- OPERATION

The Lisbon Metro operates from 6:30 to 1:00, with a minimum interval of 4 minutes on the Girassol line and 3 minutes on the Gaivota line during rush hours. Certain station entrances close at 21:30.

- FARES (2007, in Euro)

The Lisboa metropolitan area is devided into 4 zones: L, 1, 2, 3. All metro stops (except Odivelas, Alfornelos, Amadora Este) are within the central L (urbano) zone:

Single ticket - EUR 0.75 (metro only)
Single ticket - EUR 1.15 (metro + Carris buses and trams)

10 rides - EUR 6.55 (metro only)
Day pass - EUR 3.35 (metro + Carris buses and trams)
5-Day-Pass - EUR 13.50 (metro + Carris buses and trams)

- All fares subject to change -

Lisbon (Lisboa) is the capital of Portugal with about 650,000 inhabitants (with more than 2.6 million in the metropolitan area) and lies on the northern shore of the Tagus (Tejo) river.

The first part of the metro system opened in 1959 between Sete Rios / Entre Campos and Restauradores showing a Y form system. The eastern branch to Alvalade was built until 1972. The extensions from Sete Rios to Colégio Militar-Luz and from Entre Campos to Cidade Universitária opened in 1988. Finally, in 1993, the eastern and the middle branch met at Campo Grande forming a circle (although trains don't run in a circle). Until 1995 trains starting at Campo Grande would run via Alameda alternately to Colégio Militar-Luz or back to Campo Grande via Cidade Universitária. Then in 1995, the line (90 % underground) was split into two lines with very poetic names, Linha da Gaivota (Seagull line Colégio Militar/Luz - Campo Grande via Alameda) and Linha do Girassol (Sunflower line Rotunda, now Marquês de Pombal - Campo Grande). In 1998 the Gaivota Line was split again, and a fourth line was inaugurated for the Lisbon Expo98. Currently the 4-line-network is 39 km long and has 45 stations:

Blue Line - Linha da Gaivota (12 km - 15 stations) extension north from Colégio Militar/Luz to Pontinha (2 stations) opened in October 1997 and after splitting the line in the city centre, it runs from Restauradores to Baixa-Chiado (Aug. 1998) from where it will continue down to the harbour at Terreiro do Paço and further to Sta. Apolónia railway station.

Yellow Line - Linha do Girassol (11 km - 13 stations) was extended from Marquês de Pombal to Rato in Dec. 1997. In 1999 construction started on a northern extension from Campo Grande to Odivelas. This extension opened in March 2004.

Green Line - Linha da Caravela (Caravel line) (10 km - 13 stations) is the name of the remaining eastern branch split from the Gaivota Line. It runs from Campo Grande via Alameda, Rossio, Baixa-Chiado to the Cais do Sodré railway station (April 1998) by the harbour. An extension from Campo Grande to Telheiras (1 station) opened in autumn 2002.

Red Line - Linha do Oriente (Eastern line) (6 km - 7 stations) is a totally new line built to serve the Expo98 area at Oriente (inaugurated on 19 May 1998). It will be extended at both ends in the future, north to Moscavide and west to Campolide to provide transfer to the yellow and the blue line.

Metro Lisboa tries to decorate all stations with some artistic elements, which is especially visible on the new Oriente Line (mainly interesting Olaias, Chelas and Oriente stations). Older stations are of a simple design with small wall decorations.

Lisbon is famous for its old-style tram lines (Eléctricos), which serve the hilly neighbourhoods of Alfama and Chiado (lines 12 and 28), but only a few lines of the once large tram network are left over. Line 15 to Belém and line 25 are served by modern low floor trams.