|
|
 |
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. There are plans to further extend two of the lines in the near future.
A single ticket is Esc100/EUR0.50, while a carnet of ten costs Esc850/EUR4. Both one-day and seven-day passes are available for Esc270/EUR1.50 and Esc940/EUR4.50, respectively. A 30-day pass costs Esc2160/EUR11. Single tickets and carnets are available for purchase from station ticket office and self-service machines 0630-0100 and passes can be purchased weekdays 0830-1800 (until 2100 on the last workday of the month) from the special offices at certain stations – including Cais do Sodré, Campo Grande, Marquês de Pombal, Oriente and Restauradores.
Complementing 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, Praca do Comercio (tel: (21) 358 2334; 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 for Esc160/EUR0.80, or at kiosks for Esc80/EUR0.40. Passes are available for one day or three days, for Esc450/EUR2 and Esc1050/EUR5 respectively. Funicular tickets cost Esc60/EUR0.30-Esc180/EUR0.90.
Passes valid for bus, tram and metro are available for four days (Esc1760/EUR9) and seven days (Esc2490/EUR12.50). 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 travel by water, 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 –the fare is included in the ticket price for rail travellers. Depending on the route, ferry services operate roughly 0700-2200. Tickets are purchased at the ferry pier.
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/EUR0.75 surcharge) from Radiotaxis (tel: (21) 793 2756 or 811 1290 or 1100).
Taxis are metered and the minimum charge is Esc250/EUR1. The fare increases by 20% after 2200, with the flag fare Esc320/EUR1.50 during the day and Esc380/EUR2 at night. A supplement of Esc300/EUR1.50 is payable for luggage carried in the boot or on the roof. 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. A tip of 10% is expected and appreciated.
Limousines
UNILIS, Rua Actor Vale 25b (tel: (21) 816 0000), offers a limousine service with multi-lingual drivers. The cost for a full day (0900-1800) is Esc50,000/EUR249.50, 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 more than a little nerve-wracking – not only do cars speed around but road signs are also 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, except during the extended nightmare of rush hour from 1700-1900. Despite the new Vasco Da Gama bridge across the River Tagus, the Ponte 25 de Abril can still 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/EUR0.30 for half an hour and Esc490/EUR2.50 for the four-hour maximum). Parking is also available at the larger shopping centres. A network of underground car parks is currently being built – these are indicated by large blue ‘P’ signs and are far more expensive than street meter parking.
Car Hire
Drivers must be at least 21 years old to hire a car and a valid national drivers license is required. Insurance is mandatory in Portugal and lack thereof can lead to a heavy fine. Third party liability is often included in the hire price, although visitors should always check this and ask for an International Insurance Certificate. Accident rates are high in Portugal, so extra insurance would not go amiss.
Car hire company Autocerro (tel: (21) 940 0555; website: www.autocerro.pt) is located at Quinta de Francelha de Baixo, Bloco 1. A week’s rental costs an average of Esc54,800/EUR273.50 in high season. Other car hire firms include Avis, Estação de Santa Apolónia (tel: (21) 881 0469; website: www.avis.com), Europcar, Estação de Santa Apolónia: (tel: (21) 886 1573; website: www.europcar.pt) and Hertz, Avenida da Republica 64A (tel: (21) 793 3647; website: www.hertz.com). Rates average around Esc90,000/EUR449 per day.
Bicycle Hire
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. These can be hired at Adrenalina Gravidade Zero (tel: (21) 892 2300), at the north end of the Parque das Nações, for Esc750/EUR3.50 per hour. A passport or other ID must be left as a deposit.
|
|
