Unsure about which card to buy: Viva Viagem or Lisboa Card? While both cards can be used to travel around Lisbon, they are actually two distinct types of cards.
A Viva Viagem is a transport card designed for occasional travellers and visitors. It’s a quick and easy way to pay for journeys on metro, bus, tram, funicular, ferry and train services in Lisbon. It can hold pay as you go credit through the Zapping option, one day tickets, or single tickets.
A Lisboa Card is a sightseeing pass that helps visitors see Lisbon’s attractions, saving them both time and money. It includes unlimited use of Lisbon’s public transport for the duration of the card (24, 48 or 72 hours). Lisboa Card holders also enjoy a range of special offers and discounts across the city, and even outside.
Here’s information to make sure you buy the right card for exploring Lisbon.
What are the pros and cons of buying a Viva Viagem vs a Lisboa Card?
A Viva Viagem card is a quick and easy way to pay for journeys on public transport in Lisbon. You can use a Viva Viagem card to get to attractions on public transport but not as a pass to actually visit attractions. For that, you will need a Lisboa Card, which also includes free public transport.
So, deciding which card to buy actually depends on your plans. If you want to visit a lot of monuments and museums each day, then you should definitely buy a Lisboa Card. But if you’re simply keen to explore the historic neighbourhoods and admire from the outside, then buy a Viva Viagem card to get around Lisbon easily on public transport.
Viva Viagem: A card costs only €0.50. For the types of tickets it can hold and fares, see our page on Viva Viagem Card.
Lisboa Card: A card costs from €21 for one day to €44 for three days. It includes 26 free museums, namely Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, and free public transport. It also offers discounts on a number of museums and activities. Find out more, including how to buy online, in our article about Lisboa Card.
Where can I purchase a Viva Viagem and a Lisboa Card?
You can buy a Viva Viagem card when you arrive in Lisbon from any automatic ticket machine or ticket office at metro, ferry and train stations. Unlike the Lisboa Card, you cannot buy a Viva Viagem card online.
You can buy a Lisboa Card online before you travel to Lisbon. This means that when you arrive in Lisbon you can get the card and start exploring the city. You can also buy a Lisboa Card at Tourist Offices when you arrive.
Can I get a Viva Viagem and a Lisboa Card at the airport?
Yes, you can buy both cards at Lisbon Airport.
You can buy a Viva Viagem card at the airport’s metro station.
You can buy a Lisboa Card at the Tourist Office desk (Ask Me Lisboa) at Lisbon Airport.
Do I need to buy cards for my children?
If your children are 4 years old or older, you will need to buy them a separate card. This is valid both for Viva Viagem and Lisboa Card; the latter has a special price for children aged 4 to 15 years old.
Can any of the cards be used outside Lisbon, say, in Sintra or Cascais?
Both Viva Viagem and Lisboa Card card are eligible for travel on public transport within the city and connecting the city to destinations in Greater Lisbon. This means that you can use both cards for travel on the trains to Sintra and Cascais.
Moreover, the Lisboa Card includes free entry to some attractions outside Lisbon, such as Tomar’s Convent of Christ, Mafra National Palace, as well discounts in a number of attractions in Sintra.
