Will be in Lisbon for 4 days and Sintra for 2 days. Looks like the Lisbon Card may be the best option for me. I will be traveling by Metro, train and bus. Planning on visiting all the sites I have time for.
I was just going to purchase a Viva Viagem card but am confused on zapping and how the card works. I know you do receive certain discounts on admission to some sites but it is used mostly for transportation.
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
I have not used either card, but it seems like you only need one, and that's probably the more inclusive Lisbon Card. (Except, Rick's book notes, that you don't get as much sightseeing use out of the Lisbon Card on Sundays, when many museums are free, and Mondays, when many museums are closed.) Either Lisbon Card or Viva Viagem can work like a full-coverage metro pass for a certain number of days. Or Viva Viagem allows you to load on an amount like €10 or 15 and debit down that amount for just the rides you use at a rate of €1.40/each, allowing you to spread the trips over more days (similar to an Oyster Card in London, if that means anything to you).
Thank you for your input. I normally just do a point to point type travel and do not brother with purchasing cards except in Paris. I will have to investigate the Viva Viagem card more and see if that is a better choice.
Thanks again.
My incomplete recollection of using a Via Viagem card was that I purchased it at a metro station for something like 50 cents and loaded it up with 5 euro or so. Then I swiped it or waved it (can't remember which) which allowed me entry into the metro and on the tram (Did not take any buses.).
It deducted a per trip amount which was something like 1 euro or 1.25 euro per trip (Except for the trip to Sintra which cost somewhat more)
I did not use it for any admissions, only transit.
If you want admissions as well, you need to use a Lisbon card
We found the Lisboa Card to be a good value (and we wouldn't say this of similar cards in some other places). We also liked the convenience of using it for transportation and not having to worry about topping it up. Public transportation is good in Lisbon, so we used it a lot, and the card covers admission (or discounted admission) to the main sights (again, unlike cards in some other places).
It also covered our train travel to Sintra and to Cascais.
Also, the card gives you the full number of hours, unlike in some places, where it expires at midnight no matter what time of day you started using it.
Hi Suzanne,
The Lisboa Card covers public transportation and gives you Free or discounted entrance to all major Lisbon museums, sights and tours.
The Viva Viagem Card is just for public transporation.
For most tourists who plan on going to several museums and tourist sites as well as using public transportation, it's usually a good deal, but you need to do the math to see if it's worth it for you.
I have been checking both these cards out for an upcoming 4 day stay in Lisbon. The Lisbon card, sounds like all transportation (metro, buses, lifts, trams) plus reduced fare to museums. The Viva Viagem sounds like the preloading / reloading zapping car, used on transportation only.
I saw on the Viva Viagem card site, that they have a 6 euro 1 day pass, used again on transportation only. I emailed the Lisbon Visitor Center and asked about this card. They wrote that I could use it in Lisbon, going to the beaches of Cascais and Estroil, and to Sintra. I plan on asking again at the Metro Station to make sure, otherwise I plan on using the zapping Viva Viagem card only.
We are the from a Friday to Tuesday. Many things are closed on Monday, Sundays some things are closed too, and check about the free admission, because I noticed some changes from my previous visit. Now, the free admission, to some places, is only on the first weekend of the month.
Check out the Lisbon cards website and see if its worth the discount- not all museums are on their list. For our family, the list of museums and sights on the Lisbon Card didn't marc up with what we wanted to do.
Hope this helps.
