Lisbon’s Metro Hours & Frequency: Plan Your Journey Like a Local

Lisbon’s public transport is genuinely good — but only if you understand how it works before you arrive. In 2026, the city is busier than ever, and tourist pressure on key lines like the Green Line through Baixa-Chiado and the Yellow Line toward the airport has made timing your journeys more important than before. The single biggest mistake visitors make is showing up at a Metro station at midnight expecting a train that left an hour ago, or paying three times the right fare because they bought a ticket from the wrong place. This guide fixes that.

Metro Operating Hours: When the First and Last Trains Run

Metro Lisboa runs daily from 06:30 to 01:00, seven days a week including public holidays. There are no exceptions for Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or major national holidays — the system stays open across all four lines (Blue, Yellow, Green, Red) on the same schedule.

The 01:00 cutoff refers to the last trains departing from terminal stations. If your starting station is in the middle of a line, the last train through that stop will pass earlier — sometimes as much as 10 to 15 minutes before 01:00. If you are heading home after a late dinner in Alfama or a night out in Bairro Alto, budget in that buffer. Missing the last Metro means switching to a Bolt or Uber, which surge-price after midnight on weekends.

There is no night Metro service in Lisbon. Unlike some European capitals, the system does not run through the night on any line. Night buses (operated by Carris, with an “N” prefix) cover some routes, but frequency is low and routes are limited compared to the Metro.

Frequency by Time of Day: What to Expect on the Platform

Knowing the schedule in broad terms saves you from standing on a platform guessing. Here is how Metro Lisboa runs in 2026:

• Weekday peak hours (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00): Trains every 6–8 minutes. Platforms at Oriente, Alameda, and Marquês de Pombal get genuinely crowded during these windows.
• Weekday off-peak: Trains every 8–12 minutes. This covers mid-morning, early afternoon, and post-evening rush.
• Weekends and public holidays: Trains every 10–15 minutes throughout the day. Do not expect rush-hour frequency on a Saturday afternoon, even at busy stations.

For practical planning: if you are heading to the airport (Red Line, Aeroporto station) for an early flight, the Metro is running from 06:30. A 07:00 departure from central Lisbon is comfortable. For a 06:00 flight check-in, you will need a taxi or ride-hail — the Metro will not get you there in time.

The Viva Viagem Card: How to Get It, Load It, and Use It

The Viva Viagem card is the backbone of Lisbon public transport. It covers the Metro, Carris buses, trams, funiculars, ferries across the Tagus, and CP urban trains to Sintra and Cascais. You need one. Trying to navigate the city without it costs significantly more per journey.

Here is how to get started:

1. Buy the card: Available at any Metro station ticket machine, at ticket offices inside stations, at Payshop agents (common in tabacarias and convenience shops), and at some post offices. The card costs €0.50 one-time — it is reusable and does not expire if kept active.
2. Choose your load type: Ticket machines are multilingual and straightforward. You have two main options: “Zapping” (load a cash credit balance and pay per journey) or a specific pass (24-hour, 72-hour, etc.). For most visitors, Zapping is the most flexible starting point.
3. Validate every time: Tap the card flat on the yellow reader at the Metro gate before entering. For CP urban trains (Sintra, Cascais lines), you also tap out when exiting. For the Metro alone, you only tap in — no exit validation required.

The card is not linked to your name or identity, so keep it safe. If you lose it, the remaining credit is gone.

Fares and Passes in 2026: What Everything Actually Costs

Prices below reflect 2026 figures, adjusted slightly upward from 2024 levels following a standard inflationary revision. All prices are in EUR.

• Viva Viagem card (physical card): €0.50
• Single Metro journey (Zapping): €1.65 — this same fare covers Carris buses, trams, and funiculars
• 24-hour Metro + Carris pass: €6.80 — unlimited journeys on Metro and all Carris services for 24 hours from first validation
• 24-hour Metro + Carris + CP Sintra/Cascais lines pass: €10.80 — adds the urban train lines out to Sintra and Cascais
• Tagus ferry (Zapping, e.g., Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas): approximately €1.45–€1.55
• CP urban train single (Zapping, e.g., Lisbon to Sintra): approximately €2.00–€2.50 depending on zones crossed

Budget tier: If you are doing 3–4 Metro journeys per day, Zapping credit is the most cost-effective. Load €10–15 and work through it.
Mid-range tier: If you plan to move around the city constantly across one full day — Metro, buses, tram — the €6.80 24-hour pass pays off after about four journeys.
Comfortable tier: Staying near Sintra or Cascais and commuting into central Lisbon daily? The €10.80 extended pass covers everything and removes all mental arithmetic from your day.

Carris Buses and Tram 28: Using the Same Card, Avoiding the Expensive Mistake

The same Viva Viagem card loaded with Zapping credit works across all Carris services — buses, trams, and funiculars. A single journey costs €1.65 whether you are on the Metro or on the back of Tram 28 grinding up through Mouraria.

The mistake that costs visitors real money: buying a ticket directly from the driver or on board. An on-board single ticket on a Carris tram or bus costs €3.10 — almost double the Zapping fare. There is no discount for the tourist experience of fumbling for change in a crowded tram. Load your Viva Viagem card before you board.

On Tram 28 specifically: the route runs through Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, and Estrela — genuinely beautiful neighbourhoods, and the tram is old enough that you can feel every cobblestone through the wooden seats. But in summer 2026, it is packed with tourists at most hours. If you are using it as a sightseeing vehicle rather than transport, go before 09:00 or after 20:00. If you need to actually get somewhere quickly, the 28 is not your fastest option.

Ferries Across the Tagus: What They Connect and How to Board

Transtejo and Soflusa operate the Tagus ferry services, and the Viva Viagem card works here too. The most useful route for visitors is Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, a crossing that takes about 10 minutes and costs around €1.45–€1.55 in Zapping credit. The Cacilhas side has excellent seafood restaurants, and on a clear day the view back toward Lisbon from the water is one of those moments that makes the whole trip click into place — the white facades of the Alfama hillside stacked above the river, the Ponte 25 de Abril rust-red in the distance.

Other routes include Terreiro do Paço to Barreiro (for connections toward the Alentejo coast) and Belém to the south bank. Validate your card at the turnstiles before boarding — the process is identical to the Metro. Check timetables at www.transtejo.pt before heading to the pier, as frequency varies significantly by route and time of day.

CP Urban Trains: Getting Out to Sintra and Cascais

CP’s urban lines out of Lisbon are separate from the Metro but use the same Viva Viagem card. Two routes matter most to visitors:

• Rossio or Oriente to Sintra: Around 40 minutes, roughly every 20–30 minutes depending on the time of day. A single journey costs approximately €2.25 in Zapping credit depending on zones.
• Cais do Sodré to Cascais: Around 40 minutes along the coast, with trains running frequently. Similar Zapping cost to Sintra.

Unlike the Metro, CP urban trains require you to tap both in and out — entry and exit validation. Missing the exit tap can flag your card and cause issues on the next journey. The machines at CP urban stations are clearly marked; follow the same yellow reader process as the Metro.

Book the Alfa Pendular to Porto (€43–€45 in 2nd class, 2 hours 49 minutes from Oriente to Campanhã) or the Intercidades to Faro (€30–€32, 3.5 to 4 hours) via www.cp.pt or the CP app. These longer routes require seat reservations and should be booked in advance, especially in July and August when trains sell out days ahead.

Common Mistakes That Cost You Time and Money

These are the errors that come up repeatedly from visitors who did not know what they did not know:

• Arriving at the Metro after 01:00: The system does not run 24 hours. Plan your late nights accordingly or budget for a ride-hail.
• Buying a ticket on board Tram 28: €3.10 instead of €1.65. Load Zapping before you board.
• Not tapping out on CP urban trains: Required on Sintra and Cascais lines. Not required on the Metro. Easy to confuse if you switch between the two in one day.
• Assuming weekend Metro frequency matches weekdays: It does not. A 10–15 minute wait on a Saturday is normal. Build it into your timing.
• Not downloading the Metro Lisboa app before losing data: Portugal’s urban connectivity is strong, but having the app loaded before you head underground saves frustration when you want to check a platform departure time.
• Forgetting to account for the last station cutoff: The 01:00 closing time is for terminal departures. Intermediate stations lose service earlier. Check the specific station, not just the general closing time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the Lisbon Metro close?

Metro Lisboa operates until 01:00 daily, including weekends and public holidays. The last trains depart terminal stations at 01:00, so intermediate stops will see the final train pass slightly earlier. There is no overnight service on any line. Plan late-night returns accordingly and consider ride-hailing after midnight.

How often do Metro trains run in Lisbon?

During weekday peak hours (07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00), trains run every 6–8 minutes. Off-peak on weekdays it is every 8–12 minutes. On weekends and public holidays, expect trains every 10–15 minutes. Frequency does not increase on busy tourist days — the schedule is fixed by time, not demand.

Do I need a Viva Viagem card or can I pay cash on the Metro?

You cannot pay cash at Metro gates. You need a Viva Viagem card, which costs €0.50 at any station ticket machine. Load it with Zapping credit (cash balance) or a day pass. On Carris trams and buses you can pay the driver, but it costs €3.10 versus €1.65 with the card — a significant difference over multiple journeys.

Is the Viva Viagem card valid on buses, trams, and ferries too?

Yes. The Viva Viagem card loaded with Zapping credit works on Metro Lisboa, all Carris buses, trams (including Tram 28), funiculars, Tagus ferries (Transtejo/Soflusa), and CP urban trains to Sintra and Cascais. A single Zapping journey on Metro or Carris costs €1.65 in 2026. Ferry fares are slightly lower at around €1.45–€1.55.

How do I get from Lisbon city centre to the airport by Metro?

Take the Red Line to Aeroporto station. From central stations like Marquês de Pombal (Yellow Line), change at Alameda to the Red Line. The journey takes around 20–25 minutes depending on your starting point. Trains run from 06:30. For flights departing before approximately 08:00, use a taxi or Uber rather than waiting on the Metro at 06:30 sharp.

📷 Featured image by Timur Seyfelmlyukov on Unsplash.