Are you planning a trip to Lisbon, Portugal and considering buying the Lisboa Card? Find out if it’s worth the price and whether this sightseeing pass is a good fit for your Lisbon trip!
Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery.
Whether you’re visiting for just a weekend trip or a week-long getaway, there is something for everyone to enjoy there.
For example, you probably know that Lisbon is famous for its delicious custard tarts, also known as pastel de nata. The creamy custard filling is nestled inside a flaky pastry that’s been baked to perfection. This is one of the most popular foods to try in Portugal.
While Lisbon is one of the most affordable capital cities you can visit in Western Europe, visiting all its top attractions can still be quite pricey. If you’re looking to save money on sightseeing in Lisbon while getting the most bang for your buck, there’s good news!
The Lisboa Card can help you visit the city’s top 10 attractions for free. It’s silly to pay full price at popular tourist attractions in Lisbon when you can save money (and time) with the Lisboa Card.
My sister, my boyfriend and I just recently returned from our trip to Lisbon and found that the Lisboa Card was the BEST way to save money and visit all the top attractions without blowing our budget.
The Lisboa Card is a 3-in-1 transport card, museum pass and discount card. And yes, it’s Lisbon’s official city travel card.
The best part was, we were able to check out more attractions than we had originally planned, because everything we wanted to see was included with the card!
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Table of Contents
What is the Lisboa Card?
✓ Pick from 26 Lisbon attractions
✓ Valid for up to 72 hours
✓ Free unlimited travel by public transport
✓ Exclusive discounts on visits, tours, shopping and nightlife
This Lisboa Card is a pre-paid sightseeing card that can be used to get FREE entry to the city’s top attractions, including Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Santa Justa Elevator. This is Lisbon’s official city travel card.
Plus, you can use the Lisboa Card to get free entry to 26 other attractions, museums, monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once you’ve bought the Lisboa Card, you can visit as many attractions as you want. The more sights you visit, the more money you’ll save!
The card also includes FREE unlimited travel by public transport (bus, tram, metro, elevators and funiculars). It also includes free travel on CP train lines to Sintra and Cascais, which are popular daytrip destinations.
What is included in the Lisboa Card?
When you purchase the Lisboa Card online, you’ll get:
- Free entry. Visit the most popular museums and attractions in Lisbon free of charge, such as Torre de Belém, Jerónimos Monastery and the Santa Justa Elevator.
- Free travel. Enjoy unlimited free travel by bus, metro, tram and elevadores.
- Deal and discounts. Save money on transport, attractions and tours.
- Free guidebook. Get a complimentary tourist guide full of helpful city info.
- Free day trips. Free travel by train to popular daytrip destinations such as Sintra and Cascais.
- There’s no need to buy separate tickets to each attractions. Simply present your Lisboa Card.
As you can see, the Lisboa Card can be a great option for those visiting Portugal’s capital city. It includes everything you need to discover Lisbon from free entry, to free travel, and helpful information to make the most of your visit.
How the Lisboa Card works
Simply buy your chosen pass online for one flat rate. Once your purchase has been confirmed (usually within minutes) you’ll receive an email voucher that can be exchanged for your personal Lisboa Card once you arrive in Lisbon. Exchange offices are located at the Lisboa Welcome Center, Foz Palace and of course Lisboa Airport. No cash or tickets are needed.
PRO TIP: When you buy the pass online, you’ll get to take advantage of exclusive discounts. However, when you purchase the pass in Lisbon, you’ll be required to pay the full price.
If you’re visiting Lisbon for only a couple of days, this tourism pass is the most popular choice. With this pass, you can easily save time and money. By just visiting three attractions per day, this can help ensure you get the best bang for your buck.
Many of the top-rated attractions in Lisbon cost €10 per person to visit ($11-$12 USD), which can quickly add up for travelers. If you’re already planning to visit some of these popular attractions, buying the Lisboa Card can easily save you money off the regular ticket price.
Plus, you’ll get a free unlimited travelcard with your purchase. This can help you get around the city and save time when visiting each attraction on your itinerary.
How much money can you save with the Lisboa Card?
Let’s say you purchase the 24-hour Lisboa Card for €20.
If you activate the card at noon on Day 1 and took the tram to the Belém district, you can visit Jerónimos Monastery (€10 value), Belém Tower (€6 value) and the National Coach Museum (€8 value).
NOTE: Your Lisboa Card includes unlimited journeys on Carris, Metro and CP (Sintra, Cascais, Azambuja and Sado lines). It will match the duration you decide to purchase. For example, if you purchase the 24-hour Lisboa Card, you’ll enjoy 24 hours of unlimited travel (€10.60 value).
Then in the evening, you could take the tram to visit Rua Augusta Arch (€3 value). Here you can enjoy a stunning sunset view of Lisbon. This was one of my favorite viewpoints in the city.
In the morning, you can arrive early to ride the Santa Justa Lift (€5.15 value), then hop on the bus to visit the National Tile Museum (€5 value). Just make sure to enter the attraction before noon so you can take full advantage of your Lisboa Card.
NOTE: If you activate your Lisboa Card at noon on Day 1, it will be valid until noon on Day 2.
Total cost of this 24-hour sample itinerary with the Lisboa Card = €20
Total cost of this 24-hour sample itinerary without the Lisboa Card = €47.75
Total savings by using the 24-hour Lisboa Card = €27.75 (that’s 58% in savings!!!)
Who wouldn’t want to save extra money?
Benefits of the Lisboa Card
Convenience
The Lisboa Card can be so helpful when you’re visiting the city. This is because you can purchase the travel card online before your trip, pick it up when you arrive in Lisbon and activate it at your first attraction. You don’t have to worry about waiting in long ticket lines or dealing with cash. This can allow you to enjoy more time sightseeing and get the most bang for your buck.
Save Money
The Lisboa Card was created to help you save money when visiting Lisbon. Free entry to many the city’s top attractions are included in your travel card, so you don’t have to think twice about visiting an attraction due to its cost. This can be a great option for budget-conscious travelers.
Save Time
The Lisboa Card makes it easy to save time and maximize the fun on your vacation. As I already mentioned, you’ll get free unlimited travel by bus, metro, tram and elevadores. This can help you save time getting to and from each attraction on your itinerary. You’ll also get a free guidebook to help you save time when planning your trip.
Who is the Lisboa Card good for?
First-Time Visitors
If this is your first time traveling to Lisbon, then investing in the Lisboa Card can be a great option. This travel card is specifically designed to help first-timers save time and money when sightseeing.
Families and Groups
If you’re traveling with your family or friends, the cost of buying individual tickets at each attraction can add up quickly. If you’re traveling with children, you may find this travel card convenient since you don’t need to buy separate tickets for each attraction or to use the public transportation system. This can make your trip go smoother with kids.
You’re only visiting Lisbon for a couple of days
If you’re visiting Lisbon for a weekend and want to hit all the major attractions, such as the Santa Justa Lift, Jerónimos Monastery, and Belém Tower, then buying the Lisboa Card is a no-brainer. By just visiting three attractions per day, the pass can provide great value.
Another benefit of the Lisboa Card is you can explore the city at your own pace. If you visit an attraction and don’t like it — no problem! Leave and head to the next attraction on your itinerary. You don’t have to feel bad for wasting money because the city’s top attractions are included in your pass.
Who is the Lisboa Card not good for?
Those not interested in sightseeing
If you’re not interested in visiting Lisbon’s popular tourist attractions, then the Lisboa Card may not be a good option for you.
Those who want to take a day off from sightseeing
Once the card has been activated, it’s valid for consecutive hours only. Whether you decide to get the 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour card, visiting two to three attractions per day will ensure you get the best value from the travel card.
If you’re traveling to Lisbon for 3 days and want to take a daytrip to Sintra, I recommend purchasing the 48-hour card. You can enjoy sightseeing in Lisbon for 2 days, then take the train to Sintra on the third day. Make sure to hop on the train to Sintra before your card expires so you can take advantage of free travel.
Those who want to explore off-the-beaten path
If you’re not interested in sightseeing and prefer to explore off-the-beaten path, then buying a sightseeing pass is probably not a good fit for you.
Where to buy your Lisboa Card
Step 1: Choose which pass duration you want to buy (24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours).
You can click here to purchase your Lisboa Card from their official website. When you buy the pass online, you can take advantage of online discounts.
Step 2: Once you arrive in Lisbon, you can pick up your Lisboa Card at one of the tourism offices located at Lisbon Airport, Lisbon Welcome Center, Stª Apolónia International Railway Station or at Rua Augusta and Belém Kiosks. Simply show the voucher you received via email and a valid ID.
Step 3: You now have access to any of the 26 attractions included for the duration of your pass. You can activate your pass anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase.
Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
Yes! If you’re interested in visiting the popular attractions in Lisbon, such as the LISBOA Story Centre, the National Coach Museum, Pilar7 Bridge Experience, and the National Tile Museum, then yes, the Lisboa Card provides great value for your money.
By visiting just a few attractions per day, you have the potential to save over 50% off vs. paying at the gate for individual tickets.
Another reason why the card is the most popular tourism pass with travelers is because it includes FREE entry to the top 10 attractions in the city. You can visit as many attractions as you’d like with your pass. (The only limit is that you can visit each attraction just once with your pass).
Where the Lisboa Card falls short
While the Lisboa Card includes entry to 26 popular attractions in the city, the only downside is that it doesn’t include entry to São Jorge Castle. Hopefully this is something that the card will add to its list of growing attractions in the future.
The Verdict
As you can see, the Lisboa Card can be a great way for travelers to save time and money when exploring the city’s best attractions and tours.
If you’re only in town for a short visit, this card can provide an easy and stress-free way to sightsee. If you’re interested in hitting all the top attractions in Lisbon, then getting the pass is a no-brainer.
If you’re traveling on a super tight budget, don’t worry, there’s plenty of free things to do in the city. For example, some of the museums in Lisbon offer free days. The National Coach Museum is free the first Sunday of every month and the Museu Colecção Berardo is free on Saturdays.
Remember, this is your trip to Lisbon. You can plan it to suit your travel style and interests. Happy travels!
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