Buy one rechargeable Navegante card at any metro machine and tap it on the metro, buses, trams and funiculars.

To downtown in Lisbon

Take the red metro line from the airport to the center in about 20-30 minutes for roughly 1.85 EUR.

Food & essentials in Lisbon

Step into any busy neighborhood 'tasca' for a cheap, filling plate of the day with bread and a drink.

Lisbon is generally safe; the main risk is pickpocketing on packed tram 28, the metro and tourist viewpoints.

Lisbon runs on the euro; cards (incl. contactless) work almost everywhere, but keep small cash for tascas and markets.

Local phrases in Lisbon

A few Portuguese words go a long way - locals warm up fast when you try.

Connectivity in Lisbon

Buy a prepaid SIM or activate an eSIM on arrival; data is cheap and city wifi is common.

Emergencies in Lisbon

Dial 112 for any emergency - police, fire or ambulance - it works from any phone, free.

Getting around

How to get around in Lisbon

Lisbon is compact, hilly and easy once you have one card in your pocket. Tap a rechargeable Navegante card on the metro, buses, trams and even the funiculars, and let the famous tram 28 and the metro do the climbing for you. Walk the flat downtown, ride for the hills, and confirm live times in the app before you set off.

CurrencyEUR Emergency112 TimeWET (UTC+0), WEST (UTC+1) in summer LanguagePortuguese, English (widely understood in central areas)

At any metro station, use a ticket machine to buy a reusable Navegante Ocasional card for 0.50 EUR.
Load 'zapping' (pay-as-you-go credit) or a 24-hour pass onto the same card.
Tap the green reader on entry for metro and buses; on trams tap the onboard reader as you board.
Install the Carris Metropolitana or Citymapper app to plan lines and check live times.
For the hills, ride the metro or the funiculars (Gloria, Bica, Lavra) rather than walking up.

Navegante card0.50 EUR (~$0.55), reusableSingle metro/zapping ride ~1.65 EUR (~$1.80)24-hour pass (metro + Carris) ~6.80 EUR (~$7.50)Metro linesBlue, Yellow, Green, RedAppCarris Metropolitana / Citymapper

Buy and load the Navegante card before tram 28 - it is cheaper and avoids the higher onboard cash fare.
Fares and pass prices drift each year, so confirm the current amount at the machine.

Follow 'Metro' signs from Arrivals at Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) to Aeroporto station on the Red line.
Buy a Navegante card and a single ride or zapping credit at the machine.
Ride the Red line and change at Alameda (to Green) or Saldanha (to Yellow) for the downtown core.
Prefer a door-to-door ride? Order a Bolt or Uber, or take a metered taxi from the rank outside Arrivals.

Metro fare ~1.85 EUR (~$2.00) incl. card creditMetro time20-30 min to centerTaxi/Bolt/Uber ~12-18 EUR (~$13-20)Aerobus / 783 bus ~2 EUR (~$2.20)Metro last train ~around 01:00

The airport metro is the Red line - you will usually change once to reach Baixa or Rossio.
Taxi prices rise with luggage and at night; agree on the meter and confirm the live fare in your ride app.

Look for a small, full local tasca showing a 'prato do dia' (dish of the day) on a board.
Order the daily plate; it usually comes with rice, salad or potatoes.
For a fast snack, grab a bifana (pork sandwich) or a pastel de nata from a corner cafe.
Need groceries or a pharmacy fast? Look for Pingo Doce or Continente supermarkets and the green-cross 'Farmacia' sign.

Dish of the day ~8-12 EUR (~$9-13)Bifana / pastel de nata ~2-3.50 EUR (~$2-4)Espresso (um cafe) ~0.80-1.20 EUR (~$1)Tap waterSafe to drink

On main tourist squares, 'couvert' (bread, olives, cheese) brought to the table is charged if you eat it - wave it off if you do not want it.
Many family tascas close Sunday and take cash only, so carry a few euros.

Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag on crowded trams and at miradouros.
On tram 28 and Santa Justa areas, stay aware as you board and during the squeeze.
Politely decline anyone offering 'hash' or sunglasses on Rua Augusta and similar streets - it is a low-level hustle, not a threat.
Use licensed taxis or the Bolt/Uber apps late at night rather than unmarked cars.

General safetyCalm city, low violent crimeMain riskPickpocketing in crowdsPolice / all emergencies112

Steep, slick calcada (mosaic) pavements get slippery in rain - wear grippy shoes.
Petty theft clusters where crowds do; thin the crowd and you thin the risk.

Pay by card or phone for most shops, restaurants and rides.
Carry 20-40 EUR in small notes for tascas, markets and small cafes.
Withdraw from bank ATMs marked 'Multibanco' (MB) and decline the machine's currency conversion (choose euros).
Avoid standalone 'Euronet' ATMs in tourist zones - their fees and conversion are poor.

CurrencyEuro (EUR)CardsWidely accepted, incl. contactlessATM to useMultibanco (MB) bank ATMsTippingRound up or ~5-10% if happy

Always pick 'pay in EUR', never your home currency, to dodge bad ATM/terminal exchange rates.
A few tiny tascas are cash-only, so do not rely on a card alone.

HelloOla - oh-LAHThank you (m/f)Obrigado / Obrigada - oh-bree-GAH-doo / -dahExcuse me / sorryDesculpe - desh-KOOL-puhWhere is the metro?Onde fica o metro? - OND FEE-kah oo MEH-trooHow much is it?Quanto custa? - KWAN-too KOOSH-tahI would like a coffeeQueria um cafe - keh-REE-ah oom kah-FEHThe bill, pleaseA conta, por favor - ah KON-tah poor fah-VORDo you speak English?Fala ingles? - FAH-lah een-GLESH

European Portuguese swallows vowels - keep it short and they will help you finish the sentence.

Activate a travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) before you land for instant data.
Prefer a local SIM? Buy MEO, Vodafone or NOS at the airport or a city shop with your passport.
Top up online or in any phone shop or kiosk when your data runs low.
Use free wifi at cafes, malls and many metro stations to save data.

Local SIM (data bundle) ~10-20 EUR (~$11-22)Travel eSIM ~5-15 EUR (~$6-17) for the weekCarriersMEO, Vodafone, NOSWifiCommon in cafes and malls

Bring your passport - a local SIM requires ID registration in Portugal.
EU roaming is free, so an existing EU plan may already cover Lisbon at no extra cost.

For a serious emergency, call 112 and say your location; operators often speak English.
For non-urgent illness, find a 'Farmacia' (green cross) - pharmacists advise and many speak English.
Look for the 'Farmacia de servico' notice for the nearest after-hours pharmacy.
For urgent care, go to a hospital 'Urgencias' (A&E) such as Hospital de Santa Maria or Sao Jose.
When in doubt, call the professionals on 112 rather than self-treating a real emergency.

All emergencies (EU)112Health line (SNS 24)808 24 24 24Pharmacy signGreen cross 'Farmacia'After-hours'Farmacia de servico' rotation

112 is the single number for police, fire and ambulance across Portugal and the EU.
Carry your meds' generic names - pharmacists match them faster than brand names.

Standing in Lisbon right now?

Open the live agent - it will use your exact location and answer follow-ups in real time.

Open the app

Local details drift - confirm live times and fares on the day. Spot something out of date?