Is the Lisboa Card worth investing in? The short answer is a big YES, and it is the official tourist pass to the city.
During my travels, I have used different city cards. Still, this tourist card offers fantastic value and is worth getting if you plan on spending a lot of time in Lisbon.
Yet, having said that, there are several ways to use the Lisbon City Pass, and getting the best value depends on what you plan to do during your Lisbon trip.
What is The Lisboa Card?
Before investing in the Lisboa Card, let us ensure you know the basic facts about this tourist card.
The Lisbon Card, which you can buy for a specific time, offers free entry to various Lisbon sights and discounts at local businesses and other attractions.
The primary purpose of the Lisbon City Card is to provide free public transport while the card is active, and it also has a few other benefits. Hence, it is your Lisbon pass when you visit.
Hot Tip🔥: The Lisbon tourist card also saves you valuable time by preventing you from standing in lines, and when topped up, it gives you trip coverage. Meanwhile, in Lisbon, invest in a SIM card.
How Much is The Lisbon Card?
You have three options available when buying the Lisboa Card depending on the time you are in Lisbon as follows:
- The 72-hour Lisboa Card will cost you €54 for an adult and €30.50 for a child.
- The 48-hour Lisboa Card will cost you €44 for an adult and €24.50 for a child.
- The 24-hour Lisboa Card will cost you €27 for an adult and €18 for a child.
In this case, a child is defined as being between 4 to 15 years old.
Important Note 🗒: The simple tourist card you find available in hours and not days. For example, if you use it on a Tuesday at 10 AM, it is valid until Wednesday at 10 AM.
Where Can You Buy The Lisboa Card?
You can find the pass to most tourist activities in several Lisbon places once you purchase it online. These include:
- The Lisbon Airport arrivals terminal.
- The main tourist office (Lisboa Welcome Center) is at the large Comércio Plaza at the waterfront in Baixa.
- The tourist office (Foz Palace) is next to the Rossio train station, which takes you to Sintra.
- You can get your Lisbon Card at the central station, St Apolonia International Railway Station.
- You can also get your Lisbon Card at any designated kiosk in Baixa, Belem, or Rua Augusta.
Hot Tip🔥: The fastest option is to buy it in advance, which is much more convenient and saves time. You can then pop in at the Lisbon Airport arrivals terminal or other places on the list.
The time limit on the Lisbon Card starts when you use it for the first time, not when you buy or pick it up. So, you can travel from the airport and start using it immediately or the next day.
Free Attractions with the Lisboa Card
| Jerónimos Monastery | Belém Tower |
| St. George’s Castle | Ajuda Palace (except for temporary exhibitions) |
| Coaches Museum | Tile Museum |
| Ancient Art Museum | Discoveries Monument |
| Santa Justa Elevator | Rua Augusta Arch |
| National Museum of Contemporary Art of Chiado | National Archaeology Museum |
| National Pantheon | 25 de Abril Bridge Museum and Observation Deck |
| Edward VII Park Greenhouse | Lisboa Story Center |
| Anastácio Gonçalves Museum | Fado Museum |
| Júlio Pomar Museum | Aljube Museum |
| Bordalo Pinheiro Museum | Marionette Museum |
| Lisbon Museum |
Attractions with Discounts Using The Lisbon Card
| ATTRACTION | DISCOUNT |
| Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva Museum | 50% |
| Water Museum | 50% |
| São Roque Museum | 50% |
| Medeiros e Almeida Museum | 40% |
| Carris Museum | 30% |
| St. Vincent Monastery | 25% |
| Calouste Gulbenkian Museum | 20% |
| MAC/CCB Museum | 20% |
| Carmo Convent | 20% |
| Lisbon Cathedral | 20% |
| Amália Rodrigues House-Museum | 20% |
| Orient Museum | 20% |
| Graca Church | 20% |
| Convento dos Cardaes | 20% |
| Oceanarium | 15% |
| MAAT | 15% |
| Knowledge Pavilion | 15% |
| Parque das Nações Cable Cars | 10% |
| Amoreiras 360º Observation Dec | €1 |
Important Note: The following attractions are not included in the Lisbon Card:
- Fronteira Palace
- Cristo Rei
- Military Museum
- Decorative Arts Museum
- Geological Museum of Portugal
- Botanical Garden
How To Get Value Using The Lisbon Card
Using the official tourist card will depend on how long you are in Lisbon and what interests you.
Using Lisbon Card For a Day
If you plan to use the official city travel card for a day, I recommend spending half of your day in Belem to see the essential sights. I suggest you visit:
- Belem Tower costs around €8.50
- Jerónimos Monastery costs around €12
- National Museum of Coaches (typically €8)
- MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) normally €11
You can visit some of Lisbon’s historic center’s main signs and museums for the other half of your day.
- National Museum of Ancient Art (usually €10)
- Lisboa Story Center (typically €7.5)
- National Pantheon (typically €8)
- Pilar 7 Bridge Experience (normally €5.50)
Hot Tip🔥: Using the card, all public transport between these major museums is free, including the train to Belem.
To show you the savings, I will use the example of the unlimited public transport card, which is €6.
The total cost for all of the above is €70.50, and using the 24-hour Lisboa Card will cost €27, saving you up to €43.50 in one day.
Using The Lisboa Card For Two Days
To get value from the Lisboa Card for two days, I recommend the following: The card includes some of the attractions mentioned before.
- Belem Tower costs around €8.50
- Jerónimos Monastery costs around €12
- Adjuda Palace costing €8
- National Coach Museum (typically €8)
- MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) normally €11
- Pilar 7 Bridge Experience (normally €5.50)
On the second day, you can focus on sites around Baixa and use your card to access the ones with free entry to save money. Here I recommend visiting:
- National Tile Museum costs around €8
- National Pantheon costs around €8
- Lisboa Story Center €7.50
- National Museum Contemporary Art (typically €8)
- National Museum of Ancient Art normally €10
- Rua August Arch (normally €4.27)
Other sites nearby worth visiting and that are free using the Lisboa Card are the following:
- Roman Theatre Museum €3
- Saint Anthony Museum normally €3
- Santa Justa Elevator €5.30
When calculating the two days, paying individually for museum tickets will cost €83.30, while using the 48-hour Lisbon Card will cost you €44. So you save €58.07 over two days.
So, the longer you use the card, the more value you get.
Using The Simple Tourist Card For Three Days
You can use the 72-hour Lisbon Card for three days. However, I recommend following the 48-hour plan above.
You will have one more day to travel further and see the other fantastic sights in the Lisbon City Cards.
So make sure of your official card traveling with public transport and focus on your out-of-town attractions.
Still, I recommend including these attractions that offer free entry:
- The Royal Palace of Mafra (typically €8)
- Abbey of Alcobaça, with sacristy (usually €10)
- The Convent and Castle of Tomar (normally €10)
- Monastery of Batalha (usually €10)
You can also save getting discounts using your card on a day trip to Sintra. The train ticket will typically cost you a return of €4.60, but it will be free.
You can get discounts on your entrance tickets at the main sights.
Hot Tip🔥: Alternatively, you can get the Lisbon-Sintra Pass that includes the Lisbon Card and tickets to the Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, and Pena Park.
You get audio guides to use with your smartphone included, which is a great deal and will save you time and money.
Lisboa Card Benefits
When embarking on a journey through Lisbon, this magical card offers you loads of benefits:
Unlimited Public Transport: The Lisboa Card’s most practical perk is its unlimited access to Lisbon’s public transportation network. It is a card for transportation on trams, buses, metro, elevators, and funiculars.
This saves you money on individual tickets and offers the freedom to hop on and off at your leisure, ensuring you never miss a beat exploring the city’s diverse neighborhoods.
Complimentary Museum Access: Delve into Lisbon’s rich cultural tapestry with free entry to 26 museums, monuments, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Whether you’re drawn to ancient artifacts, contemporary art, or historical exhibits, the Lisboa Card grants you unfettered access to the city’s top cultural institutions, enriching your understanding of Lisbon’s past and present.
Planning On Going To Lisbon?
I’ve created a trip planner where you enter the number of days you’re going and what activities you want to do.
Based on your input, you then get an entire vacation planned with ideas.
Discounts on Attractions and Tours: In addition to complimentary access, the Lisboa Card offers exclusive discounts on various attractions, tours, and experiences.
From the majestic Castelo São Jorge to exhilarating Sidecar Touring adventures, these savings allow you to maximize your itinerary without stretching your budget.
Savings on Shopping and Nightlife: Elevate your shopping and nightlife experiences with the Lisboa Card’s enticing discounts.
Whether you’re seeking unique souvenirs in local markets or planning an evening of entertainment in Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife scene, the card offers savings that amplify your purchasing power and enhance your overall experience.
Flexible Duration and Validity: Catering to diverse travel schedules, the Lisboa Card offers flexibility with options ranging from 24 to 72 consecutive hours.
Additionally, its extended validity of a full calendar year from the purchase date provides peace of mind, allowing you to confidently plan your Lisbon adventure, even if unforeseen circumstances arise.
Here are the best things to do in Lisbon In July 2024
I’ll send you a list of the best things to do in July and every month moving forward from today.
It’ll be based on my personal experience of living and traveling around Lisbon. A lot of hidden gems.
When is The Lisbon Card Not Worth It?
The Lisbon Card is not made for everyone. Therefore, I recommend you consider what suits your situation.
If you do not plan to see many of the attractions included in the card and only want to see one or two, it will not be of any value.
It also makes no sense to use it if you get student discounts or a reduced rate as a visitor aged 65 or above.
You cannot buy a concession Lisbon Card (only one child aged 4-15); thus, the savings will not be as good.
Also, consider the days you plan to do sightseeing on a Monday as most museums are closed on those days, and it is not worth using the card.
Hot Tip🔥: Check out what the Navegante Card offers. Think 🤔 of it when exploring Lisbon using the massive transport system available.
Wrap-Up: The Lisboa Card—Your Key to Lisbon’s Best
The Lisboa Card isn’t just a tourist pass; it’s your all-access ticket to the Portuguese capital with its rich history.
With unlimited public transport, complimentary museum entries, and exclusive discounts, it simplifies exploration while maximizing savings.
The accompanying travel guide enriches your journey with insider tips and maps, ensuring you make the most of your time in this vibrant city.
Whether you’re here for a short visit or an extended stay, the Lisboa Card enhances every moment, offering a seamless blend of convenience, culture, and value.
