Last Updated on: 23rd March 2023, 07:01 pm
This Lisbon metro system guide will help you navigate the city using nothing but this underground public transport. The subway system, known as Metropolitano de Lisboa or Metro Lisboa, is the fastest way to get from the airport to Alfama, Baixa, Oriente, Cais do Sodre and other areas and neighborhoods in Lisbon.
In 2023, Lisbon’s metro system network includes four lines and a total of 54 stations. The metro map below is an accurate representation of the subway lines. This Lisbon tube map is actually a photo I took in December 2022 at Terreiro do Paco. This should do for 2023, as well. Also, you’ll find a Lisbon subway map in the airport and in all metro stations. You won’t get lost in Lisbon while using the public transportation system, even without carrying a printable pdf map with you. Lisbon is very easy to navigate.
Main Topics of Lisbon Metro System: Map, Cards, Fares and Directions
Lisbon Metro Map: A Subway System in 4 Colors
Lisbon Metro Map 2023
Lisbon Metro Lines
There are four metro lines in Lisbon: Red (Vermelha), Green (Verde), Yellow (Amarela) and Blue (Azul). Each of them has its own symbol: a compass (red line), a flower (yellow line), a seagull (blue line), and a boat (green line). The subway system is well-connected to the Lisbon train network.
You can easily catch a train to Belem or Cascais, or to remote areas such as Porto and Algarve. As a matter of fact, Belem isn’t covered by the metro network, even though it is considered as part of Lisbon. On the other hand, there’s a train railway from Cais do Sodre to Belem (and further to Cascais). For a more scenic but slower journey, there are trams that connect Baixa to Belem, going alongside the waterfront.
There are also connections to the main bus stations to various towns and cities in Portugal. If, for instance, you want to visit Mafra or Ericeira, you need to take the bus from Campo Grande, which is a metro station at the junction between the green and yellow lines.
The red metro line connects the Lisbon airport to all other three lines, being therefore very convenient regardless of the neighborhood where your accommodation is. If you want to be near the city center, for instance, you can find accommodation anywhere on the green line, between Alameda and Cais do Sodre. To get there from the airport, you change the line at Alameda. In Lisbon there’s no need to pay again when switching lines.
All metro stations on the green line between Alameda and Cais do Sodre are close to each other. If you enjoy walking, you’ll find it more convenient than taking the tube. As an example, I only needed 15-20 minutes of walking to get from my accommodation at this Apartamento Zen en pleno Centro de Lisboa near Arroios to Rossio. Should you need to plan a more complex journey, you can use the metro travel planner on the official website of Metro Lisboa.
Unlike other European capital cities, Lisbon doesn’t have subway zones with different ticket prices. There’s a unique fare of 1.65 Euro (1.47 with the zapping option on the Viva Viagem card) that takes you anywhere within the metro network.
Lisbon Metro Timetable & Hours for 2023
Here’s the timetable of the underground in Lisbon for year 2023:
- Lisbon metro opening hours: 6:30 am
- Lisbon metro closing hours: 1:00 am
These hours apply all year round, including on weekends and bank holidays. Here’s the official Metropolitan de Lisboa website, where you can check the train frequency for each of the four lines.
If you take a look at the trains frequency, you’ll see that the waiting time is 5 – 10 minutes.
Keep in mind that there are several secondary station halls that close by 9:30 pm. Also, some of these are closed during weekends.
Lisbon Metro Tickets & Fares for 2023
I would have loved a 7-day Lisbon metro pass like the one I’d used in Rome, but that’s not an option. Let’s see what options you do have to use the metro or other public transport means in Lisbon.
I was just about to share with you the metro ticket prices from December. Fortunately, I double-checked the information only to discover it is already outdated. Prices just went up for 2023. Here’s what you’ll find:
- Lisbon metro ticket price (which also applies to carris): 1.65 Euro for one ride
- Lisbon metro journey zapping fare: 1,47 Euro (zapping means that you load your Viva Viagem card with a fixed amount, and then pay for your metro rides as you go, until the amount becomes lower than the ticket price)
- One Day Carris & Metro Ticket (valid for 24 hours following the first validation): 6.60 Euro
- One Day Carris, Metro and Transjeto Ticket (valid for 24 hours following the first validation): 9.70 Euro – this is what you need to buy if you intend to use the Cacilhas river connection (to visit Santuario de Cristo Rei, for instance)
- 24 Hour Carris, Metro and CP Ticket (valid for 24 hours following the first validation): 10,70 Euro – this is what you need to use the Sintra, Cascais, Sado and Azambuja train lines
All of these apply also to Lisbon buses, lifts and funiculars, as well as to suburban trains and the ferry from Cais do Sodre to Cacilhas. Always check the prices before boarding a vehicle, in order to ensure you know how much you’re going to pay for your ride. Carris is the company that operates a wide array of transport means such as tram 28, tram 15 to Belem, Santa Justa lift, Ascensor da Bica, and Acensor da Gloria.
What you can do, if you’re keen on visiting lots of museums, monuments and landmarks, is to buy a Lisbon Card.
The Lisbon Card
You can get your Lisbon Card here at the price of today, [todaysdate]. The Lisbon card is a 24, 48 or 72-hour pass that grants you unlimited access to the public transport system, free admission to some tourist spots and discounts at some others. Click here to see the list of Lisbon attractions that are free with this card.
The Viva Viagem Card
If you don’t take the Lisbon Card but you still want to use the public transport, you’ll need a Viva Viagem card to load your credit or your tickets on.
The Viva Viagem Card costs 0.5 Euro which adds to the amount of credit you decide to load it with. You can’t swipe the same card multiple times to pay for more persons. If you travel with other people, each of you will need to buy their own Viva Viagem card.
I used the zapping option. Everything went fine until the last day, when I still had a few cents left on my Viva Viagem card. Apparently, it’s impossible to load such cards with single ticket fares, once you’ve already used the zapping system to pay for your rides. Perhaps I didn’t understand how the cards system works, I don’t know. Briefly, I had to buy a new Viva Viagem card and load it with only one ride ticket to get to the airport.
In conclusion, I’d advise any of you to use the Lisbon metro map to find your way around the city. The trains are clean. Their frequency is about 10 minutes or so.
Effective, fast and comfortable, the metro also boasts some impressive tiled wall art. Many of the subway stations in Lisbon are worth at least a brief look. They are simply beautiful.
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