Navegante Card Lisbon: tourist guide

If you are visiting Lisbon and plan to use public transport, you will probably hear about the Navegante card. It is the card used to load metro tickets, bus tickets, tram tickets and other transport fares in the city.

In this article, you’ll learn what the Navegante card is, how it works, where to buy it, how much it costs, and whether tourists really need one.

Quick answer: do tourists need a Navegante card in Lisbon?

Yes, most tourists should get a Navegante occasional card if they plan to use public transport in Lisbon.

The card costs €0.50 and can be loaded with different ticket options, including:

• Single Carris/Metro tickets

• 24-hour Carris/Metro tickets

• Zapping credit

• Some train and ferry ticket options

You can buy it at metro ticket machines and use it during your stay. Each traveller needs their own card.

What is the Navegante card?

The Navegante card is Lisbon’s transport card.

For visitors, the important version is the Navegante occasional card. This is the reusable card you use for occasional public transport journeys.

You buy the card once, then load it with tickets or credit.

It can be used on several transport operators in the Lisbon area, depending on the ticket or credit you add to it. On the Metro network, the official website says the card can be bought and loaded at ticket machines and ticket offices.

Navegante occasional vs monthly Navegante pass

This is where it can get confusing.

There are different types of Navegante cards.

Navegante occasional card

This is the one most tourists need.

It is for occasional journeys and short stays. You can use it for single tickets, 24-hour tickets or zapping credit.

It costs €0.50 and can be reused for one year.

Navegante monthly pass

This is mainly for residents or people staying longer.

The monthly Navegante pass can give unlimited travel across Lisbon or the wider metropolitan area. For example, the metropolitan Navegante monthly pass is listed at €40.

Most tourists do not need this unless they are staying for a month and using public transport a lot.

Where can you buy a Navegante card?

You can buy a Navegante occasional card at metro stations.

The easiest place is usually a ticket machine. You will find ticket machines at metro stations such as:

• Lisbon Airport

• Alameda

• Saldanha

• Baixa-Chiado

• Rossio

• Cais do Sodré

• Oriente

• Marquês de Pombal

If you are arriving by plane, you can buy your card at the metro station inside Lisbon Airport.

Choose English on the machine, select the option to buy a new card, then choose the ticket or credit you want to add.

How much does the Navegante occasional card cost?

The Navegante occasional card costs €0.50.

This is just the card price. You still need to load it with a ticket or credit.

For example, if you buy the card and load one Carris/Metro ticket, the total is:

€0.50 + €1.90 = €2.40

After that, keep the card and top it up again when needed.

What tickets can you load on the Navegante card?

You can load several types of tickets onto the Navegante occasional card.

For most tourists, these are the most useful options.

Option 1: Carris/Metro single ticket

A Carris/Metro single ticket costs €1.90.

It can be used on the Lisbon metro, Carris buses and Carris trams.

This is a good option if you only need one simple journey, for example from Lisbon Airport to your hotel.

You can read more in the guide on how to buy metro tickets in Lisbon.

Option 2: Zapping

Zapping is prepaid credit.

You add money to your Navegante card, then the fare is taken from your balance when you travel.

For Carris/Metro, zapping costs €1.72 per journey in 2026.

This is often the best option for tourists who will use public transport a few times, but not enough to need a 24-hour ticket.

Zapping is flexible and can be used across several transport operators in Lisbon, depending on the route.

Option 3: 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket

The 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket costs €7.25.

It gives you unlimited travel on Carris and Metro for 24 hours after the first validation.

This can be worth it if you plan to use public transport several times in one day.

For example, it may make sense if your day includes the metro, buses, trams, funiculars or several neighbourhoods.

Option 4: 24-hour Carris/Metro/CP ticket

The 24-hour Carris/Metro/CP ticket costs €11.40.

This includes Carris, Metro and CP urban trains.

It can be useful if you are planning a day trip by train and also want to use public transport in Lisbon on the same day.

For example, it may work well for a day when you travel from Lisbon to Sintra or Cascais, then still use the metro or tram in Lisbon.

You can also read the guides on how to get from Lisbon to Sintra and best day trips from Lisbon by train.

How to use the Navegante card

Using the Navegante card is simple.

When you enter the metro, tap the card on the reader at the gate.

On buses and trams, tap the card on the validator when you board.

On some trains or ferries, you may need to tap in at the gate or validator before travelling.

Always validate your card. If you do not validate it, your ticket may not count as valid.

Can two people use the same Navegante card?

No.

Each person needs their own Navegante occasional card.

You cannot use one card for two people on the same journey. If you are travelling as a couple, you need two cards. If you are travelling as a family of four, you need four cards.

This is one of the most common mistakes tourists make.

Can you top up the Navegante card?

Yes.

You can top up the card at ticket machines and ticket offices.

If you already have a card, choose the top-up option on the machine. Do not buy a new card every time.

The card is reusable for one year, so keep it during your trip.

Can you mix different tickets on the same Navegante card?

This is another point that can confuse visitors.

In many cases, you cannot freely mix several different ticket types on the same card at the same time.

For example, if your card has a certain type of ticket loaded, the machine may not let you add a different type until the current one is used or expired.

This is why zapping is often easier for tourists. It works like prepaid credit and avoids some of the confusion.

If you are unsure, use zapping or ask at a ticket office.

Navegante card vs contactless payment

The Lisbon metro also allows contactless payment with a bank card or phone.

In 2026, the bank card fare on the Metro is €1.92.

This can be useful if you only need a simple metro ride and want to avoid the ticket machines.

However, contactless payment is not always the best option for tourists because it is less flexible than a Navegante card.

The Navegante card is better if you want to use:

• Buses

• Trams

• Funiculars

• 24-hour tickets

• Zapping

• Some train or ferry options

If you are staying more than one day, the Navegante occasional card is usually the safer choice.

Navegante card vs Lisboa Card

The Navegante card and the Lisboa Card are not the same thing.

Navegante card

The Navegante card is mainly a public transport card.

You load it with tickets or credit and use it to travel.

It does not include museum entry or attraction discounts.

Lisboa Card

The Lisboa Card is a tourist pass.

It includes public transport and entry or discounts at many attractions. It can be useful if you plan to visit several paid monuments and museums.

For simple transport use, the Navegante card is usually cheaper.

For sightseeing-heavy days, the Lisboa Card may be worth it.

You can compare both options in the guide: Lisbon Card: is it worth it?.

Best option for most tourists

For most visitors, I would choose one of these options.

If you only need one or two journeys

Buy a Navegante occasional card and load single tickets.

This is simple and works well for light transport use.

If you will use public transport a few times

Use zapping.

It is flexible, easy to top up and usually better than buying single tickets again and again.

If you will use transport a lot in one day

Buy the 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket.

It can save money if you plan several journeys in the same day.

If you are visiting Sintra or Cascais

Consider the 24-hour Carris/Metro/CP ticket or use zapping, depending on your plans.

If you only need the train, a simple train ticket may also be enough.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Buying a new card every time

You do not need a new Navegante card for every journey.

Buy one card, keep it, and top it up.

2. Throwing the card away

The card is valid for one year, so keep it until the end of your trip.

3. Using one card for two people

Each person needs a separate card.

4. Loading the wrong ticket

Check whether your ticket includes only Carris/Metro or also trains and ferries.

This matters if you are travelling outside the city centre.

5. Forgetting to validate

Always tap the card when entering the metro, bus, tram, train or ferry.

6. Assuming it works like a bank card

The Navegante card is not just a payment card. You need to load it with the right ticket or credit before using it.

Is the Navegante card worth it for tourists?

Yes, in most cases.

If you plan to use Lisbon public transport more than once, the Navegante occasional card is worth having.

It only costs €0.50, it is reusable, and it gives you access to cheaper and more flexible ticket options.

For a one-day visitor who only wants to walk around the centre, it may not be necessary. But for most people staying two or more days in Lisbon, it is useful.

Final thoughts

The Navegante occasional card is one of the first things many visitors should buy in Lisbon.

It is cheap, reusable and useful for the metro, buses, trams and other public transport options. The key is choosing the right ticket: single ticket for simple journeys, zapping for flexibility, and 24-hour tickets for busy sightseeing days.

If you are staying in Lisbon for more than one day, get the card, keep it with you, and top it up when needed.

FAQ

1. What is the Navegante card in Lisbon?

The Navegante card is a public transport card used in Lisbon. Tourists usually need the Navegante occasional card, which can be loaded with tickets or zapping credit.

2. How much does the Navegante occasional card cost?

The Navegante occasional card costs €0.50. You then need to load it with a ticket or credit.

3. Can tourists use the Navegante card?

Yes. Tourists can use the Navegante occasional card for metro, bus, tram and other public transport options, depending on the ticket loaded.

4. Is zapping better than a single ticket?

Zapping is usually better if you plan to use public transport several times. In 2026, zapping costs €1.72 for Carris/Metro, compared with €1.90 for a single Carris/Metro ticket.

5. Is the Navegante card the same as the Lisboa Card?

No. The Navegante card is mainly for public transport. The Lisboa Card is a tourist pass that includes public transport plus entry or discounts at many attractions.