Is The Lisboa Card Worth it? My Money-Saving 3-day Itinerary for using the Lisbon Card

If you are only spending a few days in Lisbon, Portugal and want to see as many things as possible, you may want to get the Lisboa Card. The Lisbon tourist card can help you save time and money, get free admission to the best attractions in Lisbon and surrounding areas, and enjoy unlimited public transportation.

In this post, I’ll show you exactly why I think the Lisbon Card is worth it for anyone who wants to see the best attractions in Lisbon in a few days. And I’ll give you three detailed itineraries for maximizing your Lisbon travel card so you can save a ton of money.

If you are considering the 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour Lisboa Card, then this post is for you.

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What you need to know before getting the Lisbon city pass

Before getting the Lisbon city pass, check out the attractions in the detailed Lisbon city pass guide. Only get the Lisbon tourist card if you want to make the most out of your trip to Lisbon and see all the best sights in a short period of time.

Here are a few highlights of the Lisboa Card that convinced me to buy the card:

• Many tourist attractions in the Lisbon area are in the centre of the city, which makes it easy to see most of them on the same day.
• The Lisbon tourist card covers admission fees for many museums in Belém.
• The all-inclusive Lisboa Card covers all types of transportation including:
  • All Carris transportation in Lisbon such as trams, buses, lifts, and elevator lines
  • Comboios de Portugal (CP) train lines: Sintra, Cascais, Vila Franca de Xira (to Azambuja)
  • Fertagus trains to Setubal via Ponte 25 Abril bridge from Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos, Sete-Rios and Campolide

Where to buy a Lisboa Card

There are three types of Lisbon Card: 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour. Here is the cost for each:

• €20 for a 24-hour Lisboa Card
• €34 for a 48-hour Lisboa Card
• €42 for a 72-hour Lisboa Card

The easiest way to buy a Lisbon city pass is to purchase online. A confirmation code will be sent to your email where you need it to claim your actual card.

You can redeem your Lisbon Card at the arrival hall of Lisboa Airport or the tourist office on the ground floor inside Terreiro do Paço Station (see map). Take a look at the photo about – this is the front entrance of the tourist office. Walk inside and the counter is in the center of the office.

If you change your mind, you can cancel your purchase within 24 hours. And after your purchase, you have up to 1 year to use the card.

Is the Lisboa Card worth it?

This is the big question: is the Lisboa Card worth it? And if so, should you buy a 24-hour Lisboa Card? or a 48-hour? or go all-out and buy the 72-hour tourist card?

Initially, I was going to get the 24-hour pass only because I wanted to visit the museums in Belém. But then I realized that I can get the 48-hour pass for a little more and see other attractions in Lisbon that I wouldn’t normally see. And for a few euros more, I can get the 72-hour pass and take a day trip to Setúbal!

So I studied the detailed Lisbon Card guide and created the best 3-day itinerary for using the Lisbon Card. I wanted to maximize my savings, see all the best attractions, try all types of transportation and see different parts of the city.

Keep reading and I’ll show you exactly what my 3-day itinerary in Lisbon looks like.

How to use the Lisbon city pass

When you are ready to use your Lisbon tourist card, write the date and time when you first start using your Lisbon travel card and sign the back of the card.

There is a standalone kiosk for some attractions to scan your Lisbon Card and bypass the regular admission line. All you have to do is follow the instructions on the screen and answer a simple question (i.e. which country are you from).

And if there isn’t a kiosk, you can simply present your card at the ticket counter and redeem your free admission ticket.

Lisbon tourist card itineraries for 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour

Below is my Lisboa Card 3-day itinerary. You don’t have to buy the 72-hour pass to try my itinerary. You can pick and choose the itinerary if you buy the 24-hour pass or 48-hour pass. I have all the suggestions below.

And at the end of each itinerary, I included the calculation of all the money you’ll save by using the Lisbon Card. That’s how I was convinced to get the Lisbon Card!

Lisbon travel pass: 24-hour Itinerary – Lisbon

No matter which Lisboa Card you purchase, you should follow this itinerary to see the best sights in Lisbon in 1 day.

Ideally, follow this itinerary on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Most tourist places in Lisbon are closed on either Mondays or Tuesdays, and weekends can be quite busy.

And if you are purchasing the 72-hour Lisbon Card, follow this itinerary on a Wednesday so you can see other attractions with your Lisbon travel card on Thursday and Friday.

Below is my detailed itinerary in Lisbon for using the Lisboa Card. I included all the transportation information, such as where to get on the bus and disembark. And I included an interactive map and a photo gallery of all the places you will visit.

1. Take the subway from anywhere in Lisbon to Santa Apolonia Train Station.
2. Hop on bus 759 at the bus stop in front of Santa Apolonia.
3. Disembark bus 759 on Ponte Xabregas and walk 2 minutes to the museum.
4. Spend about 1 hour at Museu Nacional do Azulejo (hours: 10 am -6 pm, closed Mondays).
5. Take bus 759 in front of the museum and go back to Santa Apolonia.
6. Disembark bus 759 at Santa Apolonia.
7. Walk to National Pantheon before noon, so you have an hour before they close for lunch (hours: 10 am – 1 pm, 2 pm – 5 pm).
8. Walk to Arco da Rua Augusta and spend about 30 minutes at the viewing platform.
9. Walk to Lisboa Story Centre and see exhibitions and spend about 45 minutes at the exhibit.
10. The Central Interpretativo da História do Bacalhau is next door. Spend about 30 minutes.
11. Walk over to Rua da Conceição and take Tram 28.
12. Disembark Tram 28 on Largo Calhariz near the Elevador da Bica.
13. Take the Elevador da Bica down.
14. Arrive at the base of the Elevador da Bica on Rua de São Paulo.
15. Near the base of the Elevador da Bica, take bus 714 on Rua do São Paulo.
16. Disembark bus 714 on Rua Janelas Verdes in front of the museum.
17. Spend about 1 hour at Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (hours: 10 am – 6 pm).
18. If you still have the energy, walk 10 minutes to Santos Train Station and catch the next train to Cascais to watch the sunset and have dinner.
19. At the end of the day, take the train from Cascais Train Station to Cais do Sodré Train Station in Lisbon.
20. If you need to take additional transportation back to your hotel, the bus/tram/train is free for the rest of the day.

Savings for using a Lisbon Card

If you buy the 24-hour Lisbon Card for €20, you will save €27.3! That’s a lot of savings for a 1-day all-inclusive card travel card!

And if you buy the 48-hour Lisbon Card for €34, you will save €13.30! And you still have another day to use the Lisbon city card.

Finally, if you buy the 72-hour Lisbon Card for €42, you will save €5.30! Plus you still have 2 more days to enjoy all the free and fun activities around Lisbon!!

Lisbon travel pass: 48-hour Itinerary – Belém

You can enjoy the 24-hour Lisbon pass and see all the best museums in Belém and still save a bit of money.

And if you purchase the 48-hour Lisbon pass, you should follow the itineraries for Lisbon on the first day and Belém on the second day.

Ideally, follow this itinerary on a Thursday if you have the 48-hour pass or 72-hour pass. For the 3-day pass, you can use it on a Friday. More on that later.

Below is my detailed itinerary in Belém for using the Lisboa Card. I included all the transportation information, such as where to get on the bus and disembark. And I included an interactive map and a photo gallery of all the places you will visit to get a glimpse of what you will see in Belém.

And for the Belém itinerary, I only included the sights in the Lisboa Card attraction list. If you have more time in Belém in between attractions, check out some non-Lisbon Card attractions like Pastéis de Belém, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Popular Art Museum and Centro Cultural de Belém.

1. Take bus 729 or tram 15E from Lisbon and disembark in front of the monastery.
2. Visit Jerónimos Monastery first thing in the morning and spend about 1 hour at the monastery (hours: 10 am – 5 pm, closed Mondays)
3. Walk over to Museo Nacional de Arquelogia, which is next door and spend about 30 minutes at the museum (hours: 10 am – 6 pm, closed Mondays)
4. Walk to Museu Coleção Berardo and spend about 1.5 hour at the museum (hours: 10 am – 7 pm)
5. Walk over to Torre de Belêm and spend 1 hour at the tower (hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm)
6. Walk over to National Coach Museum and spend about 30 minutes at the museum (hours 10 am – 6 pm)
7. Walk over to MAAT and spend 1 hour at the museum (hours: 11 am – 7 pm, closed Tuesdays)
8. Take the train from Belém Station to Cais do Sodré Train Station in Lisbon.
9. If you need additional transportation back to your hotel, the bus/tram/train is free for the rest of the day.

Savings for using a Lisbon Card

If you buy the 24-hour Lisbon Card for €20, you will save €18.85! Not bad for spending the entire day in Belém, seeing all the Lisbon Card attractions and other highlights in the area.

If you buy the 48-hour Lisbon Card for €34, you will save €52.15 when you follow my Lisbon and Belém itineraries. Wow! The saving is enough to buy another 72-hour pass!

Moreover, if you buy the 72-hour Lisbon Card for €42, you will save €44.15! And you still have another day with the all-inclusive Lisbon travel pass!

Lisbon travel pass: 72-hour Itinerary – Setúbal

You should only follow my Setúbal itinerary if you purchase the 48-hour or 72-hour Lisbon travel pass because it is not possible to save that much money with a 24-hour pass.

If you decide you only want a 48-hour pass, follow either the Lisbon itinerary or Belém itinerary on the first day and visit Setúabl on the second day.

And if you are going all out for the Lisbon 3 day travel pass, start with the Lisbon itinerary on Wednesday, see Belém museums on Thursday, and go on a day trip to Setúbal on Friday.

Below is my detailed itinerary in Setúbal for using the Lisboa Card. I included all the transportation information, an interactive map and a photo gallery of all the places you’ll see when you spend the day in Setúbal.

And for the Setúbal itinerary, I only included the sights in the Lisboa Card attraction list. You will have extra time in Setúbal so check out some non-Lisbon Card attractions like Forte de São Filipe, Mercado do Livramento, Portal Historico de Setúbal and many more.

1. Take the subway to Jardim Zoológico
2. Walk over to Sete-Rios Station and take the Fertagus train to Setúbal (validate your Lisbon Card before getting on the train)
3. Arrive at Setúbal Station.
4. Walk to Museu do Trabalho Michel Giacometti and see the exhibits for 45 minutes (hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm, closed Mondays and Sundays)
5. Walk over to the Galeria Municipal Setúbal and spend 30 minutes at the small museum (hours: 11 am – 2 pm and 3 – 6 pm, closed Mondays)
6. Walk to Convento de Jesus and see the church.
7. Then walk over next door to the Museu de Setúbal and spend about an hour at the museum (hours: 10 am – 6 pm, closed Mondays)
8. The Centro Interpretativo do Roaz do Estuário do Sado – Dolphins Centre (CIRES) is in the same building as Casa da Baia de Setúbal. Walk over to the building and learn about the marine animal and its habitat (hours: 9:30 am – 8 pm)
9. When you are ready to return to Lisbon, walk back to Setúbal Station and take the next Fertagus Train.
10. Arrive at Sete-Rios Station in Lisbon.
11. Catch the next subway at Jardim Zoológico and return home.
12. If you need additional transportation back to your hotel, the bus/tram/train is free for the rest of the day.

Savings for using a Lisbon Card

If you buy the 24-hour Lisbon Card for €20, I’m afraid you won’t get your money’s worth by going to Setúbal with the Lisboa Card. This itinerary is ideal for the 48-hour pass and the 72-hour pass.

If you purchase the 48-hour Lisbon Card for €34 and follow either the Lisbon or Belém itinerary and the Setúbal itinerary, you can save between €22 to €31.

And finally, if you bought the 72-hour Lisbon Card for €42, you will save a whopping €62.25! All the attractions, activities and transportation in the three itineraries come up to €104.25!

Conclusion: Is the Lisboa Card worth it?

YES, the Lisboa Card is worth it! If you maximize the card’s potential, it is completely worth it!

Initially, I was going to get a 24-hour pass and see all the museums in Belém. Then I did a deep dive and studied the Lisboa Card Guide in detail and did the math. That’s how I convinced myself to get a 72-hour Lisboa Card and see everything I want to see in Lisbon, Belém and Setúbal.

Hopefully, this post can help you decide if getting the Lisbon city card is right for you. And if it is, I have already created these three itineraries for you to follow.

Let me know in the comments if you like the itineraries or if you have any suggestions to make them better.

Thank you for reading my Lisboa card post

You might also like these other posts on solo travel in Portugal:

• Portugal solo travel itinerary: 2 weeks in Portugal by train

Lisbon region posts

• Lisbon solo travel guide for first-timers
• Best day trips from Lisbon Portugal

Northern Portugal posts

• 2 days in Porto: things to do alone in Porto
• 17 best Porto food: what and where to eat in Porto
• 7 excellent day trips from Porto
• Day trip to Guimarães from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• Day trip from Porto to Espinho: 1-day itinerary

Central Portugal posts

• Aveiro day trip from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• How to spend one day in Coimbra Portugal

Algarve posts

• Algarve solo travel guide: 7 best places
• 20 best things to do in Albufeira for solo travellers
• Loule itinerary: best things to do in one day
• Vilamoura and Quarteira: 1-day itinerary

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