Viva Viagem card — how it works and when to use it

What is the Viva Viagem card?

The Viva Viagem is a yellow contactless smartcard sold at every metro station and most ferry ticket offices in Lisbon. The card itself costs €0.50 and is yours to keep and reuse across multiple trips to Lisbon. Once you have one, you load money or a travel pass onto it and tap it at turnstiles, bus readers, and ferry terminals.

It is the standard transport card for the entire Lisbon metro area, covering:

• Metropolitano de Lisboa (all four metro lines)
• CARRIS buses and trams (including tram 28E and tram 15E)
• Funiculars (Glória, Bica, Lavra)
• Elevador de Santa Justa
• CP trains to Sintra and Cascais
• Fertagus trains south of the Tagus
• Transtejo and Soflusa ferries (Cacilhas, Barreiro, etc.)

One card covers all of these. No need to buy separate tickets for different modes.

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Three ways to load the Viva Viagem card

1. Zapping (pay-as-you-go credit)

You load monetary credit onto the card and each journey deducts the fare automatically.

Current zapping fares (2026):

• Metro (any single journey): €1.85
• CARRIS bus or tram (any single journey): €1.85
• Funiculars (single): €3.80
• Elevador de Santa Justa: included in CARRIS, so €1.85 when using zapping
• CP train to Sintra: €2.40 return (€1.85 single)
• CP train to Cascais: €2.40 return (€1.85 single)
• Ferry Cais do Sodré–Cacilhas: ~€1.50 each way

Transfers: If you complete a journey on metro and then tap a bus within 60 minutes, there is a reduced transfer fare (€0.37 in some cases). The system calculates this automatically. Bus-to-bus transfers within 60 minutes are also discounted.

Minimum top-up at machines: €1. You can top up any amount at metro ticket machines (which accept cards) or at staffed booths. The credit does not expire.

2. 24-hour unlimited pass (Bilhete 24 Horas)

For €6.80, the card is loaded with unlimited travel on metro, bus, tram, and funicular for 24 hours from first use.

When the 24-hour pass makes sense: You need 4 or more individual journeys in a day. For example: metro to Alfama, tram 15E to Belém, funicular up to Bica, bus back to centre — that is already 4 rides, and the pass costs the same as 3 metro singles. Any additional journey is free.

If you are doing a single busy sightseeing day with multiple transport changes, the 24h pass is almost always cheaper than zapping.

Does it cover trains to Sintra and Cascais? No. The 24h urban pass does not cover CP trains. For Sintra and Cascais, you pay separately (€2.40 return) or use the Lisboa Card. See trains to Sintra and Cascais.

Does it cover ferries? No. Ferry crossings to Cacilhas and other Tagus destinations are purchased separately or covered by the Lisboa Card.

3. Monthly/annual passes (for residents)

These exist but are irrelevant for tourists. Ignore them at the ticket machine.

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Zapping vs 24h pass — quick decision guide

Journeys planned today	Best option
1-3 metro or bus trips	Zapping
4+ mixed trips (metro, tram, bus)	24h pass
Day with funicular trips	24h pass (saves on €3.80 funicular singles)
Mostly day trips by train	Zapping or Lisboa Card
Full tourist day (arrival day)	24h pass

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Viva Viagem vs Lisboa Card — the key comparison

The Lisboa Card costs €22 for 24 hours, €37 for 48 hours, €46 for 72 hours. It covers unlimited transport on all modes including CP trains to Sintra and Cascais, and gives free or discounted entry to 30+ museums.

Choose the Viva Viagem (zapping or 24h pass) if:

• You are staying 1-2 days with few museum visits
• You plan to use Uber or Bolt frequently instead of public transport
• You are spending most of your time on guided tours

Choose the Lisboa Card if:

• You plan to visit 2 or more paid museums per day
• You plan a day trip to Sintra or Cascais (the train fare alone is €4.80 return; the card covers it)
• You prefer one card that covers everything without thinking about costs

Use the Lisboa Card calculator to run the specific numbers for your itinerary.

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Where to buy the Viva Viagem card

Metro ticket machines: At every metro station. Multilingual interface, accepts credit/debit cards and contactless. Buy at the airport on arrival — the Aeroporto station has machines in the arrivals hall.

Staffed booths: Most major metro stations have a staffed window, usually open 08:00-21:00. Useful if the machines are busy or you have questions.

Ferry terminals: Some Transtejo terminals sell Viva Viagem cards and load ferry passes.

Airport convenience: The machines at Aeroporto station are the first thing you should use after clearing customs if you are taking the metro. Select “new card,” pay €0.50, then top up credit.

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How to use the card

Metro: Tap the card on the yellow reader at the turnstile. Gates open. No need to tap out.

Trams and buses: Tap the yellow reader near the driver as you board. On some newer buses, you also tap when exiting. If using zapping, tap only on entry. If using a timed pass, tap to validate it.

Funiculars: Tap at the reader before boarding.

Ferries: Tap at the turnstile or hand to the attendant at smaller piers.

Avoid: Holding the card over the reader for too long — a brief tap works best. Wallet interference can be an issue if you have other NFC cards; remove the Viva Viagem and tap it alone.

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Can I use a contactless bank card instead?

Lisbon’s metro now accepts direct contactless payment from bank cards and Apple/Google Pay. This is convenient for the metro but does not extend to buses, trams, or funiculars, and does not give the transfer discount available with a Viva Viagem card. If you only plan to take the metro twice, direct contactless is fine. For any mixed-mode travel, the Viva Viagem card is better.

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Practical tips

Load at least €5 when you first buy the card — this covers 2-3 metro journeys and some buffer for trams or buses without stopping to top up. You can always add more.

The card does not expire. If you return to Lisbon, the remaining credit (or the card itself) is still valid.

If you lose the card, the credit is also lost — there is no name registration for standard cards. Keep it somewhere secure.

For your day in Lisbon before or after day trips, consider whether a full-day hop-on-hop-off tour might cover more ground with less faff:

Lisbon 72/96-hour hop-on-hop-off bus, tram, and boat ticket — includes the iconic Belém tram route and a Tagus River cruise, covering major sights without needing to coordinate individual tickets.

For most visitors doing a mixed walking-and-transport itinerary over 3-5 days, the best combination is: buy a Viva Viagem at the airport, use it the first day to get oriented, then buy a Lisboa Card if your second day includes museums and possibly Sintra.

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Connections to other transport hubs

The Viva Viagem card does not cover Rede Expressos long-distance buses (for Évora, Óbidos, Fátima, Nazaré, and other day trips). These are purchased separately at Sete Rios or Oriente bus stations, or online. See the day trip transport guide.

For Sintra and Cascais specifically, see the trains to Sintra and Cascais guide — the train fare is low and the journey is easy. You do not need a special card.

Lisbon Card 24, 48, or 72-hour pass — if you decide to upgrade from the Viva Viagem to the Lisboa Card, this GYG option lets you pre-purchase and skip the queue at the Lisboa Welcome Centre.

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Day-by-day Viva Viagem card strategy

One of the most common questions from visitors is how to manage the card across a multi-day trip where some days are heavy transport days and others are mostly walking. Here is a practical approach:

Day 1 (arrival, orientation): Buy the card at the airport metro station. Load a 24h pass (€6.80) if you plan more than 3-4 journeys that day — typically airport metro journey, bus or tram in the afternoon, metro back to hotel, funicular or tram in the evening. If arriving in the evening and just going to your hotel, load zapping credit of €5-8 instead.

Day 2-3 (active sightseeing): If doing Belém (tram 15E there, tram or bus back, possibly funicular in Bairro Alto, metro return) that is 4+ journeys — the 24h pass may pay off. Otherwise, zapping handles each journey at €1.85.

Day 3-4 (day trip to Sintra or Cascais): The CP train from Rossio or Cais do Sodré deducts €1.85 from your zapping credit (the return ticket requires a separate purchase or deduction). Alternatively, the Lisboa Card covers this free — consider switching to a Lisboa Card on the day you plan Sintra.

Remaining days: Zapping on the Viva Viagem handles individual journeys as needed.

The card never expires, and remaining credit is valid on future Lisbon trips. There is no value in rushing to spend the remaining balance before you leave.

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Common Viva Viagem card mistakes to avoid

Buying a single-use ticket instead: Some tourists buy expensive single-use tickets at metro machines rather than loading a Viva Viagem card. The single-use ticket surcharge adds up. The card takes 30 seconds more to buy the first time; every journey after is cheaper.

Not tapping correctly on buses: On some CARRIS bus routes, you need to tap when boarding and again when exiting. If you forget the exit tap, you may be charged a longer-distance fare. When in doubt, tap every time the bus has a reader near a door.

Assuming the card covers everything: The Viva Viagem standard load does NOT cover long-distance CP trains (to Porto, Coimbra, the Algarve). For those, buy a separate CP ticket at the station or online. It also does not cover Rede Expressos coaches.

Letting credit run very low: Keep at least €3.70 on the card (two journeys) as a buffer. The card will not let you through the turnstile on zero or insufficient credit, and loading at a busy metro machine during rush hour takes time.

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Multi-day and family cards

Individual Viva Viagem cards are non-transferable once activated — you cannot use one card for two people (unlike the Lisboa Card, which is also personal). Each family member or travelling companion needs their own card. Children under 4 travel free; children 4-12 qualify for reduced fares where applicable (ask at the staffed booth rather than the machine for child fare loading).

If travelling as a family, the Lisboa Card’s children’s pricing often makes it the better option: children’s cards (4-15 years) are €13/€20/€24.50 for 24/48/72 hours — less than the adult transport pass cost alone when combined with museum free entries.

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Getting refunds and dealing with card problems

If your Viva Viagem card is damaged or stops working, take it to a staffed metro booth. They can check the remaining balance and transfer it to a new card in most cases. Keep your purchase receipt if possible.

Lost card: there is no registration system for standard Viva Viagem cards, so lost credit cannot be recovered. Treat it like a reloadable cash card.

If a turnstile refuses your card, try a different turnstile — occasionally one reader malfunctions. If multiple turnstiles refuse, your credit may be insufficient or the card damaged. Go to the staffed booth.

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Where the Viva Viagem sits in the broader transport picture

The Viva Viagem is the foundation of Lisbon transport for any visitor staying more than a day. The broader transport ecosystem — getting around Lisbon, trains to Sintra and Cascais, ferries across the Tagus — all connect back to this card. Understanding it well on arrival day removes friction from every subsequent transport decision.

If you are still deciding between the Viva Viagem and the Lisboa Card for your specific itinerary, the Lisboa Card worth-it guide has a break-even analysis that covers several realistic scenarios, and the Lisboa Card calculator tool lets you input your specific planned activities.

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Specific routes and cost scenarios

To make the card’s value concrete, here is what various common Lisbon sightseeing days cost with zapping versus the 24h pass.

A typical Belém half-day followed by central Lisbon afternoon:

1. Metro from hotel (Baixa-Chiado) to Cais do Sodré: €1.85
2. Tram 15E, Cais do Sodré to Belém: €1.85
3. Tram 15E, Belém back toward Santos: €1.85
4. Walk from Santos to Chiado: free
5. Glória funicular up to Bairro Alto miradouro: €3.80
6. Metro from Restauradores back to hotel: €1.85

Total journeys: 5. Zapping cost: €11.20. 24h pass: €6.80. Saving with 24h pass: €4.40.

On this day, the 24h pass wins. And this is a relatively light transport day — if you add the ferry to Cacilhas for lunch and a return journey, you add another €3 to the zapping cost while the 24h pass covers it.

A primarily walking day in Alfama and Graça:

1. Metro to Martim Moniz area: €1.85
2. Walk all day through Alfama, Graça
3. Bus 737 back to Rossio: €1.85

Total journeys: 2. Zapping cost: €3.70. 24h pass: €6.80. Here, zapping is clearly cheaper.

The Sintra day (with Lisboa Card):

1. Metro to Rossio: €1.85 (with Viva Viagem)
2. Train Rossio to Sintra: €2.40 (with Viva Viagem, or free with Lisboa Card)
3. Bus 434 in Sintra: €6.90 (not covered by either card)
4. Train Sintra to Rossio: included in return ticket
5. Metro Rossio to hotel: €1.85

If you use the Lisboa Card, items 1 and 2 are free. Otherwise, the train return (€2.40 value) matters significantly.

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CARRIS real-time systems and the Viva Viagem

The Viva Viagem card connects to CARRIS’s real-time system, which means the bus arrival time displayed at stops corresponds to the actual vehicle position, not a theoretical timetable. This is useful for planning — the Carris Metropolitana app (free, iOS and Android) shows live bus ETAs at every stop.

When a bus route is significantly delayed, knowing you have 20 minutes rather than 5 means you can walk to the next stop (which might be faster) or take a different route entirely. For buses like 737 (Rossio to Alfama), 759 (Praça da Figueira to Belém), and 706 (Parque das Nações), this real-time information is the most practically useful feature.

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Seasonal Viva Viagem card considerations

Summer: The card works identically year-round, but summer adds context. Tram 15E to Belém is popular and can be crowded. Having your card ready at the door reader speeds boarding. In the heat, knowing your card is ready (not fumbling in a bag) matters more than it sounds when you are trying to board a crowded tram in 30°C heat.

Winter: Fewer journeys are made on average by tourists in winter (shorter days, less walking). The 24h pass may be less likely to pay off unless you are very active. Winter is a good time to use zapping rather than daily passes.

Night buses: Lisbon’s night bus network (running 01:00-06:00 when the metro is closed) is covered by the Viva Viagem card at the standard fare. Night buses do not accept the Lisboa Card after 01:00, only Viva Viagem zapping. Keep some credit for late nights.

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The broader transport ecosystem

The Viva Viagem card is one piece of Lisbon’s transport picture. For the full context:

• All transport modes overview: getting around Lisbon
• Day trips by train: trains to Sintra and Cascais
• Tagus ferry crossings: ferries and Tagus crossings
• Rideshare comparison: taxis, Uber, and Bolt
• Long-distance day trips: day trip transport guide

The Lisbon travel budget guide includes transport cost calculations across budget tiers.