Decisions to make before you travel
- How do you get in from the airport? The Metro Red Line reaches Saldanha in about 20 minutes. Pay €1.72 in zapping credit on a €0.50 navegante occasional card, or €1.92 by tapping a contactless card at the gate; the metro runs 6:30 to 1:00 (Metropolitano de Lisboa, checked 19 October 2026).
- Card or 24-hour ticket? Load zapping for most days: €1.72 a ride on Metro and Carris, against €2.30 for a bus ticket and €3.30 for a tram ticket bought on board. The €7.25 Carris/Metro 24-hour ticket wins only on days with five or more rides. Everyone needs their own card.
- Are the lifts running? Mostly not. Carris lists the Glória and Lavra funiculars as temporarily closed and Bica as out of service, and an undated Carris notice puts the Santa Justa elevator out of service; the Graça funicular is the one running, at €4.30 for up to two trips.
- What sells out? Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower warn that same-day tickets often go, and Pena Palace enters at a fixed time with no tolerance for lateness. Book both before the day.
- What does the hotel add? €4 per guest per night, capped at 7 nights per stay; under-13s are exempt (Lisbon City Council's 2025 fee table, the latest found).
Your planning order
Compare the main tickets
| Sight or trip | Adult price checked 19 October 2026 | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| São Jorge Castle | €17; ages 13–25 €8.50 | Free for adult Lisboa Card holders |
| Jerónimos Monastery (cloister) | €18 | Closed Mondays; last entry 17:00 |
| Belém Tower | €15 | Same hours and closed days as the monastery |
| Pena Palace Essential Visit | €20; park only €12 | Timed palace entry, no lateness tolerance |
| Train to Sintra | €2.05 each way on zapping | CP 24-hour tourist ticket €6.70 |
| Lisbon to Porto | €35.70 Alfa Pendular, €28.05 Intercidades (second class) | Promo fares up to 56–65% off, non-refundable |
If this is your situation
What to recheck before you go
Lisbon's lifts and funiculars, airport taxi fares and the 2026 tourist-tax table are the items most likely to change or catch up on official pages. Each guide names the page it follows and the date it was checked; open that page again for your travel dates.
