Lisbon in a nutshell
Lisbon spreads over seven hills on the north bank of the Tagus, where the river widens before it reaches the Atlantic. The old districts of Alfama, Baixa and Bairro Alto are compact but steep, so you will use trams, the metro and a lot of stairs. Belém, with the monastery and the tower, lies a few kilometres west along the river.
Several things changed recently. Entry to the monuments in Belém became more expensive in 2025, the historic street funiculars have been closed since September 2025, and the Aerobus from the airport no longer runs. This guide reflects the situation in October 2026.
What changed for 2026
Older guides get these wrong.
Funiculars closed
After a fatal accident on the Glória funicular on 3 September 2025, the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift closed. Only the Graça funicular runs, since 30 April 2026. A new Glória line is planned for 2029.
Trams and lifts →Tram 28 runs again
Since 11 May 2026 tram 28 runs its full route between Martim Moniz and Campo de Ourique again. A ticket bought on board costs €3.30, with a topped-up Navegante card €1.72.
Tram 28 guide →Belém costs more
The Jerónimos Monastery costs €18, Belém Tower €15 and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos €10. Jerónimos and the tower are closed on Mondays. With the Lisboa Card both are free, but only with a time slot booked in advance.
Jerónimos Monastery →No more Aerobus
From the airport, take the red metro line from the Aeroporto station: about 20 minutes to Saldanha for €1.90 plus €0.50 for the Navegante card. Taxis and ride-hailing are the alternatives.
Airport to city →Our picks: Lisbon tours and experiences
Choose a Sintra day trip with tickets, a Lisbon walk with tastings, or a baking class where you make pastéis de nata yourself.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sintra, Pena, Cascais and Cabo day tour with tickets
A van from Avenida da Liberdade with a guided Pena visit, depending on the option, plus free time in Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais.
Check availability →
Pastel de nata baking class with drinks
- Instructors and ingredients
- Baking equipment
- Drinks and tastings
Make pastéis de nata with instructors in a shared class for up to 16 people. Ingredients and equipment are provided, with coffee, juice, water and port wine and ginjinha tastings included.
Check availability →
Best of Lisbon walking tour: Rossio, Chiado and Alfama
Three hours with a local guide, a pastel de nata, a snack and a wine tasting. Entry to sights is not included.
Check availability →Lisbon tours and day trips
Day trips to Sintra, walking and tuk-tuk tours, river cruises and fado evenings, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
The sights, the passes and the day trips.
Things to do in Lisbon
Fifteen experiences from Belém to the viewpoints of Alfama.
Sintra day trip
Train, buses 434 and 435, Pena's time slots and the best order for the palaces.
Lisboa Card
€31 to €62. What is free, what needs a slot and when it pays off.
Belém Tower
Tickets, opening days and how to combine it with the monastery.
Where to stay
Baixa, Chiado, Alfama or Príncipe Real: which neighbourhood suits you.
3 days in Lisbon
A practical plan for the city, Belém and Sintra.
Sintra: book the palace slot
Sintra is the most popular day trip from Lisbon. Trains from Rossio take about 40 minutes. Private cars may not drive the hill roads to the palaces; buses 434 and 435 run a hop-on hop-off loop for about €13.50 for 24 hours.
The Pena Palace Essential ticket costs €20 and comes with a fixed time slot for the palace. If you arrive late, you are not admitted and not refunded, so allow about 30 minutes to walk up from the park entrance. Quinta da Regaleira costs €20, the Moorish Castle and Monserrate €12 each.
Getting around
Lisbon's public transport is cheap if you load a card instead of paying on board.
Navegante card
The reusable card costs €0.50. A single ticket for metro, bus and tram costs €1.90 and is valid for 60 minutes; with "zapping" credit a ride costs €1.72.
Things to do →24-hour ticket
€7.25 for metro, buses and trams, or €11.40 including the suburban trains to Sintra and Cascais. It pays off from about four rides.
Day trips →Castle and viewpoints
Castelo de São Jorge costs €17 and is open daily until 9 pm until 31 October, then until 6 pm. Many of the best viewpoints in Alfama and Graça are free.
Alfama →More independent guides to Lisbon
Separate guides from the same team.
Lisbon: frequently asked questions
Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
It costs €31 for 24 hours, €51 for 48 hours and €62 for 72 hours and includes public transport and free entry to more than 50 sights. It pays off if you visit several paid sights, for example the castle, Jerónimos and Belém Tower, on the same day. The Sintra palaces are only discounted.
Is the Santa Justa lift open?
No. As of October 2026 the Santa Justa lift and the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars are closed. Only the Graça funicular runs.
How do I get from Lisbon airport to the city?
Take the red metro line from Aeroporto station; it reaches Saldanha in about 20 minutes. A ticket costs €1.90 plus €0.50 for the Navegante card. The Aerobus no longer runs.
How long does it take to get to Sintra?
About 40 minutes by suburban train from Rossio station. In Sintra, buses 434 and 435 connect the station with the palaces.
How much is the tourist tax in Lisbon?
€4 per person and night, for up to seven nights, from the age of 13. It is collected by your accommodation.