Public Transport

Lisbon's metro system, the Metropolitano de Lisboa 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. A single ticket is 0,50¬; a carnet of ten costs 4.24¬. Both one-day and seven-day passes are available for 1,35¬ and 4,69¬, respectively. A 30 day pass costs 10,77¬.

Complementary to this is the city's network of buses , trams and elevators (funiculars/street lifts), which are run by the Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa (tel: (21) 361 3000. 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 (0,80¬) or at kiosks (0,40¬). Passes are available for one day (2,24¬) or three days (5,24¬). Funicular tickets cost 0,30-0,90¬.

Passes valid for bus, tram and metro are available for four days (8,78¬) and seven days (12,42¬). 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 details).

Water Travel

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; for rail travelers the fare is included in the ticket price. 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.

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 (0,75¬ surcharge) from Radiotaxis (tel: (21) 793 2756, 811 1290, 811 1100). Taxis are metered and the minimum charge is 1,25¬. The fare increases by 20% after 22.00. A supplement of 1,50¬ is payable for luggage carried in the boot or on the roof.

Limousines

UNILIS, Rua Actor Vale 25b (tel: (21) 816 0000), offers limousine service with multi-lingual drivers. The cost for a full day (0900-1800) is 250¬, with extra charges for tolls, extra hours or mileage above 150km/93 miles and the driver's meal.

Driving

Traffic drives on the right in Portugal and international traffic signs are used. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (30mph) in towns. Tolls are charged on most motorways. Motorways are indicated by the prefix 'A'; minor roads by the prefix 'N'. Both International Driving Permits and national driving licenses are accepted. A Green Card and third-party insurance are compulsory, as is a warning triangle. Seat belts must be worn and children should travel in the rear seat. The legal maximum alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%.

The Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) is the national motoring association, Rua Rosa Araujo 24 (tel: (21) 318 0100; will assist motorists whose automobile club has a reciprocal agreement.

Emergency breakdown service: ACP (21) 942 9103

Routes to the city: The A1 Auto-estrada do Norte extends from Porto to Lisbon and the A8 arrives from destinations to the north and west of the city. The A9 bypasses Lisbon, connecting the A1, A8 and the A5, which links Lisbon with Cascais and the beaches. The A2 Auto-estrada do Sul arrives from the Algarve via Almada and the Ponte 25 de Abril, can take an hour to cross during rush hour and summer weekends. The A12 crosses the Ponte Vasco da Gama, offering a less congested route into the city.

Driving times to Lisbon: from Porto - 3 hours 15 minutes; Faro and the Algarve - 4 hours 20 minutes (longer on summer weekends); and Madrid - 8 hours 55 minutes.

Parking: Pay-and-display parking is in effect Monday to Friday 0800-2000 in many areas of central Lisbon (costing 0,27¬ for half an hour and 2,45¬ for the four hour maximum). Parking is also available at the larger shopping centres. A network of underground parking lots is currently being built, these are indicated by large blue "P" signs, they are far more expensive than street meter parkingPay-and-display parking is in effect Monday to Friday 0800-2000 in many areas of central Lisbon (costing 0,28¬ for half an hour and 2,45¬ for the four hour maximum). Parking is also available at the larger shopping centres. A network of underground parking lots is currently being built, these are indicated by large blue "P" signs, they are far more expensive than street meter parking

Coach services: The main terminal (especially for international destinations) is near Saldanha metro station on Arco do Cego. Rede Nacional de Expressos (tel: (21) 354 5439 or 310 3111 (24-hour information); website: www.rede-expressos.pt ), provides coach services from hundreds of Portuguese destinations. Inter-Centro (tel: (21) 357 1745), operates international services from destinations in France, Spain and the United Kingdom also located at Saldanha area.

Pay-and-display parking is in effect Monday to Friday 0800-2000 in many areas of central Lisbon (costing 0,28¬ for half an hour and 2,45¬ for the four hour maximum). Parking is also available at the larger shopping centres. A network of underground parking lots is currently being built, these are indicated by large blue "P" signs, they are far more expensive than street meter parking.

Car Hire

Autocerro is located at Quinta de Francelha de Baixo, Bloco 1 (tel: (21) 940 0555). A week's rental costs an average of 273,35¬ in high season. Drivers must be at least 21 years old. Other car hire firms include Avis, Campo Grande 390 (tel: (21) 754 7898, www.avis.com), Europcar, Estação de Santa Apolónia: (tel: (21) 886 1573, www.europcar.com), Hertz, Avenida da Republica 64A (tel: (21) 793 3647, www.hertz.com) and Rupauto, Rua da Beneficiencia 99 (tel: (21) 793 3258).

Bicycle Hire

Bicycles can be hired at Adrenalina Gravidade Zero (tel: (21) 892 2300), at the north end of the Parque das Nações, for 3,74¬ per hour; a passport or other ID must be left as a deposit. 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.