Lisbon Card Review: Is It Worth It? (The Brutal Math)

Planning a Lisbon trip and wondering if the city’s tourist pass will save you money — or quietly drain it? This Lisbon Card review breaks down the real numbers, the closures no one warns you about and exactly who should (and shouldn’t) buy it.

What Is the Lisbon Card?

The Lisbon Card is an all-in-one tourist pass that bundles unlimited public transport with free or discounted entry to over 80 attractions across Lisbon and the surrounding region.

It comes in three durations: 24 hours (€31 / ~$34), 48 hours (€51 / ~$56) and 72 hours (€62 / ~$68). Children aged 4–15 pay significantly less.

• Pro Tip: The clock starts the moment you first scan the card — not when you buy it. A 24-hour card activated at 2:00 PM expires at 1:59 PM the following day.

How Much Does the Lisbon Card Cost in USD?

At current exchange rates, expect to pay roughly $34 for 24 hours, $56 for 48 hours and $68 for 72 hours for an adult card. Child cards (ages 4–15) run approximately $23, $31 and $38 respectively.

These prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuation, so treat USD figures as estimates.

Is the Lisbon Card Worth It?

The Lisbon Card is worth it only if you visit three or more paid attractions per day and rely heavily on public transport. For a relaxed, café-heavy trip with one or two museum stops, it almost certainly is not.

Here is the honest math for a 24-hour pass:

The 24-hour card holds up — but only if you keep moving.

The 72-Hour Card: A Hidden Trap

The 72-hour card sounds like the best deal. It isn’t, for most travelers.

Your daily break-even drops to just €20.67 ($23) — manageable in Lisbon, but most people use one of those three days for a Sintra excursion. The card covers the train to Sintra (~€5.00 value) but not the entry fees to Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira. You get a 10–15% discount on those tickets at best.

A 10% discount on a €20 ticket saves you €2. That is nowhere near the €20.67 you need to break even that day.

• Pro Tip: For a Sintra day, skip the Lisbon Card entirely. Use the Navegante “Zapping” card for the train (~€2.00) and buy skip-the-line tickets for Pena Palace online in advance.

The Ghost Attraction Problem

Here is something most Lisbon Card guides won’t tell you: the Belém Tower (Torre de Belém) is closed for restoration. It has historically been one of the card’s biggest value drivers at around €8.50–€10.00 in saved entry. That value is currently off the table.

The Santa Justa Lift’s upper viewing platform also faces intermittent closures, though the elevator ride itself remains included.

The fix: Replace the Belém Tower in your itinerary with the Ajuda National Palace — fully included, rarely crowded and genuinely impressive.

Monday Closures: The Itinerary Killer

Activating your Lisbon Card on a Monday morning is one of the costliest mistakes you can make. A large chunk of the card’s top attractions are closed on Mondays:

• Jerónimos Monastery

• National Tile Museum

• National Coach Museum

• National Museum of Ancient Art

What’s Open on Mondays:

• Castelo de São Jorge (open 7 days a week, free with card — value ~€15)

• Ajuda National Palace (closed Thursdays, open Mondays)

• Sintra Myths & Legends Centre (open daily)

• Oceanário de Lisboa (discount only, open daily)

• Pro Tip: If you are activating on a Monday, build your day around St. George’s Castle in the morning, a Cascais train trip in the afternoon (free with the card) and the Santa Justa Lift ride in the evening. You will scrape break-even, but you will make it.

The Terminal 2 Problem (Ryanair, Wizz Air, EasyJet Travelers)

If you are flying into Lisbon on a low-cost carrier, you will land at Terminal 2 — which has no Lisbon Card collection desk.

Here is what to do:

1. After passport control, take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 1 (runs every 10–12 minutes, about 3–5 minutes riding time).

2. Head to the “Ask Me Lisboa” desk in the Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall.

3. If the queue there exceeds 45 minutes, skip it — pay €1.80 for a metro ticket and collect the card at the Rossio or Terreiro do Paço kiosks, where lines move faster.

Don’t Activate the Card for the Airport Transfer

This is a classic first-day mistake. Activating your card at the airport metro gate wastes your “clock start” on a €1.80 trip.

Pay for the airport transfer out of pocket. Activate the card the next morning at 9:00 AM when you walk into your first museum. You will gain several extra prime daylight hours.

Top 5 Included Attractions: The Verdict

1. Jerónimos Monastery

The Manueline architecture here — all twisted stone columns and maritime motifs — is unlike anything else in the city. Budget at least 90 minutes.

• Location: Praça do Império, Belém

• Cost: Free with card (~€12–€19 a la carte)

• Best For: Architecture enthusiasts, first-time Lisbon visitors

The Verdict: The Lisbon Card functions as a pre-paid ticket and bypasses the ticket-purchase queue, which can be very long. It does not skip the security or entry-access queue. In peak summer months, cardholders can still wait 30–45 minutes to get inside.

• Pro Tip: Arrive at 9:15 AM (15 minutes before opening) or after 4:00 PM to keep queues manageable.

2. Castelo de São Jorge (St. George’s Castle)

Perched above the Alfama district, the castle gives you the best elevated views of Lisbon’s terracotta rooftops and the Tagus River. The “skip the line” benefit here is genuinely useful — ticket queues are long and the card’s priority access works well.

• Location: Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo, Alfama

• Cost: Free with card (~€15 a la carte)

• Best For: Views, history buffs, families

The Verdict: Strong value at ~€15 saved and one of the few top-tier sites open seven days a week. The steep climb can be avoided by taking Bus 737, which is free with the card.

3. National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches)

One of the most unusual museums in Europe: room after room of elaborately gilded royal carriages dating back centuries. The collection is split across two buildings — both are included.

• Location: Av. da Índia 136, Belém

• Cost: Free with card (~€8–€10 a la carte)

• Best For: Couples, history and art lovers

The Verdict: Essential stop for a Belém day. Combine it with the Jerónimos Monastery next door. The new modern building houses the showiest pieces; don’t skip it thinking you’ve seen everything in the old riding arena.

4. National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo)

Housed in a former convent with its own ornate chapel, this museum traces the 500-year history of the azulejo tile — Portugal’s most recognizable art form. It is located away from the city center, making the free bus transport especially useful here.

• Location: R. Me. Deus 4, Xabregas

• Cost: Free with card (~€8 a la carte)

• Best For: Art lovers, design enthusiasts

The Verdict: Closed Mondays. If your schedule allows, this is a must. The 75-foot (23 m) panoramic tilework of pre-earthquake Lisbon is alone worth the trip.

5. Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa)

A 148-foot (45 m) wrought-iron elevator designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel that connects the Baixa district to the Chiado neighborhood above. The ride takes under two minutes.

• Location: R. de Santa Justa, Baixa

• Cost: Ride included with card (~€5.30 a la carte)

• Best For: Anyone who wants the aerial view without the hike

The Verdict: The queue can hit one hour or more in peak season. The viewing platform at the top carries a separate fee (~€1.50) that is not always included with the card. The ride itself is the inclusion — useful, but not transformative.

• Pro Tip: Ride early in the morning or just before closing to skip the worst queues.

What Transport Does the Lisbon Card Cover?

The card works as an unlimited “Navegante” pass for its entire duration. That includes:

• Metro: All four lines (Blue, Yellow, Green, Red).

• Trams: Including Tram 28E (vintage, through Alfama) and Tram 15E (to Belém).

• Funiculars: Bica, Glória and Lavra — each worth ~€3.80 a trip, so three rides alone add up fast.

• Buses: Full Carris network.

• CP Urban Trains: Sintra Line, Cascais Line and Azambuja Line.

• Fertagus: Train across the 25 de Abril Bridge toward Setúbal (useful for visiting Cristo Rei).

Lisbon Card vs. Navegante Zapping: Which Is Better?

The Navegante Occasional card (a reloadable white paper card costing €0.50) loaded with “Zapping” credit is the smarter choice for light travelers.

Simple rule: Visiting fewer than two paid museums in a day? Use Zapping.

Should You Buy the Lisbon Card Online or in Person?

Buying online generates a voucher that must be exchanged for a physical card. There is no digital wallet version. Since airport exchange queues can be long and unpredictable, buying online does not always save time unless a dedicated voucher-only line is open (which is inconsistent).

Buying in person at the Rossio or Cais do Sodré tourist offices is often faster. You can purchase up to 28 days in advance — the clock only starts on the first scan.

Watch Out: The Magnetic Strip Problem

The Lisbon Card uses a magnetic strip for metro and train gates, not a modern contactless chip. That strip demagnetizes easily if stored next to a phone or a bag with a magnetic clasp.

If your card stops working at a metro gate, find a station agent immediately — they can validate manually. At museums, staff can typically scan the barcode instead, so entry is rarely denied.

Store the card in a separate pocket or sleeve, away from your phone.

The “Monday-Proof” 24-Hour Itinerary

Stuck with a Monday activation? Here is how to make it work:

1. 9:00 AM: Activate at Castelo de São Jorge. Explore the ramparts (~€15 value).

2. 11:30 AM: Walk down through Alfama. Visit the Lisbon Story Centre in Praça do Comércio (free with card, ~€7 value).

3. 1:00 PM: Lunch in Baixa.

4. 2:30 PM: Train from Cais do Sodré to Cascais (free with card, ~€5 value).

5. 5:00 PM: Return to Lisbon.

6. 7:00 PM: Santa Justa Lift ride (~€5.30 value).

Total value recovered: ~€30+ transport costs — break-even territory.

The “Heavy Hitter” 48-Hour Itinerary

Day 1 — Belém

• 9:30 AM: Jerónimos Monastery

• 11:30 AM: National Coach Museum

• 2:30 PM: Ajuda National Palace

• 4:30 PM: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience (free with card)

• Evening: Tram 15E back to the center

Day 2 — East & Hills

• 9:30 AM: National Tile Museum

• 11:30 AM: National Pantheon

• 3:00 PM: Castelo de São Jorge

• 5:00 PM: Glória and Bica funiculars

Pack Your Bags — But Know Before You Go

The Lisbon Card is a powerful tool for a specific kind of traveler: energetic, museum-hungry and willing to plan around Monday closures and the Belém Tower’s current downtime. For those visitors, it can save $15–$20 on a single day and considerably more over 48 hours.

For everyone else — the beach-day crowd, the slow walkers, the coffee-shop lingerers — the Navegante Zapping card is cheaper, simpler and just as effective for getting around.

So, which traveler are you: the sprinter or the stroller?