Can you pay on the tram in Portugal?

All of Lisbon's trams and buses are operated by Carris and the fare system covers all tram routes. A single tram ticket purchased onboard the tram costs €3.00. On the Articulado trams, tickets are purchased from the on-board ticket machines while on the older Remodelado they are bought from the driver.



Yes, you can pay on the tram in Portugal in 2026, but the method varies by city and cost. In Lisbon, you can buy a single ticket directly from the driver or an onboard machine for around €3.10 to €3.30, but this is the most expensive way to travel. Most modern trams now also accept contactless "Tap to Pay" with your credit or debit card at the validator. However, for the best value, locals and savvy tourists use the Navegante card (formerly Viva Viagem), which can be loaded with "Zapping" credit to bring the price down to around €1.50 per ride. In Porto, the historic trams (Elétricos) have their own pricing structure, and you can buy tickets from the conductor onboard. While cash is still accepted in many cases, the system is moving rapidly toward a "cashless" model; in 2026, having a contactless card or a pre-loaded transit pass is the standard for a hassle-free journey through the narrow, hilly streets of Alfama or the Ribeira.

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All of Lisbon's trams and buses are operated by Carris and the fare system covers all tram routes. A single tram ticket purchased onboard the tram costs €3.00. On the Articulado trams, tickets are purchased from the on-board ticket machines while on the older Remodelado they are bought from the driver.

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You can buy your ticket from the tram driver (cash) or from ticket machine. If you plan on using the tram a lot or other transportation (bus, metro, train, funicular, Santa Justa Elevator) it cost 6,50 for the first day, and 6,00 Euro for every day after that. The 24 hour pass is rechargeable.

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If you only want to take the yellow tram 28, you can buy your ticket directly from the tram driver and pay with cash. It is best to start at Martim Moniz.

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Fares and Passes. Flat fare on the buses is ?1,80 - cash paid on board. Flat fare on the trams (streetcars) is now 2,85 Euros with the object being to make more users buy pre-pay passes. A single ticket on the metro is ?1.90 without a rechargeable card, ?1,40 with.

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Tap to ride with contactless Metropolitan Lisbon, in partnership with Visa, Indra, Cybersource, Littlepay, and Unicre, now offers contactless payments at the validation gates of all stations, in a project aimed at revolutionizing the lives of occasional Metro users.

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Tipping is not mandatory, and you should only do so if you feel comfortable about it and if you want to reward truly exceptional service. Tipping for great service is very much appreciated.

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Missed Tap Off Cost If you don't have a default set on your card and you forget to tap off at the end of your trip, you'll be charged the fare to the last stop on the train line or bus route and with your fare type and any applicable loyalty discounts applied.

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The appeal of Lisbon's Tram 28 is not just its historic appearance, but also its route, which passes through some of the city's most iconic neighbourhoods, like Alfama, Baixa, and Chiado.

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Cash, card and ATMs When travelling to big cities like Lisbon and Porto, you can usually use a card in most places. However, be prepared to come across smaller shops and restaurants that do not accept cards. Especially in smaller towns, you are expected to pay with cash for small purchases.

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Where do I catch the Tram 28 in Lisbon? The Tram 28 starts at Martim Moniz on the edge of Baixa, and this is where most tourists will get on the tram. Although there are more than 30 stops along the route, it is very hard to get on the tram at many of them because the carriage will already be full.

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