Public Transport in Major Portuguese Cities
Lisbon
Lisbon’s public transport uses a unified Navegante (Lisboa Viva) card (formerly Viva Viagem) for metro, trams, buses and funicularsmetrolisboa.ptmetrolisboa.pt. You buy a rechargeable card (€0.50 fee) at metro stations, kiosks or online (Portal VIVA), and load it with single fares, day passes or pay-as-you-go “Zapping” creditmetrolisboa.ptmetrolisboa.pt. A single Lisbon metro or bus ride costs €1.85, and 60-minute transfer tickets are sold for €1.85metrolisboa.pt. Day passes are €7.00 (Carris/Metro all-day) up to €11.00 (including CP suburban trains to Sintra/Cascais)metrolisboa.pt. Zapping deducts €1.66 per metro/bus ride from your balancemetrolisboa.pt. (You can also tap your contactless bank card at gates for €1.85metrolisboa.pt.) Recharge machines and multibanco ATMs are widespread; you must validate on boarding or at station gates each trip. If changing operators (e.g. switching from metro to bus), ensure you have enough Zapping credit or a pass covering all segments, as an extra fare is deducted when you transfermetrolisboa.pt.
Lisbon offers convenient monthly passes: Navegante Metropolitano covers all Lisbon metro/bus/tram/CP zones (€40 normal, €30 social+ discounted) and Navegante Municipal covers just the city (€30/€22.50)metrolisboa.pt. Youth (<23) and family passes are available at deep discountsmetrolisboa.pt. Purchase or renew a monthly pass by the 25th of the prior month at machines, ATM or onlinemetrolisboa.ptmetrolisboa.pt. (Residency-based “Circula PT” discounts reduce these fares for eligible residentsmetrolisboa.ptmetrolisboa.pt.) Validation is mandatory even with a monthly pass; inspectors issue fines of hundreds of euros for unpaid rides (typically 50–100× the fare)tub.pt. Lisbon’s official CarrisWay app (2024) lets NFC-enabled smartphones recharge your Navegante card with Zapping or monthly passesportugal.com – a huge time-saver.
Lisbon’s metro has four color lines radiating from the city (the red line links the airport)lisbonportugaltourism.com. Iconic trams (e.g. 28E) and funiculars run through hilly Old Lisbon, though they fill up quickly and no special tickets are needed beyond the Navegante card. Carris buses fill remaining gaps. A tourist card (“Lisboa Card”) even offers unlimited transport (including trains to Sintra/Cascais) plus museum entrylisbonportugaltourism.com. Outside city limits, CP suburban trains run from major stations (Santa Apolónia, Cais do Sodré, Rossio, Oriente) to Cascais, Sintra and beyond. Note: CP trains require separate tickets or a Navigator pass with CP zones; 24‑hour Carris/Metro/CP passes cost €11metrolisboa.pt.
Porto
Porto’s integrated Andante system uses a blue rechargeable card (Andante Tour or normal) valid on Metro do Porto, STCP buses and tram/funicular lines. Tourists may buy the 24h (€7) or 72h (€15) Andante Tour card covering all zonesporto.travel. Otherwise, locals use a personalized Andante card (€0.60 issuance). Fares vary by zone: 1–2 zones €1.20; 3 zones €1.60; 4 zones €2.00porto.travel. Ten-trip bundles add a free ride (10+1 trips). To board Metro or bus, always validate at the yellow reader gates or on the vehicle; unvalidated travel is a fine.
Monthly passes (personalized silver card) simplify commuting. Andante 3Z (€30) covers any 3 continuous zones; Municipal (€30) covers one city zone; Metropolitano (€40) covers all Porto-area zonesstcp.pt. Family passes (per member) cost double. Seniors and students enjoy discounts. You load passes at Metro ticket machines or Andante shops. Tickets/passes can also be bought at Move-ME ticket machines and select storesstcp.pt. As with Lisbon, validate every boarding.
The Metro do Porto (lines A–D plus e.g. F, H) links suburbs with the center. STCP electric buses cover the city (famous “Andante” green buses). Funiculars (Guindais and da Lada) connect riverside to upper town. For airport trips, Line E (violet) from Trindade covers 4 zones (€2.00)porto.travel. Tips: download the official Anda app (Move-me) for routes and buy tickets online.
Coimbra
Coimbra’s transit is smaller-scale. The main operator, SMTUC, runs electric buses across city. A single SMTUC ride costs €1.00 (no zones); multi-ride tickets are cheaper (e.g. 10 journeys for €6.50)smtuc.pt. Day tickets cost €4.00 (24h unlimited), €9.00 (3 days) or €15.00 (7 days)smtuc.pt. Monthly passes for the entire network cost €30smtuc.pt. Purchase onboard from the driver or at ticket kiosks; always validate when boarding. (Family and student discounts apply.)
Coimbra also has local train shuttles (“Coimbra urban trains”): a pass gives unlimited rides for the month on Coimbra’s suburban rail linescp.pt. Tickets (CP) are bought at the station. For most visitors, walking covers the old town; buses help with hills and university campuses. The mobile app “CP – Comboios de Portugal” or SMTUC site (www.smtuc.pt) provide timetables.
Braga
Braga’s city buses are run by TUB. Fares are zonal (“Coroa 1” inner city, “Coroa 2” wider area). A single trip is €1.50tub.pt. Tourist day passes (personal) are available: ~€3.35 for 1 day, €6.05 for 2 days, €8.05 for 3 days (with group options)tub.pt. Monthly passes are issued by zone: Coroa 1 normal €14, Coroa 2 €28tub.pt. Youth/senior passes and large-family cards cost less or even free. Purchase a TUB card (€3 issuance) from transport offices, kiosks or the bus station, then top up via machines or the TUB Mobile app. Always tap the card at the validator when boarding.
Braga’s TUB fleet is 100% electric buses and is generally punctualerasmusu.com. The popular downtown shuttle runs frequently. Fines for riding without a valid fare can reach €120–€350tub.pt. The “Work in Braga” guide notes many purchase points and even a low-income scheme for studentserasmusu.com. Tourist “Braga card” holders get free bus travel.
Faro
Faro’s local buses (“Proximo” under UTC) serve the city and airport. Single urban fares are around €1.80–€2.00 (cash on board) with 10-trip tickets ~10% offviafaro.utc.pt. Long-distance coaches depart from Faro’s Bus Station (Avenida da República). Local buses must be paid on boarding (no standardized card like Navegante). Ask the driver or purchase a pre-paid “UTC Faro” card in advance for discounts. No unified tourist pass exists for Faro, but a return bus from the city to the beaches costs about €2.25–€2.60.
The CP trains connect Faro with Lisbon and other Algarve towns; buy these tickets at the station beforehandfaroportugaltourism.com. There is no late-night public transit, so plan accordingly. A useful app for Algarve buses (including Faro local, city tours and ferries to Ilha de Faro) is “ViaCatarina” or the oficial UTC website for schedules.
General tips: In all cities, always validate your ticket/card each boarding. Keep receipts until journey’s end. Climbing onto trams/buses in order and using rear doors only when instructed helps avoid delays. Tourists often overlook small ferry or funicular services (e.g. Cacilhas ferry in Lisbon, Funicular dos Guindais in Porto) – these accept the same city transport tickets. Respect queuing and give way to passengers exiting first. Fare evasion is unlawful nationwide; expect fines on the order of €100–€200 or moretub.pt.
Driving in Portugal as a Foreigner
Who Can Drive on a Foreign License
EU/EEA citizens (plus Switzerland) may use their valid EU licence in Portugal indefinitely, but if they become residents they should exchange it for a Portuguese one within 2 years of residencyimtonline.pt. Non-EU/EEA nationals depend on international treaties: if your country has a bilateral or reciprocal agreement with Portugal (e.g. Brazil, Cape Verdeimt-ip.pt, or is a party to the 1949/1968 traffic conventions), you may drive on the foreign licence up to 185 days (≈6 months) as a touristimtonline.pt. Once you establish residency, you must apply for a Portuguese licence within 90 daysimtonline.pt. After 90 days, foreign licences are no longer valid for drivingimtonline.pt.
Citizens of countries not covered by EU/EAA/UK or bilateral conventions cannot use their licence legally beyond 185 days and must exchange immediately (applying at IMT) or otherwise apply for a new licence by passing Portuguese theory and practical testsourhomeportugal.com. UK licences (post-Brexit) are treated similarly to EU (England and Northern Ireland licences remain exchangeable).
How to Exchange Your License
To swap your license, first book a medical exam (at any doctor registered on the IMT medical platform). The doctor will submit your electronic health certificate (atestado) directly to the IMT. Then complete the online IMT form (Cognito form) for license exchangeimt-ip.pt. You’ll need the following documents: your original valid foreign licence, national ID or passport, proof of legal residence in Portugal, and Portuguese tax number (NIF)ourhomeportugal.com. If your licence is not in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French, you must include a sworn translation certified by a Portuguese consulate or embassyimt-ip.pt. For heavy vehicle categories (C/D or professional driving), a psychologist’s report may also be requiredourhomeportugal.com.
After submitting the form and documents online, you’ll receive instructions to visit an IMT office with all originals. There you will pay a fee (~€30–40), have your photo/fingerprint taken, and surrender your foreign licence. (The Portuguese authorities will send the original licence back to your home country.) You then wait for your new Portuguese licence to arrive by mail in a few weeks. If your country allows direct exchange (e.g. EU, Brazil, etc.), no driving test is needed. If not, you must pass a full driving test by applying on the IMT portal and scheduling examsourhomeportugal.com.
Requirements and Timelines
Key points from IMT guidelines: After you get a residence permit, you have 90 days to keep driving on your old licence (if from a treaty country) and to submit the exchange requestimtonline.pt. Up to 2 years of residency, you can drive only with the new Portuguese licence (once issued) or approved exchange; after 2 years a conversion exam becomes mandatoryimtonline.pt. In practice, expats should apply soon after arriving, to avoid losing driving privileges. The IMT process (as of 2024–25) can take a few weeks if all paperwork is in order. An IMT appointment may be required (book online), so plan ahead.
No matter your origin, you must: meet Portuguese age requirements for the vehicle type; be physically and mentally fit (hence the medical certificate); and hold a valid licence not under suspensionourhomeportugal.com. Having a Portuguese tax number (NIF) is mandatory – you can obtain a NIF at any tax office (even as a non-resident). When visiting IMT, bring all originals plus Portuguese fiscal documents.
EU vs. Non-EU Nuances
EU nationals enjoy streamlined exchange (no test, same categories); they usually give up the EU licence for the Portuguese one, which will then be valid until the original expiry. Non-EU nationals from OECD/CPLP countries also often swap without retestingimt-ip.pt. Nationals of non-treaty countries must be prepared to take the Portuguese written and practical tests – those are arranged via the IMT once you applyourhomeportugal.com. For example, an American or Indian licence-holder must essentially go through driving school registration and exams, even if very experienced.
Local expat tips: Book the medical exam and IMT appointment immediately after getting residency. Use a Portuguese-speaking friend or service if the IMT form seems tricky. Keep copies of everything, and fill out an online self-report of residence address beforehand (the “AIM” form) to save time. Expect to pay around €30–50 in fees. Once approved, your Portuguese licence will arrive by mail (sometimes taking a month). In the meantime, hold onto your foreign licence and proof of submission email – law enforcement will recognize that you’ve initiated the exchange.
Sources: Official guides from Metro de Lisboa, Andante (Porto), CP, SMTUC and TUB for tickets and passesmetrolisboa.ptporto.travelsmtuc.pttub.pt. Transport blogs (LisbonPortugalTourism, PortoTravel) confirm prices and usage tipsmetrolisboa.ptstcp.pt. IMT and legal resources outline licence exchange rulesimtonline.ptourhomeportugal.com, supplemented by expat guides.