Lisboa Card | Everything you need to know

Lisboa Card | Everything you need to know. Let’s start with, “What is the Lisboa Card?” The nonprofit Lisbon Tourism Association (Turismo de Lisboa) and its 800 members offer a discount card which allows for FREE admission to more than 37 attractions in Lisbon and discounted admission to many others.

The Lisbon Card also offers free transport on any of Lisbon’s public transportation networks for a period of either 24, 48, or 72 hours.

The card also comes with a handy guidebook to the city’s attractions.

Courtesy of Turismo de Lisboa

What is included with the Lisboa Card?

Free Admission to the following popular sites:

  • Jerónimos Monastery normally €10
  • Belém Tower normally €6
  • Pilar 7 Bridge Experience €5 adults / €3.50 children
  • Lisboa Story Center €6.50 / €4.50
  • National Tile Museum €5
  • National Coach Museum €8
  • National Ancient Art Museum €6 / €3
  • Sintra Mitos e Lendas €3.50 / €2
  • Santa Justa Elevador €5.80
  • Mafra National Palace €6

It is possible that some sites are currently closed due to Covid. Many are regularly closed on Mondays.

Cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon
Cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon

Other Sites offering free admission with the Lisboa Card

  • National Pantheon €5
  • Ajuda National Palace €5
  • MAAT Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology €9
  • Chiado Museum – National Museum of Contemporary Art €4.50
  • National Ethnology Museum €3
  • National Costume Museum €6
  • National Museum of Theatre and Dance €4
  • National Archaeology Museum €5
  • National Music Museum €3 / €1.50
  • Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves Museum €3
  • Republican National Guard Museum
  • Ceramics Museum – Sacavém
  • Air Museum €3
  • Batalha Monastery €6
  • Alcobaça Monastery €6
  • Tomar Convent of Christ €6
  • Museum of Neo Realism – Vila Franca de Xira
  • Michel Giacometti Labor Museum €1.50
  • Casa de Cerca – Museum of Contemporary Art – Almada
  • Chapel of the Holy Spirit of the Mareantes – Sesimbra €1
  • Museum of Setúbal – Municipal Gallery €1.50
  • Maritime Museum – Sesimbra €3
  • Convent of Jesus – Setúbal Museum €3
  • Mourisca Tide Mill – Herdade da Mourisca, Sado Estuary, Conservation museum and birdwatching
  • Rua Augusta Arch €2
  • Estufa Fria Greenhouse €3.10
  • Codfish History Interpretation Center €4
  • CIRES – Roaz Interpretive Center of the Common Bottlenose Dolphins of Sado Estuary free

While you may not have heard of all of these attractions, you can learn more about some of them in my article,

19 Awesome Landmarks You Should See in Portugal

Which transportation networks are free with the Lisbon Card?

  • Lisbon Metro, normally 1.50 per ride
  • Carris Buses, normally  1.50 per ride, PLUS all Elétrico cable cars, trolleys, trams, and elevators such as Tram 28 and the Elevador de Santa Justa are FREE.
  • CP – Comboios de Portugal Trains to Estoril, Cascais, and Sintra
  • Fertagus train crossing the Tagus River via the April 25 Bridge, trains to Setúbal
  • There is a 25% discount on AEROBUS to and from the airport (Currently unavailable)
Turismo de Lisboa - Elétrico
©Turismo-De-Lisboa-–-Eletrico-–-Eletricos-e-Elevadores-–-7

Sites offering discounts with the Lisboa Card

  • Arpad Szenes Foundation  50% €5 / €2.50
  • Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium 50% €5 / €2.50
  • Water Museum  50% €5 / €2.50
  • Museum of Macau 50% €3
  • Portuguese Communications Foundation  50% €5 / €3
  • Sao Roque Museum 40% €2.50
  • Medeiros e Almeida Foundation 40% off guided tour €7.50, museum is free
  • Sporting Lisbon Museum 40% €14 / €7
  • Navy Museum  33% €6.50 / €3.25
  • Berardo Collection Museum  30% €5 / €2.50
  • EVOA Birdwatching Tagus River 30% €14 / €12
  • News Museum  30% €6.50
  • Carris Museum  30% €4.50 / €2.50
  • Calouste Gulbenkian Museum  20% €10
  • Carmo Archaeological Museum  20% €5
  • Discoveries Monument €6 / €3
  • Belém Cultural Center 20% prices vary
  • Vasco da Gama Aquarium 20% €5 / €2.50
  • Quinta da Regaleira  20% €10 / €5
  • Fado Museum  20% €5 / €2.50
  • Amália Rodrigues House-Residence  20% €4.50
  • Museum of Mechanical Music – Palmela  20% €5 / €3.50
  • Studio Museum Julio Pomar  20% €2
  • Orient Museum  20% €6 / €2.50
  • Museum of Aljube  20% €3
  • Pharmacy Museum  20% €6
  • Museum-School of Portuguese Decorative Arts  20% €4 / €2
  • Queluz National Palace  15% €10 / €8.50
  • Lisbon Oceanarium 15% €19 / €10
  • Knowledge Pavilion – Living Science 15% €10 / €7
  • Lisbon Zoo 15% €22.50 / €14.50
  • Benfica Museum / Cosme Damiao  15% €17.50
  • Sintra National Palace  10% €14 / €12.50
  • Pena National Palace and Park  10% €14 / €12.50
  • National Museum of Natural History and Science Museum  10% €5 / €3
  • Filigree Museum 10%
  • Cable Car (Telecabine) Parque das Nações 10% €8 / €5.50
  • Culturgest Exhibitions 10% Visual and Performing Arts, prices vary
  • José Saramago Foundation -€1
  • Parques de Sintra – Monte Lua / Capuchos Convent and Montserrate Park 15% €8 / €6.50

Discounted Tours with the Lisboa Card

  • Lisbon Walker   33% of €20
  • Barco Varino da Liberdade – Vila Franca de Xira  25%
  • Tuk Guide Portugal  25% of €70 -€100
  • City Sightseeing  25% of €15 – €27
  • Estrela D’Alva day tours 20% starting at €47
  • Naturway  20% off jeep tours, speedboats, cooking, tuk tuk tours
  • Live Electric Tours  20% off €52 – €285, electric car rentals with audio guide
  • Selection Tours  20% off €99 city tour with a driver, €139 wine tours
  • Sado Arrábida  20% Seafood Dining Cruise €50, Sunset Wine Cruise €35
  • Nosso Tejo  20% Traditional boat cruises, sunset cruise €25 – €35
  • BOOST Portugal  15% e-Bike tours starting at €30
  • Cooltour   15% All types of tours in Lisbon and the region
  • Cityrama  15% Local and Regional bus tours starting at €19 – €990
  • Hippotrip  15% Amphibious Vehicle tour €28 / €16
  • Palma Yachts  15% Under the Stars Cruise €40, Various private charters
  • Sailing Lovers  15% Charter boats for Lisbon, Cascais, Arrábida, Algarve
  • Lisbon Destination Tours  15% Fado & Dinner tour €35, Street Art €25, Sintra & Cabo da Roca €55
  • Lisbon by Boat  15% starting at €35
  • Vertente Natural  10% kayak tours, dolphin tours, scuba, coasteering starting at €25
  • Vertigem Azul  10% Catamaran tours, dolphin watching, birding, sunset party starting at €25
  • Yellow Boat River Tour  10% €20
  • Yellow Bus Hop-On, Hop-Off  10% €17
  • Yellowbus Tramcar Tour  10% €20
  • Lisboat  10% Oneway €12.60, Hop on Hop off boat €18, Sunset cruise €31.50
  • Inside Lisbon  10% Lisbon Walk €18, Sintra / Cascais / Estoril Tour €65, Lisbon Food & Wine €45
  • FRS Portugal 10% Sunset Cruise €29 / Panoramic River Cruise €19, Combined Boat & Bus Tour €31 – €51

Other benefits with the Lisboa Card

  • Viniportugal Wine Tasting Room  20%
  • Amoreiras Shopping Center  – €5
  • Amoreiras Shopping Center Miradouro / Viewpoint – €1
  • Casa de Baía Setúbal -15%
  • Mercearia Confiança Setúbal  15%
  • Casa do Turismo  15%
  • El Corte Inglés  WELCOME PACK + 10%
  • Lisboa Shop – Terreiro do Paço  10%
  • Freeport Fashion Outlet  10%
  • Fado in Chiado  10%
  • Sant A’nna Ceramic and Tile Factory  10%

Can you use the Lisboa Card in Sintra?

First of all, with the Lisboa Card you can ride the train to and from Sintra for FREE.

The interactive Sintra Mitos e Lendas (Sintra Myths and Legends) Museum is free.

You can get a discounted entry to what are, in my opinion, the top four sites in Sintra – all worth visiting.

The Quinta da Regaleira estate has a 20% discount.

Sintra National Palace and Pena National Palace are both discounted 10% with the Lisboa Card.

The Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) is discounted 10%,

The Capuchos Convent in Sintra and the Montserrate Park are discounted 15%.

In addition, the Air Museum is free.

You could easily use 24 – 48 hours of your Lisboa Card time in Sintra.

For more information on visiting Sintra, see my article, How to plan a day trip or overnight trip to Sintra from Lisbon

In addition to free sites in Sintra, the Lisboa Card also allows for free visits to medieval landmarks in the towns of Tomar, Batalha, and Alcobaça.

Moorish Castle and Valley, Sintra
Moors Castle, Sintra

Where can you purchase the Lisboa Card?

You can purchase your Lisboa Card here. https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/lisboa-card-24h-48h-72h-t225711/?partner_id=GJ48TPM&utm_medium=online_publisher&placement=content-middle

If you purchase through this link, it will help my site, as I will earn a small commission which should not affect the price you pay.

Or you can purchase a card in the Arrivals Hall at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado International Airport. If you want, you can activate the card there (and start the 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour clock) by presenting it for free passage on the metro or a Carris bus.

If you need time to rest or get your bearings, you could always buy one ride on the metro or on the bus and then start the clock later once you are settled in and when you have more energy.

Your card is valid for one year after purchase, but the time clock for usage does not start running until you first activate it at an attraction or on public transportation.

You can also buy a Lisboa Card at Praça do Comércio or Restauradores Square, both squares you will pass through in Lisbon’s Baixa district.

Regardless of where you pick up your card, you will need to present your passport and receipt.

How much does the Lisboa Card Cost?

The 24-hour pass for adults is €20. If you buy online, the price is €19. For children under 15, €13 (€12.35 online).

A 48-hour pass for adults is €34. The online price is €32.30. For children under 15, the 48-hour pass is €19 (€18.05 online).

The 72-hour pass is €42 for adults. If you buy online, the price is €39.90. It costs €22.50 For children (€21.37 online).

Is the Lisboa Card worth it?

How much site-seeing can you squeeze into a day? Or two days?

Let’s imagine you have a hotel in Lisbon’s popular Baixa District. You pick up and activate your Lisboa card at the airport, riding the subway to Rossio Square, near your hotel. (€1.50).

You check-in, quickly freshen up, and then you go to the top of the nearby Rua Augusta Arch ( €2) and also decide to see the view from the top of the Santa Justa Lift as well. (€5.80 to go up and down. The viewing platform has an extra €1.50 charge for which you have to pay cash).

Before descending on the lift, you decide to go explore the Convento do Carmo Archaeological Museum. You save €1 on the €5 admission.

Then, you take a tram or a bus to the Belém District (€1.50). You decide to go to the Coaches Museum in Belém (€8) and then the Jerónimos Monastery (€10). The monastery may not sound fun, but it is a must-see in Lisbon.

Under normal circumstances, you could go inside the Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries (saving more money), but they are temporarily closed, so you just wander by, take selfies, and enjoy the sunset in front of the tower. Hop back on the tram and head toward your hotel. (€1.50).

Benfica Graffiti, "I am a Champion," Estádio da Luz
Benfica Graffiti, Estádio da Luz, “I am a Champion.”

You paid €20 for your 24-hour Lisboa Card, and your total amount of free and discounted tickets for this very fast-paced, full-day comes to €31.30. You saved €11.30.

With a base price of €20 for one day, adding additional days lowers the average price per day.

If you buy online, a two-day Lisboa Card will cost €32.30. We almost saved that on Day 1, and we nearly saw all of Lisbon’s best attractions on the first day, but not quite.

On Day 2, we get up early (the earlier you get up, the less time you will stand in line) to ride Tram 28 (€3) up to the Castelo São Jorge.

The Castle’s €10 admission is not included in the Lisbon tourist card, but you still need to go for some of the best views of the region and to explore the oldest site in Lisbon.

Walk downhill and explore the Alfama neighborhood which dates back to medieval times, and see two of the other best views in town – the Miradouro (Golden view) de Santa Luzía and the Miradouro das Portas do Sol (both free).

Continue walking down to Rossio square, and catch a bus to the Lisbon Tile Museum ( €1.50 for the bus, €5 for the museum, and another €1.50 bus fare back to your hotel).

Now I’d say you have seen nearly all of Lisbon’s best sites. So far, €11 savings on day two of your 48-hour Lisboa Card.

But we might be able to push for more in these hectic two days.

You could check out of your hotel, and move on to the town of Sintra, where you have already booked a night of lodging.

The €2.25 train trip from Rossio Train Station will take 48 minutes. It is covered by your Lisboa Card.

I think you may have time to explore one of the four palaces (yes, four palaces – everyone who visits Portugal should see Sintra) in town before they close for the day. That should get you a 10% discount of €1.40.

Total savings for today only is €14.65.

Following this itinerary completely, the 48-hour pass cost €32.30, and we were discounted €45.95 over two very full days, for a two-day savings of € 13.65.

Following this particular itinerary, I would stay in Sintra for one more day to see the other palaces, but I would not do the third day on the Lisboa Card, as there are not many savings to be had.

Another option would be to get the 72-hour card for €39.90 online, follow the day one itinerary, push my day two Castelo / Sintra itinerary to day three, and then you fill the middle day with as many free or discounted activities in Lisbon as possible.

For example, being a football fan but not dedicated to any particular team, I might make day two about visiting Lisbon’s football stadiums and team museums, and then take advantage of a discounted tour or two in the historic districts, or possibly the area surrounding Lisbon.

You could get a €28 discount on an 8-hour tour of the Alentejo wine region, for example. Or you could do a sunset cruise on the Tejo River.

Even if you anticipate spending most of your time in Lisbon shopping in Chiado or Avenida da Liberdade, as long as you are willing to do one solid day of historic site-seeing and use public transportation on that day, the 24-hour Lisboa card will probably save you around €11.00.

For more information on many of the museums you can visit using the Lisboa Card, see my article, Finding the most interesting museums in Lisbon

Thank you for taking the time to read about the pros and cons of the Lisbon Card. If you purchase a Lisboa Card through one of my links, I will earn a commission.