On bus, tram and funicular, only swipe your Viva Viagem card across the yellow reader near the driver at the start of your journey. Don't swipe it when you get off a bus or tram.

Using a Navegante card (formerly known as Viva Viagem) in Lisbon is a simple "tap-and-go" process. First, purchase the green paper card for €0.50 at any metro station or airport kiosk. In 2026, the most recommended way to use it is the "Zapping" method: you load a cash balance (from €3 to €40) onto the card, which then offers discounted fares across all modes of transport. To use it, simply tap the card on the yellow reader at the entrance of the Metro, bus, tram, or ferry. On the Metro and trains (CP), you must tap both in and out to open the gates and validate the fare. On buses and the iconic yellow Carris trams, you only need to tap when boarding. A single card cannot be shared between two people traveling together; each person needs their own. For 2026, many Metro turnstiles also now support direct contactless payment via credit card or phone, but the Navegante card remains the only way to access the "Zapping" discounts and 24-hour unlimited passes.