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Portugal

Lisbon

A city of seven hills above the Atlantic. The yellow trams that climb them are sights in themselves.

Transtejo / Soflusa river ferries

These are commuter boats - Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas takes ten minutes. The gates run on the navegante card - bank-card tap is listed only at the new Algés pier. And the Lisboa Card does not cover the ferries.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Buy a navegante ocasional card
    Buy a navegante ocasional card from a machine or ticket window in the terminal - one card can only be used by one person.
  2. 2
    Load a ticket or zapping for your crossing
    Fares differ by crossing, so pick your destination first, then load a single ticket or top up a zapping balance.
  3. 3
    Find the right boarding hall
    Cais do Sodré has four boarding halls - check the destination signs before you go through the gate.
  4. 4
    Tap at the gate and wait for the green light
    At the entrance to the boarding hall, hold your card to the reader on your right; it only counts once the light turns green.
  5. 5
    Keep the card until you leave
    Keep the card on you until you pass the exit gate - inspectors can ask to see it.
  6. 6
    Bikes and scooters board last
    Wheel them on foot and board or step off last; each vessel has a cap on how many it takes.

Fares

Single fares6

Cacilhas - Cais do Sodré single ticket
A ten-minute crossing, loaded onto a navegante ocasional card; zapping costs less.
2 EUR ≈ $2
Cacilhas - Cais do Sodré by zapping
Updated 16 March 2026; of the five crossings this is the only one where zapping beats the ticket.
1.6 EUR ≈ $2
Belém - Porto Brandão / Trafaria single ticket
The cheapest crossing; zapping costs the same here, and this route also carries vehicles.
1.5 EUR ≈ $2
Seixal - Cais do Sodré single ticket
A 20-minute crossing; zapping costs the same, and midday gaps reach about 90 minutes.
2.85 EUR ≈ $3
Montijo - Cais do Sodré single ticket
The longest and dearest of the five, 25 minutes; zapping costs the same.
3.25 EUR ≈ $4
Barreiro - Terreiro do Paço single ticket
A 20-minute crossing; zapping costs the same, and CP's Sado line connects at Barreiro.
2.95 EUR ≈ $3

Passes & multi-ride1

24h ticket - Carris / Metro / ferry (Cacilhas)
Runs 24 hours from first validation; on the water it covers the Cacilhas crossing only.
10.35 EUR ≈ $12

Card itself1

navegante ocasional card
The support card for tickets and zapping, one per person; the fare table still calls it VIVA Viagem.
0.5 EUR ≈ $0.6

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
Officially listed only at the new Algés pier
IC card
Both tickets and zapping load onto a navegante card
Paper tickets
No paper tickets - fares load onto the card
Cash
Coins and notes work at both the machines and the ticket windows

Quick facts

Hours
05:00-02:30 approx.
Frequency
Cacilhas every 10-20 min; other routes hourly or worse
Fares from
2 EUR+

Heads-up

  • The Lisboa Card does not cover the Tagus ferries

    Plan on the Lisboa Card not covering the ferries. The transport it lists is four operators - Metro, CARRIS, CP and Fertagus - and the Tagus ferries are not among them, so crossing to Cacilhas costs extra.

Timetable

Operating hours 05:00-02:30 approx.
Typical duration Ten minutes to Cacilhas; 20 to Barreiro and Seixal, 25 to Montijo and across to Trafaria
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka