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| City Guide - Lisbon - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport Lisbon's metro system, the Metropolitano de Lisboa (tel: (21) 798 0600; website: www.metrolisboa.pt/index_uk.htm), is an efficient way to get around the city and features works by prominent artists. There are four lines (A-D) and trains run every three to ten minutes 0630-0100. A single ticket is Esc100; a carnet of ten costs Esc850. Both one-day and seven-day passes are available for Esc270 and Esc940, respectively. A 30 day pass costs Esc2,160. Complementary to this is the city's network of buses, trams and elevadors (funiculars/street lifts), which are run by the Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (tel: (21) 361 3000; website: www.carris.pt). Most bus and tram services operate 0600-0100. There are also eight night bus routes, which converge at the Cais do Sodré. Tickets can be purchased on board (Esc160) or at kiosks (Esc80). Passes are available for one day (Esc450) or three days (Esc1050). Funicular tickets cost Esc60-180. Passes valid for bus, tram and metro are available for four days (Esc1760) and seven days (Esc2490). These can all be purchased at Carris kiosks. The Lisboa Card tourist pass offers unlimited travel on public transport (except tram 15 and 18 and the Elevador de Santa Justa - see Sightseeing section for details). Water Travel Most cross-Tagus ferries are operated by Transtejo (tel: (21) 322 4000; website: www.transtejo.pt) and arrive at Belém, Cais do Sodré and Terreiro do Paço. CP (Portuguese Railways) runs the ferry link from Barreiro (where the CP trains terminate) to Praça do Comércio; for rail travellers the fare is included in the ticket price. There are also 24-hour water taxis, operated by Taxitour (tel: (21) 397 2783), which depart from a number of clearly marked points along the river. Taxis Taxis are beige (the older ones are black with a green roof) and have small green lights on top, indicating availability. Taxis can easily be hailed on the street, at ranks or by phone (Esc150 surcharge) from Radiotaxis (tel: (21) 793 2756, 811 1290, 811 1100). Taxis are metered and the minimum charge is Esc250. The fare increases by 20% after 2200. A supplement of Esc300 is payable for luggage carried in the boot or on the roof. Limousines UNILIS, Rua Actor Vale 25b (tel: (21) 816 0000), offers limousine service with multi-lingual drivers. The cost for a full day (0900-1800) is Esc50,000, with extra charges for tolls, extra hours or mileage above 150km/93 miles and the driver's meal. Driving in the City Driving in Lisbon can be a little nerve-wracking - not only do cars speed around, but road signs are often inadequate. The A9 outer ring road, known as the CREL (Cintura Regional Exterior de Lisboa) and inner ring road, CRIL (Cintura Regional Interior de Lisboa) move traffic efficiently around the city. The Ponte 25 de Abril, however, can take an hour to cross during rush hour and summer weekends. Pay-and-display parking is in effect Monday to Friday 0800-2000 in many areas of central Lisbon (costing Esc55 for half an hour and Esc490 for the four hour maximum). Parking is also available at the larger shopping centres. A network of underground parking lots is currently being built, these are indicated by large blue 'P' signs, they are far more expensive than street meter parking. Car Hire Autocerro is located at Quinta de Francelha de Baixo, Bloco 1 (tel: (21) 940 0555). A week's rental costs an average of Esc54,800 in high season. Drivers must be at least 21 years old. Other car hire firms include Avis, Campo Grande 390 (tel: (21) 754 7898, www.avis.com), Europcar, Estação de Santa Apolónia: (tel: (21) 886 1573, www.europcar.com), Hertz, Avenida da Republica 64A (tel: (21) 793 3647, www.hertz.com) and Rupauto, Rua da Beneficiencia 99 (tel: (21) 793 3258). Bicycle Hire Bicycles can be hired at Adrenalina Gravidade Zero (tel: (21) 892 2300), at the north end of the Parque das Nações, for Esc750 per hour; a passport or other ID must be left as a deposit. Bicycles are a good way to get around the large former Expo98 site, but are not very practical for the steep streets of much of Lisbon. |
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