Transport in Portugal: metro, trains, cars and taxis

How does transport work in Portugal?

Portugal is an elongated country: 560 km from north to south. The main cities - Lisbon and Porto - are connected by trains. The south (Algarve) is served by planes and buses. Inside cities - metro, trams, buses.

Public transport is convenient in large cities. In the suburbs and small towns, it’s more difficult without a car. Many people who move combine: metro on weekdays, car on weekends.

Two main operators: CP (Comboios de Portugal) - trains, Carris - Lisbon city transport. In Porto, metro and buses are combined under the system Andante.

Lisbon Metro: 4 lines and tram 28

The Lisbon metro operates from 6:30 to 1:00. Four lines: blue, yellow, green, red. Covers the center, airport (red line) and residential areas.

Single ticket - 1.65 euros. Monthly pass Navegante for everything (metro + bus + tram) - 42 euros. This is beneficial from the second week of daily travel.

Tram Route 28 - the calling card of Lisbon. But it is inconvenient for life: tourists crowd the carriages, the speed is low. Locals only use it for a short segment in Alfama. Carris buses cover areas where the metro does not reach.

Application: Viva Viagem or purchasing a Navegante card at Pingo Doce, Continente ticket offices and supermarkets.

Porto Metro: 6 lines to the airport

Porto is more compact than Lisbon, and the metro here is more extensive relative to the size of the city. Six lines (A, B, C, D, E, F) connect the center, suburbs and Francisco Sa Carneiro International Airport.

Zone tariff - Andante system. One zone (Z2) - 1.30 euros, two zones (Z3) - 1.60 euros. Airport - zone Z4, single trip 2.15 euros. A monthly pass for 2 zones is about 30 euros.

The Andante card is rechargeable at vending machines and points of sale. Important: the card must be purchased once (0.60 euros), then topped up.

STCP buses complement the metro. Between the suburbs there are minibuses (carreiras) operated by Transdev.

CP trains: Lisbon - Porto and other routes

Portuguese Railways CP (Comboios de Portugal) - the basis of intercity travel. Tickets can be purchased on the cp.pt website or at station ticket offices.

The main route is Lisbon (Santa Apolonia / Oriente) - Porto (Campanha / Sao Bento). Travel time depends on the type of train:

Buy in advance - discounts up to 40% for early booking. Alfa Pendular is comfortable: seats with power sockets, dining car.

Southern direction: Lisbon - Faro (Algarve) - about 3 hours, 20-35 euros. Suburban trains (Linha de Cascais, Linha de Sintra) run every 20-30 minutes, and the Navegante pass is valid for them.

Buses between cities: Flix Bus and Renex

If the train is busy or expensive, there are buses. Two main operators: Flix Bus and Renex. Both are cheaper than the train, but longer.

Lisbon - Porto by bus: 3.5-4 hours, 10-20 euros (Flix Bus). Lisbon - Faro: 3.5-4 hours, 15-25 euros. Tickets are available on operator websites or in the Flix Bus app.

Terminal in Lisbon - Sete Rios (next to Jardim Zoologico metro station). In Porto - Terminal Rodoviario de Guifoes.

For travel within the Algarve and smaller towns, local buses Eva Transportes and Rodonorte are convenient. The schedule is not always tight - check in advance.

Transport cost: cost table

Below is a detailed table of transport costs. Prices are valid for 2026.

Total: transport without a car costs 42-80 euros/month in Lisbon (pass + several Bolt trips). With a car, add 200-400 euros/month for fuel, parking and insurance.

Bolt and Uber in Portugal

Both services operate in all major cities. Bolt usually a little cheaper than Uber - the difference is 10-20%. There are enough drivers in Lisbon and Porto, you have to wait 3-7 minutes.

In Faro and the resort areas of the Algarve, Bolt and Uber are also available, but in the off-season there is less choice of cars. In small towns - only traditional taxis.

Traditional taxis (yellow-green in Lisbon, beige in Porto) are licensed and operate on a meter. Landing 3.25 euros, night rate +20%. Call by phone or via app Bolt Taxi.

For Lisbon airport, it is more convenient to use the metro (red line, 1.65 euros) or Uber for 12-18 euros. Official taxi from the airport - 15-25 euros depending on the area.

Cars in Portugal: do you need a car?

In Lisbon and Porto, a car is more of a burden on weekdays. Traffic jams in the center are serious, parking is expensive (1.50-3.00 euros/hour), the streets are narrow. Subway and Bolt do better.

Outside the city it's a different story. If you live in the suburbs, travel to nature or work in several locations, a car is necessary. It is difficult to explore the Algarve and the north of the country without a car.

Traffic Laws: right-hand traffic, as in Russia and the CIS. Speed ​​limit: 50 km/h in the city, 90 km/h on regular roads, 120 km/h on the highway.

Toll roads (motorways with the letter A) are equipped with a system Via Verde. This is an electronic transponder - you drive without stopping, the money is debited automatically. Without Via Verde - payment at the checkout or via the website viaverde.pt. Foreigners without a transponder can pay by card at the cash registers (Estrangeiro button).

Exchange of driver's licenses for those who have moved

CIS citizens with a residence permit in Portugal need to exchange their rights within 90 days from the moment of obtaining a residence permit.

Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh and Belarusian licenses are exchanged through an exam: theory (can be taken in English in a number of centers) and practice. Some countries have automatic exchange agreements - check with IMT (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes).

Procedure: contact IMT with a passport, residence permit, old license and health certificate. The exchange cost is about 70-90 euros. Duration - 2-4 weeks.

Before the exchange, you can drive on a foreign license with a notarized translation (if they are not in Latin).

Bicycles and scooters

Lisbon has hilly terrain. Bicycles are used here along the Tagus promenade and in flat areas (Belem, Oriente). In the center there are climbs of 10-15%, it’s difficult without an electric bike.

City bike sharing system GIRA. Subscription 2 euros/month, first 30 minutes free. E-bikes are available for an additional fee. Stations throughout the city.

Porto is flatter in the western part - near the river and in Matosinhos. There are more bike paths than in Lisbon. Electric scooters: Lime, Bird - work in both cities, about 0.20 euros/min.

In small towns and resort areas of the Algarve, the bicycle is a viable means of transport. Rent 10-15 euros/day.

Airports: Lisbon, Porto and Faro

Portugal has three main international airports.

Lisbon Airport (LIS) - Humberto Delgado. Accepts flights from 150 cities around the world. The red line metro will take you to the center for 1.65 euros and 20 minutes. Uber/Bolt - 12-18 euros to the center. Taxi - 15-25 euros.

Porto Airport (OPO) - Francisco Sa Carneiro. Connected to the center by metro line E. Trip to the center - 2.15 euros, 25-30 minutes. There are no direct flights to Moscow since 2022 - they fly through Istanbul, Dubai or other hubs.

Faro Airport (FAO) - the main gate of the Algarve. Accepts charters and low-cost airlines from Europe. Taxi to Faro - 15-20 euros, to Albufeira - 35-50 euros. There is no direct metro - Eva bus or taxi.

Transport infrastructure: a assessment

Portuguese transport is good, but uneven. Lisbon and Porto are investing in development. Small towns and rural areas are lagging behind.

What works well: metro in both cities, CP trains on main routes, Bolt and Uber. Google Maps and Maps.me provide routes correctly.

What irritates those who have moved: bus delays (10-20 minutes is the norm), rare schedules at night after 23:00, overcrowded metro during rush hour. Tram 28 is beautiful, but slow and crowded with tourists during the season.

According to Numbeo, the transport inefficiency index in Lisbon is the European average. Moscow, by comparison, is rated higher in terms of metro density, but Lisbon wins in compactness.

Bottom line: for city life - quite comfortable. For trips outside the city and around the country, it is more convenient to have a car or rent one.

Comparison with Russia and other countries

Moscow is better in terms of metro coverage (270 stations versus 56 in Lisbon) and train frequency. But Lisbon is more compact, and the metro covers the main points.

Transport prices in Portugal are lower than in Germany, France or the Netherlands. A monthly pass in Berlin is 86 euros (Deutschlandticket), in Lisbon - 42 euros. Train Munich-Berlin - 40-100 euros, Lisbon-Porto - 15-35 euros.

Compared to Spain - approximately parity. The Madrid metro is denser, but also more expensive (56 euros per month). Barcelona is comparable to Lisbon.

Conclusion for newcomers: you get used to the transport of Portugal in 2-3 weeks. The main adaptation is to switch to buses instead of the usual metro for some routes.

The best living conditions: where to live

The choice of city directly affects transport. Here's a quick comparison:

Lisbon and Porto are the best choice for those who do not want to depend on a car. Algarve - for those who appreciate the climate and are ready to drive a car.

Read more about the conditions for obtaining a residence permit on the page Portugal residence permit through investment.

Practical advice for those who have moved

First, buy a Navegante (Lisbon) or Andante (Porto) card on the first day. This saves time and money.

Second, install the applications: Bolt (Taxi), CP (trains), Google Maps (real time routes), Moovit (public transport). Moovit shows bus schedules more accurately than Google.

Third - Via Verde for the car. If you plan to drive on the highways, apply for a Via Verde transponder right away. Without it, there are no ticket offices on some of the routes - the bill will come later and may be with a surcharge.

Fourth - parking in the center of Lisbon and Porto. Parking meters (Emel in Lisbon) - 1.50-3.00 euros/hour. Parking - 15-25 euros/day. It is cheaper to park at the outermost metro stations and go to the center by subway.