Lisboa Card Review: A First-Timer’s Guide to Saving Money in Lisbon.

Planning a trip to Lisbon? Find out if the Lisboa Card is worth the investment with our detailed first-timer’s guide;

During our initial three days in Lisbon, part of our month-long visit to Portugal, we fell head over heels for the city. So much so that we decided right then and there to return after our stay in Faro. On that first visit, we skipped the Lisboa Card because our plans made it economically impractical. But for our return trip, we went all in with the 72-hour Lisboa Card. Here’s what we learned while using it;

Things to know

What is the Lisboa Card and How Does It Work?

The Lisboa Card is the city’s official Lisbon tourist card available in 24, 48 or 72 consecutive hour options. With a valid Lisboa Card in your hand you won’t pay for travel by public transport (bus, tram, metro, elevators and funiculars) or the CP train lines to Sintra and Cascais (popular daytrip destinations). You’ll also get free access to a couple dozen museums, monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites (some of which you’ve probably never heard of) plus discounts on various other attractions like Pena National Palace, Sintra National Palace, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Church Tower in St. Jorge’s Castle and the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology.

What is included in the Lisboa Card?

The Lisbon tourist card offers discounted and free admission to many of Lisbon’s attractions – for a full list of attractions you’ll need the official pdf as there are just too many to list here.

Lisbon Public Transportation

It also includes free access to ground transportation options in Lisbon and the train that runs to Sintra

• Metro aka Metropolitano de Lisboa runs the subway (metro) system
• Carris is the company that runs the buses, lisbon trams (both classic and articulated trams) elevators, and funicular.
• CP-Comboios de Portugal manages the train network in Portugal
• Fertagus is a commuter rail operator connecting Lisbon to suburbs on the Setúbal Peninsula to the south

Attractions

Free and discount access to fifty-one museums, monuments and visitor attractions.

Guidebook

Included in your purchase is a guidebook that you can pickup when you go to the kiosk to pick up your card. We found it completely overwhelming with teeny-tiny print. Best bet to take full advantage of the card is to download the pdf and study it before purchasing the card.

For a complete list of attractions covered by the Lisboa Card, visit the official website.

How to use a Lisboa Card?

It’s a pretty simple system, the card swipes or taps just like a credit card. Most of the attractions we visited had a fairly prominent sign indicating which line to stand in if you had the Lisboa Card (skip the ticket line!)

How do I get a Lisboa Card?

We purchased through the website and then picked up the physical cards at the ‘Ask Me Lisboa’ stand down near the Monastery. There is no mention of any kind of ‘buy on site’ option; everything on the website points you to buy online and pick up the card wherever. There is a pickup location in the airport so if you’re flying in, you can buy the card ahead and pick it up after you clear customs. The time doesn’t start until first use (activate) so don’t worry about that unless you plan to take a bus from the airport 😉 

Q: Is the Lisboa Card a good value? A: Depends

Maybe. Depends. Download the pdf and compare what you plan to do to the list of available discounts, then check it twice because the discount amounts are small on some things. If most of what you plan to do is discounted, rather than gratis, you might want to rethink buying the card; a 20% discount on a €5 admission isn’t really the best use of the card and your cash. The key is to ensure you’re visiting enough gratis attractions and using enough public transport to exceed the card’s cost.

It is very important to note that the card is based on HOURS not days. It is not a ‘3 Day’ card or a 1 Day card. The first time you swipe it into an attraction or onto a bus/tram, the clock starts and its valid for the next set consecutive number of hours. 

Here’s our real life example of how we used the Lisboa Card to save money during our visit. 

We purchased the 72 hour Card and paid $47.74 (at the time of our visit (March 2024) the exchange rate was approximately $1.08 meaning it costs $10.80 in US Dollars to buy €10 Euros). We purchased our card online while in Lisbon, then picked them up the next day at the kiosk.

Funny story that; we thought we get a jump on things and pickup our cards at the Ask Me Lisboa near the Monastery while we were on an afternoon walk. That way we would have them on hand the next morning when we planned to get up early and activate our card by hopping on the tram up to the Ajuda Palace. We arrived at the the kiosk a little before 9am and there was no sign of life. We waited but… nothing. Odd because their website says they open at 9am. So we continued our walk and arrived at another kiosk, but their terminal was down so we couldn’t pick our cards up there either. We did finally manage to get our cards but the lesson here is to pick your cards up the day before you plan to activate them, just in case there’s a snafu at the kiosk.

Also note that although we travel as a couple, for simplicity sake I’m going to reference single prices and the prices have been converted to US Dollars. For our example I used the currency conversion rate valid at the time of our visit (€1 = US$1.08)

Day One Itinerary

Day Two Itinerary

Day Three Itinerary

Day Four Itinerary

What can I say, we were tired after three days of intensive touristing and slept in… by the time we got up and functioning the hours on our card had expired

Total Cost:

So, assuming that we would have kept to the same itinerary had we not had the card we we saved $16.01 each by purchasing it!

Now let’s contrast that with a scenario where the card might not be the best choice;

Example A: Four Day Itinerary when the Lisboa Card might not be a good value:

Let’s say you’re planning to visit Lisbon for four days. The exchange rate is 1.09. In this scenario you purchased the 72 hour card online for €54,00 ($58.86) and plan to pick it up and activate it at the airport. You plan to use the card for public transport to and from the airport on Day One & Four, for the Sintra on Day Two and the Belem Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery on Day Three.

Day One:

In our pretend scenario, you arrive in Lisbon at 9am on a Wednesday in August and activate the card after picking up your luggage and clearing customs. So let’s say you activate your card at 10:30 am (remember this is when the clock starts ticking on your Lisboa Card)

You hop on the bus and arrive at your hotel at 11:15am. Toss your luggage in the room and head out to walk to and explore the Alfama District on Foot.

Day Two:

It’s Thursday and you hop on the 8am train to Sintra to explore National Palace of Pena and the Sintra National Palace, then return to your hotel in Lisboa.

Note: The Lisboa Card offers a 10% discount on Sintra attractions, not free entry. However, buying tickets directly from Parques de Sintra at least 3 days in advance gives you a better 15% discount.

• Pena Palace:
  • Normal price: €20
  • With Lisboa Card (10% off): €18 or $19.62
  • Advance purchase (15% off): €17 or $18.53
• Sintra National Palace
  • Normal price: €13
  • With Lisboa Card (10% off): €11.70 or $12.75
  • Advance purchase (15% off): €11.05 or $12.04

Also note that the cost of ground transportation in Sintra is not covered by the Lisboa Card, so your costs may vary depending on how much walking you want to do in Sintra. Included in my calculations is the cost of the tram and bus from the train station to Pena Palace because it’s a 45 minutes walk, and from Pena Palace to Sintra National Palace, cuz tired…. lol so I figured tram & bus from Sintra train station to Pena Palace and Bus from Pena Palace to Sintra National Palace at $11.56

Tip: Don’t be confused by “deals”.! Passes that mention Pena Palace and “includes most public transport around Lisbon” doesn’t mean transportation in Sintra – read the wording carefully!

Day Three:

Day Four

It’s Saturday morning and your flight leaves at 9:30 am so you use your card to get to the airport via public transportation

In this scenario your total cost is

So in our pretend scenario you’d save money by not using the card, however is it only about how much money you save?

Is the Lisboa Card a good value?

Maybe? Depends!

One of the perks of the card is time saving. By having the card you won’t have to stand in long lines to buy tickets (you’ll still have to stand in line to get into the attraction) and your also more likely to pop into the gratis attractions, if you have extra time on your hands, knowing that it won’t cost you anything.

The math also changes depending on whether you use public transportation frequently and the math also changes

The choice is yours; download the pdf and compare your itinerary to the list of available discounts. Then check it again.

• Are your chosen attractions open while you are in Lisbon?
• Are your chosen attractions discounted or gratis?
• Can you visit all of the attractions you plan to do before the card expires?
• Do you plan to use public transportation several times throughout the day?

Again, it’s important to remember that the card is based on HOURS not days. It is not a ‘3 Day’ or a 1 Day card. The first time you swipe it into an attraction or onto a bus/tram, the clock starts and its valid for the next set consecutive number of hours. 

Why we recommend you don’t use the Lisboa Card

The card also includes free transport by metro to and from the airport BUT we don’t recommend that you use it for this purpose unless you are planning to immediately start your exploration of the city.

Reason: the first time you use your card you’ve validated aka activated your card and the clock starts ticking – while you ride to your hotel, check in and get settled. Again, remember the card is valid for HOURS not DAYS.

We also recommend that you NOT get the card if you’ll be in Lisbon on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday! So many of the museums like the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, National Tile Museum, National Coach Museum, National Ancient Art Museum (and soooo many more) are closed on Mondays! The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology is closed on Tuesday

The Card makes sense when:

1. You plan to visit multiple attractions covered by the card
2. You’ll make extensive use of public transportation
3. Your itinerary is focused within Lisbon
4. You’re interested in visiting museums and historical sites

The Card might not be worth it when:

1. You’re planning day trips outside Lisbon (e.g., to Sintra)
2. You prefer walking or using ride-sharing services
3. Your interests lie more in no cost activities like exploring neighborhoods or attractions not covered by the card.
4. You’re only visiting one or two paid attractions

So, is it worth it to get a Lisboa Card?

That depends on your interests and your travel style: we saved over US$30 by getting the 72 hour Card. We were also pretty tired after 3 days of serious touristing. We don’t typically try and pack a bunch of activities into a short stay but we had kind of developed a crush on Lisbon during our first visit so we got excited about seeing as much as we could.

Tips to optimize card usage:

• Start your days early to make the most of the 24-hour period
• Plan your route in advance to minimize travel time between attractions
• Check the opening hours of attractions – some may have extended hours on certain days
• Consider using the card’s skip-the-line benefits at busier attractions to save time
• Don’t forget to use public transport between sites to maximize savings

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Where can visitors buy the Lisboa Card in person
   • There is no mention on their website of any ‘buy on site’ option; everything on the website points you to buy online and pick up the card at one of the kiosks.
2. Do I need to carry the physical card with me?
   • Yes. at the time of this publication there was not a digital card option.
3. Can the Card be delivered to my hotel?
   • The official website doesn’t offer this service but I suspect if you tipped the concierge of your hotel enough and emailed them your voucher, it could be arranged.
4. Do nights hours count?
   • Yep, The timing on your card starts the moment you first use your card until it expires. There is not a pause option.
5. Can I Share My Card with Someone Else?
   • No, the Card is non-transferable and must be used by one person for its entire validity period.
6. Can I Use the Card for Multiple Entries to the Same Attraction?
   • The Card allows one person a single entry per attraction. Each person in your group will need their own card.
7. What Should I Do If I Lose My Lisboa Card?
   • Lost cards will not be replaced. It’s recommended to keep your card safe and secure at all times.
8. Are There Any Child or Family Discounts Available with the Lisboa Card?
   • yes, discounts are available for children and groups of 15 or more.
9. Does the Lisboa Card Include Skip-the-Line Benefits?
   • Yes! The Lisboa Card lets you skip the ticket line at many attractions. You’ll still have to stand in line for entrance but it’s one less line to stand in.
10. Is the Lisboa Card Worth It for a Short Visit (e.g., 24 Hours)?
    • Only if you plan ahead to maximize the value
11. Are There Any Restrictions on Using Public Transport with the Lisboa Card?
    • yes, and no. No limits on using public transportation within Lisbon or the train to and from Sintra, but the card does not cover the cost of public transportation in Sintra (a popular day trip)