Getting around
Airport: Lisbon airport is located in the centre of the city and just 20/30 minutes away from the centre. If you don’t have a transfer arranged, you can pick a cab and it shouldn’t cost more than 10/15€ (see Taxi). You can also go to the Tourism Information Point (take the chance and grab a map) and buy a taxi voucher, with an established price.
Public transportation: cheap & safe, works fine and covers all the city area.
- Tickets: before getting on, go to a subway station and buy the ticket on the automatic machine. Select “Buy ticket + card”, t
hen “Stored value” and then choose an amount to charge. You'll get a green ticket, valid for all the public transportation inside the city (subway, buses, trams and historical elevators) and it takes the money off every time you travel. Don't forget to validate the ticket each time you travel (just do what everyone does when they get on). The card itself costs 0,50€ but is rechargeable and you should keep the white receipt that comes with it: if there's a problem or you still have money when you leave, go to a counter and they will give you your money back. Using this card makes you save some money: while a normal trip with this card costs 0,90€, onboard fees may cost up to 3€ (imagine how many custards and ginginhas you can have with this money). - Buses: are all managed by “Carris”
and are yellow. Just wave when the bus is coming and the driver will stop. Generally, buses don't have any light indicator showing where you're passing by. If you don't know where to stop ask the driver or someone's help. - Elevators: may look like a tourist's thing, but they're not.
They were built over 100 years ago to help inhabitants to go from downtown to upper town, specially when carrying their groceries and long before cars were commonly used. This is probably the situation where it's most convenient to buy that green ticket before getting on – onboard ticket costs 3€.- Trams: same than elevators. 28 tram is definitely the most known tram and covers a comprehensive part of the non-touristic old part of the city. If you don't want to miss this, my suggestion is to take it in the morning or
at the end of the day, and NEVER if it's packed or you don't have a place to sit. If you stand you'll be just shaking inside and since you're eyes will be above the windows, you won't be able to see anything outside.
Martim Moniz square is the starting point (take the one going to Campo de Ourique / Prazeres). Once you get to Prazeres you'll need to get off the tram and wait at the same place for the same tram (and pay another ticket). Since it's very popular among tourists, it is obviously popular among the pickpocketers: be aware!- Subway: covers a comprehensive part of the city and runs from 6.30 a.m. to 1a.m. Is generally clean and all subway stations are decorated with tile panels painted by great Portuguese artists.
(Lisbon subway map)
Taxis: may have a cream colour or be black with a green
roof, there's no difference among them. If you're trying to stop a cab in the middle of the road, pay attention to the upper light: if it's green, the cab is free. If it has a red number, then that taxi is busy. Don't take a cab in Rossio square: there's a taxi waiting point at the t
op of the square: drivers waiting in the square itself are cheating on their colleagues and have questionable principles.
The fare is shown on the taximeter and you should never pay more than what's written in red. In case of doubt you can call the police. The prices are affixed inside the car, back seat left side. If you phone for a taxi 
you have to pay an extra 0,80€ and 1,60€ for luggage, regardless of weight or number of pieces. Carry cots, pushchairs, wheelchairs and walking aids are carried free of charge.
If you feel that you’re being ripped ask for an invoice “fatura”: you won't get any money back, but he'll pay a good part of it on taxes.Outside Lisbon
If you want to go somewhere outside Lisbon you have three options: taking a train, taking a bus or renting a car.
The only train company operating in Portugal is CP (website here) and offers two types of long distance trains: Alfa and Intercidades.
Alfa is the most modern, most comfortable and of course, the most expensive. Stops only in Faro, Lisboa (Oriente subway station), Coimbra, Porto and Braga and takes you from Lisbon to Oporto in less than 3 hours.
The second
chance is InterCidades, slightly less comfortable, slightly less fast
but cheaper and also offers some connections with the Interior of the
country (like Guarda, Covilhã or Beja).
In both cases
tickets can be bought in some travel agencies, online or in “Jardim
Zoológico”, “Entre Campos”, “Oriente” and “Santa
Apolónia” train/subway stations.
International Trains can be catched in Oriente train/subway station. There are direct services to Salamanca, Burgos, Madrid and Hendaye and connections with other major cities like Barcelona or Paris.
Regarding Buses, there are several companies operating. If you're going to the North the best (newer buses, more lines and better schedules) is RedeExpressos (website here). In case you're going to the South, Eva is the best one (website here), for the same reasons.
Their terminal is the same and is located really close (1minute walking distance) to “Jardim Zoológico” subway station.
Tickets can be bought online or at the terminal and there are discounts for children and people <65.
Rent-a-car
There are
several companies operating, mostly the same biggies you can rent at
home.
