub of contemporary exhibitions and shows. 
• Neo-Realism Museum – Boasts a collection that covers decades of artefacts from one of Portugal’s most influential cultural movements.

 Pro tip: If recovering the cost of the card is important, prioritise big-ticket attractions first. 

To maximise your savings with the Lisbon Card, visit the following: the Jerónimos Monastery (free), the Belem Tower (free), National Pantheon (free), the National Museum of Tiles (free), the Interpretative Centre for the History of Cod (free), the Lisbon Story Centre (free), the Augusta Street Arch, Pilar 7, and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (20% discount).

But Can You Skip the Line with the Lisbon Card?

No, the Lisbon Card does not grant skip-the-line access. Holders will still need to queue at popular sites like the Santa Justa Lift and Jerónimos Monastery, especially during high season, so start your sightseeing early to get the most out of the Lisbon Card. 

If you’re determined not to queue, you may want to pre-book timed-entry tickets separately.

Lisbon Card vs Navegante Card Lisbon

If you’ve come across the Navegante Card Lisbon, you might be wondering how it differs. Simply put, the Lisbon Card is primarily for tourists and includes attractions, transport, and discounts, while the Navegante Card is a monthly public transport pass for residents or long-term visitors and does not include entry to anything. 

Unless you’re staying for weeks and only need metro access, the Lisbon Card is far better value for short stays.

Is the Lisbon Card Worth It? Our Insider Opinion

If you’re planning to pack plenty of sightseeing into your schedule, prioritise Lisbon’s expensive attractions, and get plenty of use out of public transport, then the Lisbon Card is worth it. But if you would rather go with the flow and take your city break slowly, you might be better off skipping the Lisbon Card and paying for museum and transport tickets as you go.

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