Lisbon Transportation Tips by HORSCHECK

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: I flew to Lisbon from Cologne with the German buget airline Germanwings. Unfortunately, there are not too many airlines serving this route, therefore prices are still relatively expensive.
Lisbon's international airport "Portela" is situated about 10 km north of the city centre. It is Portugal's busiest and most important airport.

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Website: http://www.ana-aeroportos.pt/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: There are various options to get from the airport to the city centre. I decided on the Aero-Bus, which is the airport bus with the number 91. It serves the route to the city centre with several stops in between every 20 minutes. The trip takes about 45 minutes and costs 3 Euro (2006).
The advantage of the Aero-Bus is that the ticket is valid for the rest of the day on any other bus and tram which is operated by Carris, the local public transportation company. It is not valid on the Metro.
Other options to get into town are the local buses #44 and #45 which go to Restauradores or just take a Taxi.

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Website: http://www.carris.pt/

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: I left Lisbon by train to Faro at the Algarve. Since 1999 the Ponte 25 de Abril has been open to trains on its lower level and the railway lines to the South of Portugal now run directly from the Oriente Station. It is located about 5 km north east of the city centre.
Another important station in Lisbon is Santa Apolonia in the east of the city. It is for international trains and services to northern and central Portugal.
Trains to Belem, Cascais and Estoril leave from the centrally located Cais Sodre Station.
At all stations you can buy your train tickets from either multilingual machines or from staffed counters.

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Website: http://www.cp.pt/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: The public transportation in Lisbon consists of trams, buses and funiculars which are operated by the company Carris. Apart from that Lisbon has an extensive metro network.
The most unique way to explore Lisbon is by its yellow traditional trams. Tram #28 is probably Lisbon's greatest ride as it runs through the narrowest and steepest streets of the Alfama district.
Line #15 is mostly served by new superfast trams. This line runs near the waterfront to places like Alcantara, Belem and Alges.
The single on-board fare is 1,20 Euro (2006), but of course other ticket types are available at kiosks as well. Please read my "Explore Lisbon by bus" and "Explore Lisbon by metro" for more information about the public transportation and the fares.

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Website: http://www.carris.pt/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Lisbon has an extensive bus network which can be very useful for getting to outlying areas and attractions. Like the trams, the buses are also operated by the company Carris. There are quite a few possibilities for tickets. I bought a so called "7 colinas card" (7 hills card) for 0,50 Euro. This card can be credited with a dayticket for metro, trams and buses which costs 3,20 Euro (2006).
There are also other fares which can be loaded onto the card, so always keep the card with you. These sort of tickets are available from Carris kiosks (e.g. at Praca da Figueira).

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Website: http://www.carris.pt/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Lisbon's metro network consists of four colour-coded lines (blue, yellow, green and red). The first parts of the metro were inaugurated in 1959 and since then the network has always been extended. Nowadays the 4 lines consist of 48 stations and cover a distance of 37 km.
The metro operates from 6:00 a.m. until 01:00 a.m. Tickets are available from machines at all stations. A single metro ticket is 0,70 Euro. Other tickets which combine the use of the metro with the use of buses and trams can be bought at Carris kiosks.
Please read my "Explore Lisbon by bus" and "Explore Lisbon by tram" for more information about the public transportation and the fares.

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Website: http://www.metrolisboa.pt/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Lisbon has 5 ferry boat terminals (estacoes fluviais) which are served by ferries of the Transtejo company. These ferries cross the river to the southern side. The river Tejo is about 2 km wide near the city centre so the ferry crossing takes about 15 minutes.
I once took a ferry from Cais Sodre to Cacilhas from where I walked along the river bank and enjoyed the scenic views of Lisbon. A single ticket costs 0,70 Euro (2006). The ferry ride also offers splendid views of the Ponte 25 de Abril.

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Website: http://www.transtejo.pt/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Some districts of Lisbon are best explored on foot, as they consist of small cobbled alleyways and narrow streets. Among these districts are Alfama, Bairro Alto and Baixa Chaido.
Make sure you wear comfy shoes when wandering around these areas as many streets are cobbled and often very steep. Don't forget that Lisbon was built on seven hills.

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