Lisboa Card Review 2026: 48-Hour Lisbon Pass Guide
Planning a trip to Lisbon? Conquer the city's famous steep hills with the Lisboa Card. Here is my honest review of the 48-hour pass and pickup tips.
When planning my trip to Lisbon, Portugal,
the very first thing I had to figure out was...
how on earth I was going to conquer those notoriously steep hills!
Living up to its nickname as the "City of Seven Hills,"
exploring purely on foot would have completely drained my energy in a single day! 😅
So, to skip the hassle of buying individual tickets every single time,
I decided to get the ultimate all-in-one transit pass: the Lisboa Card! ✨

While on the train from Porto to Lisbon,
I found it super convenient to book it ahead of time via the app.
Here is my honest review of how I got my absolute money's worth out of the
48-Hour Lisboa Card, covering everything from public transit to top attractions, plus some pick-up tips!
Looking back at this incredibly packed and rewarding trip to Portugal,
let's dive into the memories! ✨


Lisboa Card Pricing & Booking Discounts
While you can purchase the Lisboa Card in person
at the airport or local tourist information centers,
the lines can get incredibly long during peak seasons
due to the massive influx of travelers from all over the world.
My partner and I are firm believers that "time is money" when traveling
(major planner vibes! 🙋♀️)
so we booked ours in advance via the MyRealTrip app on our way to Lisbon
and received our voucher (QR code) directly on our phones.
It gave us complete peace of mind and saved us so much hassle!


✔️
Just a heads-up: when checking on MyRealTrip in June 2026,
the product name we purchased has been updated!

📌 According to the official brochure we picked up in Lisbon,
the pricing by duration was as follows:
✔️ 24-Hour Pass: €31 (Children €21)
✔️ 48-Hour Pass: €51 (Children €28)
✔️ 72-Hour Pass: €62 (Children €35)

Considering the current exchange rates,
buying two 48-hour passes would cost €102 (around ~$109).
But by booking ahead on MyRealTrip,
we stacked credit card promotions and discount coupons
and completed our checkout for around ~$90!
It's definitely much more budget-friendly to use online booking platforms
to grab these discounts ahead of time! ✨


⬇️ Check out the prices for the [Lisboa Card 24/48/72-Hour Pass] here! ⬇️
Where & How to Pick Up Your Physical Lisboa Card
Once you arrive in Lisbon, you'll need to exchange your mobile voucher
for a physical magnetic card at a designated redemption center.
You can easily pick it up at the airport tourist desk or any "Ask Me Lisboa" tourist information center located around the city!


Since our accommodation, the Rossio Plaza Hotel, was right in the heart of downtown,
we decided to head to the center at the highly accessible 'Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square)'-!
But the square is so massive that finding the exchange spot was a bit of a challenge at first;
Google Maps reviews and blog posts were all slightly different, so we ended up wandering back and forth for a while.
At first, we just looked for the purple i and thought we found it,
but this was actually the Lisboa Story Centre.

Some people said they exchanged theirs here at the BACALHAU (Codfish History Interpretive Centre),
so we walked in too, but realized it didn't look right and quickly walked back out;


After wandering around for a bit, we realized we shouldn't be looking along the side with the Bacalhau Exhibit.
Instead, head to the opposite side of the square and walk towards the middle of the arcade buildings.
And there, we F.I.N.A.L.L.Y. spotted the purple neon 'i' sign! This is the actual pickup spot!


Once inside, simply show your voucher on your phone to the staff,
and they'll hand over your physical card and a guidebook listing all the benefits.
Just remember, if you lose your card, it absolutely cannot be replaced, so keep it safe throughout your trip!




The Ultimate Lisbon Transit Card Replacement (Unlimited Bus & Tram Rides!)
The absolute best reason you should buy the Lisboa Card is...
⭐️Free Admission to Major Attractions & Unlimited Public Transit!⭐️
At first, we were trying to figure out what to do about transit in Lisbon,
but since we were planning to visit key sights anyway,
we realized we'd easily get our money's worth even when adding up the entry fees and transport costs. So, we decided to go with the Lisboa Card!
📌Public Transportation You Can Ride for Free with the Lisboa Card:
✔️CARRIS: City buses, yellow trams, and the Santa Justa Lift (funicular)
✔️METRO: All lines of the Lisbon metro
✔️CP Trains: Trains bound for nearby towns like Sintra and Cascais
There's no need to worry about buying or topping up a separate Viva Viagem card.
With just this one card, we enjoyed unlimited rides on almost all public transit in downtown Lisbon for 48 hours!
Plus, for anyone planning a day trip from Lisbon,
the Lisboa Card is an absolute lifesaver and a huge bargain!
(Sadly, we couldn't make it to nearby Sintra this time.)

Lisbon's iconic 'Tram 28' is so incredibly popular
that it was always packed with people whenever we saw it.
Trying to board quickly inside a cramped carriage while fumbling to buy a ticket with cash is incredibly tedious.
Plus, pickpocketing is notorious on Tram 28,
so everyone warns you to keep a close eye on your things.
BUT having a transit pass made it so incredibly easy since you just need to tap it on the reader!

When walking around Lisbon, you'll constantly run into super steep hills.
Even a short 10-minute walk can involve serious inclines,
so it was amazing to just hop on a bus or tram whenever we wanted without worrying about fares!
Honestly made me feel so rich, haha.
👉🏻⭐️[Lisboa Card Transit & Attraction Benefits]⭐️ Learn More🔗
Tips for Using the 48-Hour Pass & Getting Your Money's Worth

Just because you've picked up your physical card at the exchange office doesn't mean your time starts ticking right away.
The exact 48-hour countdown begins the very moment you first tap it on a transit reader (tram, bus, metro) or when you enter your first free attraction.
Exactly 48 hours is counted down from that first tap.
So, rather than starting it on a quiet evening when you won't travel much,
activating it first thing in the morning when you start your day is the ultimate pro-tip!⭐️
We also waited and used our card for the first time the morning after we picked it up.
By the way, the staff at the information desk told us to make sure to write down the date and time of first use, along with our names on the card!
📌The List of Attractions We Visited with the Lisboa Card
(Total Value: €84)
Jerónimos Monastery: €18
São Jorge Castle: €17
Royal Treasure Museum: €11
Ajuda National Palace: €15
Monument to the Discoveries: €10
Rua Augusta Arch: €5
Lisboa Story Centre: €8
(Sadly, Belém Tower and the Santa Justa Lift were closed for maintenance when we visited.)
When we added up all the entry fees and two days' worth of transit fares,
we well exceeded the €51 cost of the card, making it a total steal! So satisfying💛
If you're planning a trip to Lisbon, the Lisboa Card is an absolute must-buy!


✨A Must-Have for Your Lisbon Adventure: Save on Travel Expenses!✨
⬇️[Book Your Lisboa Card (24/48/72 Hours) at a Discount] Click Here⬇️
In my next post,
I'll share our detailed travel itinerary covering the must-see Lisbon attractions we visited for free using this card,
plus my review of the legendary, original egg tart spot 'Pastéis de Belém' in the Belém district
—which we loved so much we visited twice!💛
🇵🇹Memories of happiness... to be continued🇵🇹


Spain & Portugal DIY Tour - Complete 17-Night 19-Day Itinerary Guide
Spain & Portugal Travel Route (17-Night 19-Day) - Flights, Accommodations, and Transit Bookings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price difference between buying the 48-hour Lisboa Card locally and purchasing it on the MyRealTrip app?
According to the official local brochure, the 48-hour card is 51 euros per person. If you apply credit card benefits and discount coupons on the MyRealTrip app, you can purchase it for ~$90 for two people.
How can I find the physical Lisboa Card exchange counter at Praça do Comércio?
You can look for the Tourist Center with a purple neon 'i' sign located near the middle of the buildings at Praça do Comércio. It is situated on the opposite side of the Bacalhau Exhibition Center line.
Which Lisbon public transportation routes can I ride for free with the Lisboa Card?
You can use CARRIS routes for free, which include city buses, yellow trams, and the Santa Justa Lift. Furthermore, you have unlimited rides on all Lisbon metro lines and CP trains heading to Sintra and Cascais.
Does the 48-hour usage time of the Lisboa Card start deducting immediately upon receiving the physical card?
The exact 48 hours are calculated not from the moment you receive the physical card, but from the moment you first tag it on public transportation or enter a tourist attraction for free. Therefore, it is advantageous to activate it early in the morning when you officially start your itinerary.
Which Lisbon tourist attractions were visited for free using the Lisboa Card in the article?
Free entry was granted to the Jerónimos Monastery, São Jorge Castle, the Royal Treasure Museum, and the Ajuda National Palace. In addition, the Monument to the Discoveries, Rua Augusta Arch, and the Lisboa Story Centre were visited using the free benefits.
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