Hey there fellow Portugal expats and travel enthusiasts! It’s Leslie here, coming to you from the winding streets of Lisbon. Remember when I thought I’d never leave my picture-perfect suburban neighborhood in Colorado? Well, life had other plans, and now I’m navigating the world of Portuguese public transportation with our crew of seven. Talk about a plot twist!

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Our Lisbon Transportation Journey as Expats

When we first landed in Lisbon, figuring out the transportation system felt as daunting as deciphering the graffiti on the historic buildings (spoiler alert: I still can’t read most of it, and there is A LOT of it). But fear not, my friends! I’m here to share our family’s adventure of getting our Lisbon transportation cards, so you can skip the confusion and get straight to exploring this beautiful city.

For Expats: Your Golden Ticket in the Navegante Card

First things first, let’s talk about the Navegante card. This little piece of plastic is your key to unlocking Lisbon’s buses, trams, metro, and even some trains. It’s like the HOA of public transportation but way more fun and without the strict lawn-mowing rules.

How To Get Your Navegante Card

1.Gather your documents: You’ll need your residency papers:

• Original Personnel Ballot (children up to 10 years), or 
• BI (EU citizens), or 
• Citizen Card, or 
• Passport, or 
• Driver’s License (nationals citizens) or 
• Residence Permit

Recent photograph, original, in color, passport type, with plain background, bareheaded and without sunglasses (except in specific duly justified situations.) *Note that most train stations in Lisbon have passport photo booths for this reason.

2. Find a Loja (Store): Head to a Metro station with a Loja (store). We went to the one in Cais do Sodre (Lisbon), but there are several in the area. You can also request it from any Fertagus Ticket Office by submitting the “Request ID Card for the Lisbon Region Transportation,” which is also available at any Fertagus Ticket Office and has a typical delivery period of 10 days.  It’s important to note that while you can try to get cards made the same day, the lines for these can be crazy long, and you should plan about two weeks of waiting to get your cards.  I submitted our applications at Cais do Sodre main ticket window and then went back about two weeks later to pick them up.

3. Fill out the application: One for each family member. Yes, even for the little ones! You will also have to submit a photo for everyone.

4. Pay and wait: It costs about 7€ per person, and you’ll get them in about a week.

5. Note that there are some stand alone stores outside of train stations.  We used the Oeiras office, but lines are horribly long no matter where you go!  Often there is only one attendant and 30-50 people waiting at any one time.  I wish I was kidding!  It’s worse than any DMV in the US.

6. Go early. Try to go BEFORE they open, as the lines will start to form quickly.  My husband just took our teens to renew their cards (which expired after three years, but I think adults are good for five).  He arrived at 7:50 am and was 21st in line when it opened at 8:00 am.  It took him two hours to get to the desk.

7. Important note: As with ANY office/store in Portugal with lines, you must take a ticket, or a “senha”.  Do this immediately!  Sometimes you may even need to get senhas more than once at the same place, such as the hospital.  You also must get a senha for each application, so we would need to grab seven!  The employees are graded on their work based on the number of senhas, and they won’t process more than one at a time.

8. Children ride free.  Portugal just changed its laws to make anyone under 18 free on public transport, yay!  Even 19-24 are free if they can prove educational enrollment with a letter from their school.  However, kids still need a card, AND they need to get it activated each month at the train station office.  My teens do this on their own on the first day of each month when they ride to school.  

The Family Rate: A Money-Saving Option

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The family rate for the Navegante card, officially called “Navegante Família,” can save you some serious euros. But let me tell you, figuring this out was trickier than trying to get all five of my kids to smile for a family photo at the same time!

What We Learned About Navegante Família

1. Address Matters. Your kids’ NIFs (tax numbers) need to match your address. We had to update ours first, which was an adventure in itself. This requires a trip to the finances office (another DMV from hell itself), which requires an appointment, which can take weeks or months.  Note this also kicks off your tax visibility in Portugal!  If you were lucky enough to get the NHR status, note this starts your ten years.
   Pro tip: Make sure all your paperwork matches before you start this process!
   
2. Family Size Matters. To qualify, you need at least three family members living at the
   same address. In our case, with seven of us, we definitely met the criterion!
   
3. The Savings Are Real. Here’s the exciting part – with Navegante Família, you pay a maximum of two regular passes. For the whole Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, it’s €80, and for just the municipality of Lisbon, it’s €60. That’s a huge savings when you’re toting around a small army like we are!  However, with children now going for free, it’s not worth our time anymore to apply for this.  If you are living with some young adults, this might still save you big time!  An adult pass is normally 40€ per month for the whole of Lisbon.
   
4. Paperwork, Paperwork. To apply, you’ll need:
   • The Navegante Família application form (available at train stations or online)
   • Proof of your shared tax address in one of Lisbon’s 18 municipalities
     1. This can be your visa cards, which display your address, or possibly could be your rental agreement.  You may need to go to your local junta de freguesia to get an official proof of address.
        
5. Where to Apply: We found you can apply at various public transport offices. One option is the Customer Support Office at Rossio station.
   
6. After submitting the application, it can take up to 10 days for activation.
   
7. Remember, this is a monthly pass. You can renew it after the 26th of each month.

For Tourists: How To Get Just a Day Pass or Week Pass

Navigating Lisbon’s public transportation can seem complex, but we’ve broken it down to help you choose the best option for your needs.

Types of Passes Available

1. Unlimited Travel Passes
   • 24-hour pass: €6.40 ($7 USD)
   • 72-hour pass: €16.00 ($17.50 USD)
   • 7-day unlimited: €40.00 ($43.75 USD)
   • Covers all urban transport in Lisbon metropolitan area
2. Zapping Option
   • Rechargeable card loaded with money
   • Minimum top-up: €3, then in €5 increments up to €40
   • Costs per journey:
     • Train (CP): €2.00 (valid 90 minutes)
     • Bus & Tram: €1.61 (valid 1 hour)
     • Metro: €1.61 (single journey)
   • Best for occasional trips
   • Can be shared between travelers
3. Route-Specific Passes
   • Cheaper than unlimited passes
   • Only valid for specific journeys (e.g., Lisbon to Cascais)
   • Available in 24-hour, 72-hour, and 7-day options
4. CP 10-Journey Ticket (Trains only)
   • 1 Zone: €13.05 (€1.31 per journey)
   • 2 Zones: €15.80 (€1.58 per journey)

How to Purchase

1. The Card
   • Get a “Viva Viagem” or “Navegante Ocasional” card
   • Costs €0.50
   • Valid for 1 year
   • Can be reloaded
2. Where to Buy
   • Train stations with ticket offices
   • Automatic ticket machines (24/7)
   • Selected shops: Pagaqui, Payshops, CTT, stores

Tips for Choosing

• Day trippers: 24-hour unlimited pass
• Weekend visitors: 72-hour pass
• Week-long stays: 7-day pass or Zapping option
• Single route travelers: Route-specific pass or CP 10-Journey Ticket
• Attraction visitors: Consider the Lisboa Card

Important Notes

• Passes activate upon first use, not purchase date
• Keep your pass handy – random inspections occur
• Most stations have English-speaking staff
• Metro accepts contactless payment directly at gates
• Download Citymapper app for easy navigation

Tip: During busy tourist seasons, lines at station ticket offices can be long. Consider purchasing your pass during off-peak hours or using the automatic machines.

The Lisboa Card: For The Tourist in All of Us

The Lisboa Card is perfect for those days when we want to hit up all the attractions without breaking the bank.

Lisboa Card Perks

• Free entry to tons of museums and monuments
• Unlimited rides on public transport (including those charming vintage trams)
• Discounts on tours, entertainment, and shopping
• You can hop on and off buses, trams, and the metro as often as you like, which helps you to explore Lisbon at your own pace.

Note: You can get it for 24, 48, or 72 hours.

Top Tips for Lisbon Transportation

• Always validate your ticket.
  
• Mind the queues. Remember, we’re not in the suburbs anymore. Respecting the line is an art form here.
  
• Hold on tight. Those trams can get a bit… enthusiastic around corners. It’s like a free amusement park ride!
  
• Download a transport app. It’ll save you from staring blankly at timetables in Portuguese.
  
• And you might get lost. Yes, you might end up on the wrong bus. But hey, that’s how you discover the best hidden gems (and gelato shops)!

Getting around Lisbon with a family might seem daunting at first, but trust me, it’s all part of the adventure. From figuring out the Navegante card to playing tourist with the Lisboa Card, each step is a new memory in the making.

So, grab your cards, round up the kids, and let’s explore Lisbon together. Who knows? You might find yourself falling in love with this city’s chaotic charm, just like we did. And remember, if all else fails, there’s always gelato at the end of the journey!

Until next time, keep exploring and keep laughing!

Leslie 🚊🇵🇹

Additional Reading

23 Hidden Gems Of Portugal For Families + Bonus Spots

12 Things To Do for Families in Lisbon

Best Medieval Festivals In Portugal