Lisbon

Where ships dock

Ships dock beside the historic centre. Turismo de Lisboa says attractions are within walking distance of the terminals; no walk time is published.

• Lisbon Cruise Terminal (Jardim do Tabaco), Av. Infante Dom Henrique

Best time to go

No cruise-season dates are published in the sources used here. Check your itinerary for your call date.

Castelo de São Jorge keeps longer summer hours from March 1 to October 31 and closes earlier from November 1. The live forecast above shows the weather for your day.

Ship tour or go independent?

Lisbon works well on your own. The terminal is beside the old town, trains run to Belém, Cascais and Sintra, and booking your own tour gives you more choice, smaller groups and your own pace. Ship tours suit very short calls or anyone who would rather leave the timing to the cruise line. Browse the tours below and use the time-ashore filter to find one that fits your call.

• Sintra needs a train, a bus or shuttle and timed palace tickets. Pick a tour that handles the transfers, or book Pena ahead and allow extra time to get back.
• Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery are closed on Mondays, and the Gulbenkian Museum on Tuesdays. Check your call day before you plan.
• Pickpocketing is common at tourist sites and on public transport. Keep bags zipped and in front of you.
• Terminals differ. Check which one your ship uses, and confirm walking details with your cruise line.

Getting around

Rideshare available

• WalkTurismo de Lisboa says the city's attractions are within walking distance of the terminals. No walking times are published, and no source says how far Alcântara or Rocha Conde de Óbidos are from the center.
• Train24h Carris/Metro/CP ticket: €11.40CP urban trains serve Belém and Cascais from Cais do Sodré (Belém about 8 minutes, Cascais about 40) and Sintra from Oriente, Rossio or Entrecampos. The 24-hour Carris/Metro/CP ticket covers the Cascais and Sintra lines; the reusable Navegante card costs €0.50 extra. The port authority says Santa Apolónia railway station is linked to the Lisbon Cruise Terminal. CP's Sintra Train&Bus ticket is listed as temporarily suspended.

  24h Carris/Metro/CP ticket

  €11.40

  Navegante card (one-time)

  €0.50

• TramTram 28 (Martim Moniz to Campo Ourique) climbs through Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Estrela. Carris's weekday winter timetable shows departures from about 5:40 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., roughly every 10 to 15 minutes. Check carris.pt for current changes.
• BusCarris buses and the Metro share one single ticket. It is valid for 1 hour of travel, but not for two Metro rides in a row. At Sintra, bus 434 runs from the station to Pena Palace, and the Pena shuttle links the park and palace stops every 15 minutes.

  Carris/Metro single (1 hour)

  €1.90

  24h Carris/Metro

  €7.25

• TaxiThe US State Department advises using taxis from official queues or kiosks. Fares are not published here.
• RideshareThe US State Department calls taxis and prominent rideshare services such as Uber regulated, generally safe and reliable. It advises confirming that the vehicle matches the app before you get in. Prices are not published here.

The US State Department lists Uber among Lisbon's regulated rideshare services. Check the app for current availability and prices.

Money, tipping & phones

Money

The euro (€) is Portugal's currency. Cash, debit and credit cards are all accepted payment methods. The terminal has an ATM and currency exchange.

Phones

Portugal's country code is +351. The national emergency number is 112. Check roaming charges with your home carrier.

Must-sees

• Belém TowerRide neededBuilt between 1514 and 1519 under King Manuel I and listed by UNESCO in 1983. Open Tuesday to Sunday until 5:30 p.m., closed Mondays. Regular ticket €15.
• Jerónimos MonasteryRide neededClosely linked to Belém Tower and the Portuguese Discoveries. The cloister is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.). Regular ticket €18; closed Mondays.
• Castelo de São JorgeRide neededA hilltop castle open seven days a week (9 a.m.–9 p.m. March 1 to October 31, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. from November 1). Adult ticket €17. The museum is temporarily closed.
• Tram 28Ride neededA small yellow tram that runs through Lisbon's older neighborhoods, past tiled buildings and viewpoints, from Martim Moniz to Campo Ourique.
• Pena Palace, SintraRide neededA romantic hilltop palace and park in the Sintra hills. Park €12, Essential palace visit €20, Complete visit €45 for adults. Palace tickets are for a set date and time.

Free & cheap near the pier

• Single Carris/Metro ticket€1.90One journey on the whole Carris/Metro network within 1 hour of the first validation. Not valid for two Metro rides in a row.
• 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket€7.25Unlimited bus, tram and Metro for 24 hours after first use.
• Pena Park visit€12The park alone, without palace entry, from Parques de Sintra.
• Convent of the Capuchos€11A small Sintra monument, open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Eat like a local

• Pastel de nataLisbon's best-known cake, a custard tart with roots in convent baking. Locals eat it warm with cinnamon and sugar, often with a bica (espresso). Pastéis de Belém is the most famous place to try it, and the queue can be long.
• Grilled sardinesA classic summer dish that Lisbon eats year-round, and especially popular during the Santos Populares festivals. Served on a slice of bread, or on a plate with grilled pepper and boiled potatoes.
• Bacalhau (salt cod)A symbol of Portuguese food. Popular dishes include bacalhau à Brás, bacalhau com natas and pastéis de bacalhau, the codfish cakes sold in cafés.

Rainy-day backups

• Jerónimos MonasteryThe cloister is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.). Closed Mondays.
• Calouste Gulbenkian MuseumOpen 10 a.m.–6 p.m., until 9 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed Tuesdays.
• Oceanário de LisboaOpen daily, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Safety & scams

Official advisoryUS State Dept: Level 1 — Exercise normal precautions (reissued December 23, 2025)

• Pickpocketing and purse snatching are common at tourist sites, restaurants and on public transportation.
• Thefts of backpacks, electronics and luggage are reported to be increasing.
• In downtown Lisbon, drug dealers may approach travelers near bars and restaurants. Some travelers have been drugged and robbed, so never leave a drink unattended.
• Use taxis from official queues or kiosks, and check that a rideshare vehicle matches the app.
• Dial 112 for police and ambulance. Turismo de Lisboa lists tourist police stations at Praça dos Restauradores and Santa Apolónia.

From official government and port sources. Check the latest advisory before you travel.

Accessibility

At the pier

Ships dock alongside, so there is no tender. The port authority lists accessibility as a design criterion for the Lisbon Cruise Terminal but gives no details, so ask your cruise line about help at the gangway and in the terminal.

• Carris says all its buses have lowered floors and more than 80% have ramps. The page does not say whether Tram 28 or the funiculars are accessible.
• Carris offers a door-to-door service by appointment for riders with a declared disability of 60% or more. Book at least two days ahead.
• Tram 28 climbs steep hills through the old neighborhoods, so expect slopes and stairs around the viewpoints.