Is Lisboa Card worth it?

What is Lisboa Card?

The Lisboa Card is a tourist product that, when purchased in advance, grants access to various services for free or at a discounted price during the validity period of the card. These cards are specifically designed for tourists who have a short stay in Lisbon but want to make the most of their time. The Lisboa Card is available in 24, 48, and 72-hour versions, and as of January 2024, the prices were 22, 37, and 46 euros. Similar to other city cards, the Lisboa Card aims to convince visitors coming to Lisbon by offering:

• Free or discounted entry to many attractions
• Free use of public transportation
• More convenient solutions and comfort

We will examine who would benefit from the Lisboa Card based on the three criteria mentioned above. Regarding attractions and public transportation, the comparison is objective since the card costs can be easily compared with the original ticket prices. The convenience factors, however, are more subjective, and it's important to address a common misconception in that aspect.

Lisboa Card - attractions

The Lisboa Card provides free entry to approximately 30 museums and attractions. For additional museums, it offers a 15-20% discount, and some places have even more significant discounts. The normal admission prices to attractions covered by the Lisboa Card would range from 5 to 15 euros. In places where the card offers a discount, visitors will save 1-2 euros at the ticket counter. This not only applies to museums but also to other service providers offering discounts. The most important attractions covered for free with the card include:

In Lisbon:

• Jerónimos Monastery
• Belém Tower
• National Coach Museum
• National Tile Museum
• National Ancient Art Museum
• Chiado Museum - National Museum of Contemporary Art
• Lisboa Story Center

Outside Lisbon:

• Mafra National Palace
• Batalha Monastery
• Alcobaça Monastery
• Tomar Convent of Chris

It shows a bit of marketing flair that in the accompanying guide of the Lisboa Card, they list museums for free visits that would be free even without the card.

Lisboa Card - public transport

The Lisboa Card provides free transportation on city buses (Carris), trams, metros, and historic funiculars, as well as a one-time ride on the Santa Justa elevator. Additionally, it is valid on CP (national railway) lines to Cascais and Sintra and Fertagus railway services to Setúbal. This overall sounds quite comprehensive and covers almost everything during an average stay in Lisbon.

However, there are some exclusions: The Lisboa Card is not valid on Transtejo ferries, Carris Metropolitana buses, and MTS trams. This may not be immediately obvious what it means, so let's see the details.

Therefore, the Lisboa Card is not valid on buses traveling to or from the suburbs (even within city limits). This could be relevant if you visit Setúbal and plan to use city buses there (for example, to reach a more distant train station, as the train can be used up to that point with the card). Also, if you intend to use public transportation from Cascais to reach Cabo da Roca cliffs or explore the other side of the Tagus River to visit the Cristo Rei statue. You won't be able to take advantage of the Lisboa Card for crossing the river on public transportation ferries and trams in Almada on the other side.

An alternative for using public transportation with the Lisboa Card is the Carris daily ticket. There are three types available: the first is valid for buses, trams, and the metro, costing 6.8 euros. The second, in addition to the above, is valid for the Transtejo ferry to Cacilhas (not the others) – 9.8 euros. The third, instead of the ferry, is valid for the CP train lines mentioned earlier – 10.8 euros. Another option worth considering is the Zapping card, where you can travel anywhere for a preloaded amount until the balance runs out. In Lisbon, each journey costs 1.6 euros with Zapping (2-3 euros without it), excluding historic funiculars. Outside the city, due to a somewhat complex system, the pricing can vary. However, Zapping is versatile, but we may not always know in advance how much the system deducts.

For more information on Lisbon's public transportation, you can read another post of mine.

Lisboa Card - comfort

Regardless of what official websites state, the Lisboa Card offers minimal convenience services. In Portugal, there is no skip-the-line type of ticket, and the Lisboa Card is no exception. It does not allow you to bypass the queue at the Belém Tower or the Jerónimos Monastery, even if the official website might suggest otherwise. If someone is considering purchasing it for this reason, it's advised not to.

Who should buy the Lisboa Card?

Therefore, the daily transportation ticket costs around 7-10 euros. The entrance fees to the mentioned free attractions range from 5 to 15 euros. For someone who visits two or three of the mentioned free attractions daily and uses public transportation in the city, purchasing the Lisboa Card would be cost-effective. If one explores fewer free attractions, then using a regular daily transportation ticket along with full-priced entrance tickets might be more economical. The discounted locations and services offered by the Lisboa Card are bonuses, but visiting enough of them to make it worthwhile can be challenging. A 24-hour Lisboa Card (if one doesn't mind waiting in line at attractions) can easily pay off during a day trip to Belém. Additionally, the Lisboa Card is useful on a typical rainy day when wandering around the city and visiting multiple museums in one day.

How to buy the Lisbon Card?