Lisboa Card: when the card pays off in Lisbon

Lisboa Card pays for itself faster than you might think. Two metro rides, a tram to Belém, and a couple of museums already cover its cost. The only question is whether to get the card for 24, 48, or 72 hours.

2026 prices, the list of free attractions, and mandatory time-slot bookings are all below. The 24-hour card costs 31 € (as of 09/2026, card price list), and the 72-hour card costs 62 €.

Below are tables with prices and discounts, a break-even calculation, and instructions for getting the card right at the airport. One piece of advice upfront: don't put off exchanging your voucher until Belém.

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How the Lisboa Card works

💡 In short:

• The card is valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours, starting from your first metro ride or museum entry (as of 09/2026, 2026 card rates).
• The price includes entry to more than 50 attractions and all city transport, including tram 28 and trains to Sintra and Cascais (as of 09/2026, list of attractions).
• For Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, you need a separate free time slot on the official portal.
• Card prices and rules: 09/2026, verified on the card pricing page.

You buy the card before your trip or on site, with no markup either way. Activation happens once, and the timer starts at that exact moment. In the morning you can easily buy the card, walk around the center, and start the countdown in the evening.

After purchasing online, the voucher sits in your smartphone. The plastic card is issued at Ask Me Lisboa centers, and exchanging the voucher takes a couple of minutes. The voucher is useless without the exchange: without the plastic card you can't get through a turnstile or use Fast-Track.

How much the Lisboa Card costs in 2026

Prices are valid from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 (as of 09/2026, official table). Children under 4 get in everywhere for free and don't need a ticket.

On a per-day basis, the 72-hour version is the best value. A day costs roughly 21 € versus 31 € for the 24-hour card. If you're staying in Lisbon for three days, the extra cost for the third day is barely noticeable.

Where to buy the Lisboa Card

The card has no official promo codes, but sellers sometimes run their own deals. The most convenient way to book the card in advance is online, with no markup: Lisboa Card ticket on GetYourGuide or Lisboa Card ticket on Tiqets. In both cases, the voucher arrives on your phone, and the card is issued on site.

You can exchange the voucher for a plastic card at Ask Me Lisboa tourist centers:

• at Lisbon Airport right after you exit into the city;

• at Praça do Comércio, in the Lisboa Story Centre;

• at Rossio and at Praça dos Restauradores;

• near Santa Apolónia station and near Belém Tower.

Do you need a promo code for the card

Official discount codes don't exist, we checked on the card's official website. If you see a promotion from a seller, compare the final price with the base price above. The card is sold without a markup, so the actual value of a promotion is usually less than the banner promises.

Lisboa Card app

The official Lisboa Card Guide app shows all included attractions on a map and their opening hours. It also contains a digital guidebook. The app is free and available in the App Store and Google Play. It doesn't replace the card itself: you still need to pick up the plastic card on site, as described above.

From the airport to the center with the Lisboa Card

The most convenient start looks like this: you get the card right at the airport and activate it with your first metro ride. The red line, Linha Vermelha, runs from the airport through the transfer stations Saldanha and Alameda (as of 09/2026, Metro Lisboa). To reach Marquês de Pombal, transfer at Saldanha. To reach Rossio, transfer at Alameda.

Without a card, a single trip costs about €2 (as of 09/2026, Carris tickets), plus a deposit for the Viva Viagem card. The amount is small, but with the Lisboa Card it pays for itself as soon as you enter the city.

If you are only going to the hotel and back, you barely need the card. The decision changes when your plans include the tram, the train to Sintra, and several museums.

Free transport with the Lisboa Card

The card covers all of Lisbon's public transport for its entire validity period. Available options include:

• metro and Carris buses;

• Carris trams, including the famous tram 28;

• the Santa Justa Lift and the Glória, Lavra, and Bica funiculars;

• CP trains to Sintra, Cascais, and Azambuja;

• Fertagus trains to Setúbal across the 25 de Abril Bridge.

Does transport alone pay for the card

Compare for yourself. A 24-hour Carris and metro ticket costs €7.25, and the version with CP trains comes to €11.40 (as of 09/2026, Carris fares for 2026). Transport alone does not justify the 24-hour card at €31. Even a day ticket with CP trains costs noticeably less than the card.

A single trip costs about €2 (as of 09/2026, Carris passes). The card pays off only when paid museums are added to the trips.

Lisboa card or navegante card

The Navegante Card works as a regular Lisbon transit pass, and tourists can get the single-use Navegante Ocasional version. It is good only for transport and gives neither free entry nor discounts.

• Navegante is the better deal if you are staying more than a week and do not need museums.

• Navegante works well if you are staying with locals and only use transport.

• Lisboa Card wins if you have 2-3 days and the main sights are on your itinerary.

Hop-on hop-off

Yellow Bus sightseeing buses are not included in the card, but cardholders get a 10% discount on tickets (as of 09/2026, card discount catalog). If you enjoy seeing the city from the top deck, this is a nice bonus. Those who care about museums will get there faster by metro and tram.

Free entry with the Lisboa Card

More than 50 museums, palaces, and monuments are open to you for free (as of 09/2026, list of free attractions). Below are the key ones worth adding to your itinerary.

© Julien Chatelain from Paris, France · CC BY-SAPhoto: Julien Chatelain from Paris, France, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Main attractions

• São Jorge Castle;

• Jerónimos Monastery;

• Belém Tower;

• National Pantheon (Santa Engrácia);

• National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo);

• National Museum of Ancient Art;

• National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches);

• Royal Treasure Museum (Museu do Tesouro Real);

• Pilar 7 Bridge Experience at the 25 de Abril Bridge;

• Sintra Mitos e Lendas.

Other free museums

• National Museum of Archaeology;

• National Museum of Theatre and Dance;

• Costume Museum (Museu Nacional do Traje);

• National Museum of Music;

• Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu do Chiado);

• Aljube Museum;

• Júlio Pomar Studio Museum;

• Museu de Lisboa in all branches: Casa dos Bicos, Palácio Pimenta, Santo António, Teatro Romano;

• National Republican Guard Museum;

• Ceramics Museum in Sacavém;

• Aviation Museum in Sintra;

• Neorealism Museum in Vila Franca de Xira;

• Michel Giacometti Labour Museum;

• Casa da Cerca in Almada;

• Espírito Santo dos Mareantes Chapel in Sesimbra;

• Setúbal Museum (Convento de Jesus);

• Sesimbra Maritime Museum;

• Setúbal Municipal Gallery (Galeria Municipal);

• Moinho de Maré tidal mill in Setúbal.

Free attractions beyond museums

• Arco da Rua Augusta;

• Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos);

• Estufa Fria, the botanical garden in Eduardo VII Park;

• CIAN and CIRES, interpretation centers in Almada and Setúbal;

• Codfish History Center.

One important detail for families. At some attractions, including São Jorge Castle, the Fado Museum, the Puppet Museum, and all branches of Museu de Lisboa, free entry does not apply to children aged 13 to 15. At that age a regular ticket is required. Many Lisbon museums are closed on Mondays, and MAAT is closed on Tuesdays. Plan your visits ahead so you don't lose a day.

Booking a time slot for Jerónimos and Belém Tower

A new rule applies to the two most popular attractions in Belém. Entry to Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower is still included with the card (as of 09/2026, Museus e Monumentos), but the monastery operates with limited capacity. You need to reserve a time slot in advance on the official portal. Without a valid booking you will not be admitted.

© Rehman Abubakr · CC BY-SAPhoto: Rehman Abubakr, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The process is simple:

• open the official Museus e Monumentos portal;

• select the "0 € Lisboa Card" option;

• check the 100% discount box on the Museus e Monumentos portal;

• enter the card serial number: 10 digits with the LC prefix, for example LC0080630750;

• receive a free ticket with an access code;

• at the entrance, first go through the Lisboa Card Fast-Track machine.

Only one visit per attraction is allowed. One important point that many people miss: you can only book a slot after exchanging your voucher for the plastic card. The system needs the number printed on the card. With just a voucher you can neither book nor enter, so pick up the card right after you land and immediately reserve your Belém time slot.

Discounts with the Lisboa Card

In addition to free entry, the card gives you discounts on dozens of museums, palaces, and tours (as of 09/2026, discount catalog). Here are the main ones:

Tours, shopping, and small extras

The discounts also apply to city tours: Tuk Guide Portugal and CitySightseeing give 25%, Inside Lisbon 20%, hop-on hop-off Yellow Bus 10%, and Tagus River cruises and FRS Portugal also 10% (as of: 09/2026, list of card discounts). You can find a suitable tour in the Lisbon tours and excursions section on GetYourGuide.

Shopping also has its perks: Freeport Lisboa Fashion Outlet gives 10%, Amoreiras Shopping Center a flat 5 € discount (as of: 09/2026, discount terms). The rooftop of Amoreiras offers a view over all of Lisbon, and access to the observation deck is 1 € cheaper with the card.

Does the Lisboa Card pay for itself

The short answer: yes, if you visit at least two or three major attractions and use public transport regularly. To give you a sense of scale, here is what the card covers at the main attractions (as of: 09/2026, list of attractions and discounts). Museums revise their ticket prices every season, so check them on the attraction's website before your visit:

Just three free entries already add up to noticeable savings. The Jerónimos Monastery alone costs 18 € at the ticket office, and together with São Jorge Castle and the Azulejo Museum that covers most of the price of the 48-hour card, which costs 51 € (as of: 09/2026, 2026 price table). Nobody even counts the transport savings here.

Which version to get depends on your plans. For a weekend with museums and a trip to Sintra or Cascais, the 48-hour card is usually the best fit. If you are coming for three full days, get the 72-hour one: the extra cost pays for itself with the train and one more museum.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does the Lisboa Card cost in 2026?

For adults, the card costs 31 € for 24 hours, 51 € for 48 hours, and 62 € for 72 hours (as of 09/2026, official 2026 prices). Children aged 4-15 pay 21, 28, and 35 €, children under 4 go free. Prices are valid until March 31, 2027.

When does the card become active?

The countdown starts from the first use, not from the purchase (as of 09/2026, card validity terms). You can buy the card in the morning, walk around the center on foot, and activate it only in the evening. That way the validity period stretches across your entire visit.

Do I need to book Jerónimos and Belém Tower in advance?

Yes. Both sites operate with limited capacity, and you need a time slot even with the card (as of 09/2026, official monuments portal). Booking is free, but it can only be done after you receive the physical card: the system requires the 10-digit card number with the LC prefix.

Does the card pay off in one day?

Yes, if your plan includes two or three paid attractions and trips around the city. Admission to Jerónimos Monastery alone costs 18 € at the ticket office, and São Jorge Castle is fully included in the card (as of 09/2026, list of card attractions). With transport, the 24-hour card for 31 € almost pays for itself.

Does the card work in Sintra and Cascais?

CP trains to Sintra, Cascais, and Azambuja are included in the card, so the journey is free. Discounts apply at the palaces: Pena Palace and the National Palace of Sintra give 10%, Monserrate Palace gives 15% (as of 09/2026, discounts in Sintra).

In short: what to book

If your trip is short, don't overpay for extra days. Get the version that fits your itinerary:

• If you have 1 day and one museum: get the 24-hour card.

• If you have 2 days with museums: get the 48-hour card.

• If you have 3 days and a day trip to Sintra: get the 72-hour card.

Pick up the card at the airport right after you land and reserve a slot for Belém, otherwise Jerónimos will remain closed to you. After that, the route comes together on its own: transport on the card, major attractions at no extra cost, discounts on everything else. You can book the card in advance here: Lisboa Card ticket on GetYourGuide. You can also compare options on Tiqets.