Is Lisboa Card Worth it?
Have you been thinking of getting Lisboa Card but not sure if it’s for you? I’ve got you covered!
Traveling to Lisbon comes with a lot of perks; the stunning views, delicious food and culture are enough to make anyone want to stay longer. You may have heard how the Lisboa Card can help you save money.
But does it really? Is Lisboa Card worth it? The answer is yes! Depending on what you want to do in Lisbon, it generally is a huge money saver which frankly makes your life easier on many levels.
This card offers many benefits such as discounts on transportation and attractions, free access to museums and other cultural sites, and much more.
Here we will weigh the pros and cons of this popular tourist pass so you can decide if it’s right for your next trip to Lisbon!
Lisboa Card Overview
✅ Free admission to more than 30 of Lisbon’s top museums, galleries and monuments. Discounted admission to over 40 more attractions.
✅ Unlimited rides on public transport such as metro, trams, buses and funiculars.
✅ Discounts on tours, restaurants, shops, parks and entertainment venues around the city.
✅ Easy to use – simply present it at any of the attractions and enjoy hassle-free entry.
✅ Validity period of 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h.
Table of Contents
What is Lisboa Card?
The Lisbon Card is a great way for tourists to save time and money during their visit to Portugal. With this card, tourists can gain free or discounted access to more than 70 of the top attractions and monuments around Lisbon. This includes museums, art galleries, and historical sites, as well as transportation discounts and much more!
The amount saved depends on which attractions you decide to visit. For example, if you plan on visiting 6 of the free museums or historical sites included in the 72-hour card and use public transport daily then you save the difference between the regular price and the price paid for the card.
The free transportation available via the card, also allows you to use trams, the metro, cable cars and elevators for free all over Lisbon. The Lisbon Card is an excellent way for tourists to maximize their budget while exploring all that Portugal has to offer!
🤩 Skip the line ups and get your Lisbon Card here
How much does it cost?
The Lisbon Card gives you unlimited access to a multitude of attractions, museums, and public transportation for 24, 48 or 72 hours at a great price! The 24-hour card costs 21€ for adults and 13.50€ for children; the 48-hour card costs 35€ for adults and 19.50€ for children; and the 72-hour card costs 44 € for adults and 23 € for children.
To maximize your savings make sure to calculate the regular price of all the attractions you plan on visiting as well as 1.65€ per metro/bus ride.
24 hours
Adult 21€
Child 13.50€
48 hours
Adult 35€
Child 19.50€
72 hours
Adult 44€
Child 23€
What benefits are included in the Lisboa Card?
This pass includes free entry to many attractions, free public transportation, discounts on several tours, monuments and museums, as well as exclusive discounts at shops.
Transport
Lisbon has an excellent network of public transport and this card will give you free access to all of it.
Museums
The card offers free entry to these museums among others:
Discounted Museums
Here is a list of the most popular discounted museums included in the card:
Attractions and Tours
It also includes these attractions and tours among others:
Free
Discounted
Shopping
The card also provides opportunities for discounted shopping at the following places among others:
So, is Lisbon Card worth it?
If you are planning to visit monuments whose entry price adds up to more than the card’s value, then yes, the Lisbon Card is worth it. This is especially true if you will be using public transport.
For example, when my cousin came to visit, she wanted to visit 9 different attractions over 3 days. Even though she didn’t use much public transport, she saved about 30 Euros because of the card and visited a few extra museums simply because she was in the area and they were free.
🤩 Skip the lineups and get your Lisbon Card here
Where can I buy the Lisbon Card?
You can buy it online here.
You could potentially buy it before your arrival in Lisbon and pick it up at the information desk in the arrivals at the airport since this is the easiest option. You could also potentially pick it up at the Sant Apolonia Railway station, The Foz Palace next to Rossio Square or the Lisboa Welcome Center in Praça do Comercio.
How do I activate the Lisbon Card?
Your card is activated on its first use. For example, if you pick it up at the airport arrivals kiosk and use it in the subway from the airport to downtown, the card will be activated and will start counting down the remaining time as of then.
You may decide to pick up your card at the airport, but only activate it the next day, for example, when you are ready to start visiting attractions and monuments.
How do I use it?
To use the Lisboa Card all you need to do is tap it on the card readers on public transport, as well as monument entrances. You do not need to wait in line at the ticket office. If you need help, all attractions have receptionists that can help you
🤩 Skip the lineups and get your Lisbon Card here
When is the Lisbon Card not worth it?
Since most museums and monuments are free for children under 12 years of age, it’s definitely not worth buying a child card unless you are planning on visiting the few museums which charge children. Make sure to check the museum admissions on their site to check during your planning stage.
This also applies to people above 65 years of age. Many museums offer a 50% rebate to seniors and you’ll need to check the prices of the attractions you are planning to visit to see if the card is worth your while.
Another important factor to consider is that many monuments and museums are closed on Mondays in Lisbon. Because of this, Monday is a good day to go to Sintra since many palaces are open there. Alternatively, you may decide not to activate your card until Tuesday, or buy one less day if you have a Monday in Lisbon.
My Experience Using the Lisbon Card
The experience I had during my cousin’s visit was excellent. It was really easy to pick up from arrivals at the airport, without needing to wait in any lines. We also didn’t have to worry about buying tickets for monuments or museums, instead, we just used tap-and-go with the card. The convenience of it all made it really easy to enjoy the amazing sights Lisbon has to offer, without having to plan too much! This is what we visited with our 72-hour Lisboa Card:
Day 1: Estufa Fria(3€), Rua Augusta Arch(3€), Santa Justa Lift (6€), The Lisboa Story Center (7€), and the Museu do Chiado(4.50€). 23.50
Day 2: Torre de Belem(6€), Jeronimo Monastery (10€), Museu dos Coches (8€), MAAT (9€). 33
Day 3: Museu do Azulejo (5€), Gulbenkian (10€), Palacio de Ajuda (5€) 20
The 72-hour card cost 44€ but offered a total value of 76.50€. That’s a 32 € discount or around 40 % discount!
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Lisbon Card
Try and visit several monuments in the same area when using your card, this way you can save time and see as many attractions as you want to. Consider that most attractions take between 30 minutes to 3 hours to visit, depending on how long you want to spend there, as well as wait times for entrance.
Some of the worse monuments for lineups in high season are the Jeronimo Monastery, which can often take up to 2 hours to get in, Torre de Belem, the Lisbon Cathedral, and the Santa Justa Lift. Add an extra hour to these visits because of long wait times, or you might just decide to admire it from the outside and move on!
You can generally get good value with the Lisbon Card if you visit at least 3 or 4 attractions per day you have the card.
Lisboa Card Alternatives
Read on for a few other alternatives. For those who might not need quite so many options, these alternatives might be a better deal.
✅ Combo packages: These aren’t actually the same type of product since they don’t offer the variety that Lisbon Card offers, but you may not need such a wide range of museums and monuments. They also don’t include public transportation, but definitely save a lot on the monuments which are included. This is perfect if you have just a few places you want to visit.
Here are a few to check out!
✅ The Lisbon Pass: This is a card originally made for tourists on a day excursion to Lisbon off a cruise ship but is really for anyone since it includes up to 96 hours of transportation around Lisbon. It includes a hop-on hop-off bus, all public transport, entry to both the Jeronimos Monastery and the Torre de Belem, as well as a Lisbon City Audio Guide app and a voucher for a 10% discount on any other attraction in Lisbon.
When compared to the Lisbon Card, the Lisbon Pass isn’t all that attractive if you consider all the museums, monuments and other discounts offered by Lisboa Card. It also doesn’t give you the flexibility of buying 24 hours, or 48 hours at a lower price.
FAQs About Lisbon City Card
What is the best use of Lisboa Card?
The Lisboa Card is the perfect way to enjoy all the attractions Lisbon has to offer – from museums, monuments and galleries to public transportation. With one card, tourists can get access to over 60 of Lisboa’s top attractions and save up to 25% off ticket prices. Also, it allows for unlimited travel on Lisbon’s public transport network for a period of 24, 48 or 72 hours. This makes it easier and faster for visitors to get around the city, explore its sights and have an enjoyable experience!
Can you skip the line with Lisboa Card?
Yes, you can skip the line with the Lisboa Card. This card allows you to access more than 30 of the best attractions, monuments and museums in Lisbon without having to wait in line at each ticket office. With this card, not only will your visit be a lot faster, but also cheaper.
Is Lisboa Card good for Sintra?
The Lisboa Card is a great choice for visiting Sintra! The card offers a 10-15% discount on entry to the Sintra National Palace, Pena Palace, and the Sintra Parks. Additionally, the card also provides discounts on other attractions in the area, such as Monserrate Palace, and the Moorish Castle. What’s more, it also gives you unlimited access to public transport services to Sintra.
Does Lisboa Card include the aquarium?
The Lisboa Card does include the aquarium! It offers 15% off the admission fee for the aquarium, making it a great choice if you plan on visiting. Additionally, if you buy multiple tickets to attractions with your Lisboa card, you can save even more money as there are discounts available for buying multiple tickets together.
How do I use my Lisbon Card on the train?
Using your card on the train is easy and fast. You can use your card on any public transport in Lisbon, including buses, trams, funiculars and trains. To do so, just tap your card on the validator when you board the vehicle.
What is the best way to get around in Lisbon?
The best way to get around Lisbon is to use the public transportation system. Lisbon has an extensive public transit network including buses, metro, trams and ferries. Buses are one of the most common modes of transport and connect all areas of the city, while the trams are a great way to explore the more scenic parts of town such as Alfama and Belem. The metro is the fastest way to get around, covering all main areas.
🤩 Skip the lineups and get your Lisbon Card here
Final Thoughts: Is Lisboa Card Worth It?
The Lisboa Card is definitely worth buying for tourists who want to get the most out of their trip to Lisbon. You’ll have access to a variety of attractions, not to mention the public transport system, allowing you to get around the city easily and cheaply. And, you’ll save a lot of time queuing up for tickets at museums or other attractions.
Here are a few posts that will help plan your trip to Lisbon!
