Means of transport Lisbon

In a very nice (but not always very fast) way, bright yellow streetscars (the oldest ones have wooden minacles, moleskin benches and sparkling chrome) make it possible to visit the city, finally part of it, because they only ride in the old districts and along the Tagus River, in Belém. The electricos began to circulate in Lisbon in 1873, drawn by horses. We do not succumb to their steep slippery slippers with vengeance, sudden brake strokes and unexpected breaks (due to various and varied obstacles on rails) punctuated by the vehement comments of the driver or even some used. The network consists of 5 lines. Line No. 12 makes a loop of the praça da Figueira through the Sé, the Alfama, the Miraduro of Santa Luzia, São Tomé crossing La Mouraria and Largo Martim Moniz, to return to the starting point. Line 15, with its modern trams, goes from the praça do Comércio to Algés via Belém, and gives a good overview of the docas and the edges of the Tagus River. Line 18 is part of rua Alousndega (praça do Comércio) to go to Cemitério Ajuda, above Belém. The route on line No. 25 is interesting, because it connects the praça do Comércio to the Campo Ourique through notably Madragoa and Lapa. As for line No. 28, no doubt the most picturesque, it goes from Martim Moniz to Campo Ourique (Prazeres), passing through the old districts of Lisbon: Graça, the Alfama and its monastery São Vicente de Fora, the Castelo São Jorge or almost, la Sé, or Chiado, upper Bica and Estrela. Line 24, recommissioned in 2018, goes from Square Luis Camoes to Campolide, through Príncipe Real and Amoreiras. In general, trams travel from 5:45 a. m. to 1:00 a. m. (service shorter on Saturday, Sunday and holidays). Rates identical to buses and elevators (so you can pay with your vivaviagem card). Throughout the network, you will remain vigilant with regard to pickpockets.

Throughout the year, a "historic" tram service makes two tourist routes.

Lisbon's only airport. It has a high level of traffic, which has increased in recent years. The arrival in Lisbon is often very impressive, don't miss it from the window! Often, after the meanders of the Tagus and the estuary, the plane flies over the city very close to the houses, as if it didn't really know where to land... And if there is a little wind, the landing is memorable. From the airport,you can then travel to the city by aerobus, metro, bus or taxi.

Lisbon has various railway stations. The Santa Apolónia and Oriente stations welcome long-distance trains. The Entrecampos station connects the northern suburbs, and a few trains cross the Tagus on the 25-April bridge thanks to the Fertagus company (www.fertagus.pt). For a few getaways, the estação de Cais do Sodré offers the coastal route to Cascais via Estoril while the Rossio station serves Sintra.

This ferry takes you to Trafaria and from there you have connections to Costa de Caparica. It is not necessarily the most convenient way to reach the beaches of the south and therefore not necessarily the most frequented by tourists who prefer the one leaving from Cais do Sodré. Its service hours are not as long as those of other ferries, as it stops around 10 pm. Always check the time of the last ferry before boarding: times are sometimes random. Your ticket can also be paid with the zapping formula of your transport card.

The metro operates from 6:30 am to 1 am. There are several formulas: zapping for a journey by metro or bus and formulas to take on a journey by metro and bus (the Carris/Metro ticket). Its oldest infrastructure dates back to 1959. Its decoration is different in each station, which allows you to walk through a kind of art gallery. When you leave the Picoas station, it is indeed a beautiful Parisian vault by Guimard that tops the stairs, but, no doubt, you are still in Lisbon!

Built in 1886 and 1887, and designed by architect José Luís Monteiro, it blends three styles - Neo-Gothic, Manueline and Plateresque - and boasts a remarkable façade. It's hard to pass by without noticing it. You'll have the chance to visit it if you take the train to Sintra. Rossio station is served by the metro (Restauradores station on the blue Gaviota line). Numerous bus routes pass close by: the 759 from Oriente or Santa Apolónia stations, or the 744 or Aerobus 91 from the airport.

Since 1998, it has been the modern railway station on the World Expo site. It is adjacent to the Vasco de Gama shopping mall. In the northeast of the city, it's on exactly the same line as Santa Apolónia (same services plus Sintra), but closer to the airport. For long-distance tickets, the fare is the same whether you leave from either station. Numerous bus connections are available, such as the 744 from the station to Restauradores.

TAP is Portugal's national airline. There are several daily flights to Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Nantes. Prices are very attractive in low season, as they are similar to those of low-cost airlines, with much better service and cabin comfort. And because it's a national airline, there's less risk of delays in high season. If you have checked baggage, it's worth checking the ticket prices on their website. Their loyalty program allows you to deduct 5 euros per journey.

This terminal takes you to Cacilhas, home of the famous Cristo Rei. You can take your car or even a bicycle (free). You can pay for your ticket with the zapping card. From Cacilhas, there are numerous connections (Carris bus or MTS metro, www.mts.pt) for Costa da Caparica, Setúbal, Sesimbra... The crossing takes about 10 minutes. There's also another boat to Seixal or Montijo, which takes 30 minutes.

Manages all ferry transport in Lisbon. Each ferry station (terminal) has an information and sales office, where you can buy tickets, otherwise you can simply load your transport card with the zapping formula. The company also organizes yellow boat tours on the Tagus lasting 2h30 or 1h, every day, from April to October. Departures take place from Terreiro do Paço (at 3pm) or Cais do Sodré (at 4.30pm).

In Portugal, as in France, many young people go through the BlaBlaCar website to travel to the country at a lower cost. From Lisbon you can find several destinations in the region and elsewhere in Portugal. If you want to go to Porto for example, you will find several options per day.

The main Portuguese bus company offers routes in Portugal and Europe. Its domestic routes serve many destinations from north to south. The network is very good and the buses are very punctual. It is possible to buy tickets in bus stations, on the website or on the application. Practical when you don't have a printer at hand. The more you buy your ticket in advance, the less it costs. There are also discounts for students and the youth fare applies... up to age 29!

Buses Carris urban transport (of a beautiful orange) are handled with dexterity and speed by drivers who are not cold in their eyes! The company is gradually working on new, much better models: Good suspension, air conditioning, electric motor! Generally, we climb up the front and descend down the back. Buses cross the city in all directions. They are taken at the countless stops (paragem) where their numbers and journeys are indicated. Here, unlike other cities like Paris, we don't tighten up on the bus. Sometimes the driver doesn't let people rise, even though there's plenty of room for you!

The bus network with 90 urban and suburban lines is much larger than the subway. The main nodes of the network are: Cais do Sodré, Praça do Comércio, Marquês Pombal and Entre Campos. Tickets (modulo or bilhete), which are purchased on buses at € 1.85 for a «trip» ticket. You also have the possibility to load your card in metro stations with the zapping formula of loading a sum of money and which is valid on several networks (trains, buses, metro…). Tickets purchased at € 1.85 (€ 2.90 for tramways, 3.60 € for two funicular trips, 5 € for two trips to the Santa Justa elevator) to drivers are simple tickets (available in kiosk). For some time now there have finally been plans of the city and lines to buy you, on the storyteller, at one of the Carris agencies or tourist offices. There are always hardly any indications on the buses themselves. A little confusing to know where to stop. In this case, do not hesitate to ask the neighbor or driver to indicate the stop: the legendary lisboet kindness will do the rest! You will have the joy of seeing half the bus taunting you on the shoulder to tell you that you have arrived at a good port. It's good for egos! Carris (bus, trams, elevators) holds several kiosks in Lisbon, among others: Airport, Cais do Sodré, Praça da Figueira-Rossio (sale within a Casa da Genre - www.casadasorte.pt, games shop, entries: 1 B Praça da Figueira or 119 Rossio-Pedro IV or 37, Rua Garett in Chiado), Santa Apolónia, Cais do Sodré, Campo Pequeno (face to the Praça de Touros), Estrela (near the church), Belém… closed on Sunday. Generally, a lot of waiting, due to lack of staff in numbers, especially early months at the time of renewal of subscriptions.

For those who prefer not to travel with a low-cost airline, Air France is a good option. The airline operates direct flights from Paris, but flights from other major French cities such as Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille are non-direct, via Paris or even Amsterdam. On the other hand, flights depart from Orly or Roissy. This allows you to choose according to where you live. As with other airlines, you will have to pay a supplement for checked baggage.

The station, which is adjacent to the Oriente railway station, is popular with a number of companies that operate buses from here to destinations all over the country and in neighboring European countries such as France and Spain: Avic (+351 218 940 238 - www.avic.pt), Rede Expressos (rede-expressos.pt/pt), Rodonorte (+351 259 340 710 - www.rodonorte.pt) and Flixbus (www.flixbus.fr), which provides cheap connections between Lisbon and Madrid and Lisbon and Seville and Malaga.

Near the zoo, the bus station has replaced Arco do Cego (which has become a parking lot/loose lot near Saldanha). It is close to the railway station of the same name, which you will have to bypass in some way to get to the entrance. Destinations to all the districts of continental Portugal: big cities (Porto, Coimbra...) and smaller cities in the interior, as well as international connections. It allows you to go to Ericeira in particular.

Located in Alfama, this station serves many national and international destinations. Inside, you will find a supermarket to do some shopping before your train leaves. For lockers, there are automatic lockers at gate 47, as well as at Oriente, Le Rossio and Cais do Sodré stations. The station is closed at night. Around it, you will find several bus stations to take you to different points in the city, including Cais do Sodré.

The train follows the coast, passing through Alcântara, Belém, Algiers, Carcavelos... and Cascais. The coastal route is nice to look at, remember to stand on the left side of the train. In summer, it is a convoy of flip-flops and sunglasses to the beaches of Carcavelos or Estoril. On the outward journey and especially on the return journey, always check the stations served before boarding, as some trains do not always stop at all stations along the way or stop only at Oeiras.

Accessible by metro with the yellow line, it mainly serves the northern suburbs. So you can reach Sintra or Queluz from this station. There are also connections with Santa Apolonia and Oriente. Thanks to the Alfa Pendular, you will be able to go to Braga or Guimarães (several departures per day). The Fertagus company will allow you to go to the beautiful beaches of the south or to Almada by crossing the bridge of April 25th.

On the Tagus, near Praça do Comércio, this river station provides a ferry connection with the southern railway line, whose trains leave from Barreiro, on the left bank of the Tagus. From Barreiro, you can go to Alentejo and Algarve: Beja, Évora, Faro, Vila Real St António and even, why not, in Seville. In Barreiro: rail connections to Setúbal, Alentejo and Algarve. The journey takes about 25 minutes to Barreiro.