Lisbon: 72/96-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Tram & Boat Ticket

Lisbon makes you work for its best views, with steep streets, tight corners, and districts spread along the Tagus. This pass solves much of that problem by combining two sightseeing bus routes, a vintage tram tour, and a river boat into one 72 or 96-hour ticket.

I like the easy access to Belém and Oriente, two areas that sit far apart from the old center. I also like the Hills Tram, which gives you the classic Alfama experience without forcing you into the long queues often found on Lisbon’s regular trams.

The main drawback is coverage. This is useful for major districts, but it does not replace every local bus or tram route, and the route names, colors, and boarding points can be confusing at first.

Key points to know before you book

• The Hills Tram is the highlight: It passes Alfama, the cathedral, Graça, São Vicente, and the National Pantheon on a dedicated sightseeing route.
• Belém gets its own full route: You can stop near the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries, MAAT, and the Coach Museum.
• The Tagus boat adds a calm change of pace: Sail between Terreiro do Paço and Belém beneath the 25th April Bridge.
• The 72-hour pass is enough for most short visits: The 96-hour version makes more sense if you want to spread the rides over four days.
• All buses are yellow, but the route signs are not: Look for the blue Belém sign and pink Modern Lisbon sign in the windshield.
• You also get public Carris tram access: This is useful in the center, but do not assume every city bus is included.

What this Lisbon pass actually includes

This is not one continuous tour. It is a transport package made up of four different experiences:

1. The Belém Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, marked by a blue route sign.
2. The Modern Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, marked by a pink route sign.
3. The Hills Tramcar Tour through the old hillside districts.
4. The Yellow Boat trip on the Tagus River.

The buses are double-decker vehicles, and audio commentary is supplied through earphones. The boat uses a speaker guide instead. You can listen in Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Swedish.

The ticket also includes access to Lisbon’s public Carris trams during its validity. That is a useful extra, particularly for short rides around the central districts. It does not mean every form of Lisbon public transport is covered, so check the benefits attached to your voucher before relying on it for a particular journey.

At $55 per person, the value depends on how much you use it. One ride on each major component would not justify the price by itself, but three or four days of sightseeing, several bus trips, the tram, the boat, and public tram use can make the cost reasonable. The pass is most useful when you treat it as both a sightseeing ticket and a way to rest your legs.

Belém route: monuments, museums, and the Age of Discoveries

The Belém bus is the route to take first if Lisbon is new to you. It begins at Restauradores Square and runs west toward the riverfront district of Belém, where Lisbon’s grandest monuments sit in a fairly compact area.

The early stops include Rossio Square, Marquês de Pombal, Eduardo VII Park, El Corte Inglés, Amoreiras, and the Basilica of Estrela. These stops give you a broad look at central Lisbon and the city’s western neighborhoods, though you may want to stay on the bus until Belém if your main goal is sightseeing.

The Coach Museum is a practical stop for anyone interested in royal transport and elaborate carriages. The Jerónimos Monastery is the major historical stop, with its detailed Manueline stonework and strong connection to Portugal’s maritime past. Entrance is not included, so plan extra time and money if you want to go inside.

From there, the route continues to Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. The tower sits by the river and is one of Lisbon’s most recognizable sights. The monument presents Portugal’s seafaring age in a much larger, more theatrical form.

MAAT, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, gives the route a modern counterpoint. The Docas Cruise Terminal is another useful stop for the riverside area, restaurants, and boat connections.

You can ride the full route for an overview, then return to the stops that interest you. The bus is especially helpful here because Belém is spread along the waterfront and involves more walking than the map first suggests.

Keep your schedule flexible. Road works can temporarily affect service, and the Belém route is not a substitute for entering the monuments. If Jerónimos Monastery or Belém Tower is a priority, confirm opening conditions separately and leave enough time off the bus.

Modern Lisbon route: Oriente and the city’s newer side

The Modern Lisbon route runs east from Restauradores toward Oriente. It is a useful contrast to Belém because the architecture changes from old squares and monuments to wide avenues, contemporary buildings, and former industrial areas.

The route passes Avenida da Liberdade, Graça, the National Pantheon and Feira da Ladra area, Lisbon Cruise Terminal, the Tile Museum, Beato, Marvila, the Oceanário, Vasco da Gama Shopping, FIL, and the Vasco da Gama Tower near Hotel Myriad.

The Oceanário is the main reason many people take this route. Oriente also offers the Vasco da Gama shopping center, exhibition facilities, and the tower area. This side of Lisbon feels more open and modern than Alfama or Baixa, so it helps you see that the city is not only tiled lanes and old trams.

The Tile Museum stop is particularly useful if you want a closer look at one of Portugal’s defining art forms. It is not in the middle of the main tourist center, and reaching it independently may take more planning.

The route can feel less immediately exciting than Belém because several stops are designed for a wider city overview rather than one famous monument after another. I would use it on a separate half day, not squeeze it between timed monument visits.

The Hills Tram: Lisbon’s best included ride

The Hills Tramcar Tour leaves from Praça do Comércio and returns there. It has no regular hop-on, hop-off stops, but it passes through some of the city’s most atmospheric districts.

The route includes views or passages near Portas do Sol, Lisbon Cathedral, Rua da Conceição, Graça, the National Pantheon, São Vicente, and Martim Moniz. It takes you into the older hillside districts, where Lisbon’s narrow streets and sharp climbs are difficult for larger buses.

This is not exactly the same as taking the public number 28 tram. That famous city tram can be crowded, and boarding it may require patience. The sightseeing tram follows a similar kind of old Lisbon experience while offering a dedicated tour format and audio commentary.

I would make this a priority early in your visit. Departures are listed about every 35 minutes, from roughly 9:30 a.m. through 5:05 p.m., but queues can grow. Early morning or later afternoon is the safer choice if you want to avoid the longest waits.

The tram is also a smart way to reach the upper districts without spending all your energy climbing. You can then walk around Alfama, visit viewpoints, and return downhill at your own pace.

Service can be affected by traffic or tram incidents. Lisbon’s old streets are narrow, and delays are possible. That is part of the city’s character, but it matters if you have a fixed appointment afterward.

The Yellow Boat on the Tagus

The boat gives you the clearest view of Lisbon’s position beside the Tagus. From the water, the city’s hills rise behind the central waterfront, and the monuments of Belém appear in a wider setting.

The main boat stop is Terreiro do Paço, also called the South and Southeast Station. The other stop is near Belém Tower. The service runs between these two points, with the published timetable offering departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

The listed schedule has changed over time, with later departures shown from February 20 onward. Confirm the current times with the Yellow team before planning your day around the boat. A Belém departure may be one way only, so do not assume the boat will return you to your starting point at the same time.

This ride is less about transport speed and more about seeing Lisbon from a different angle. It is a good rest after walking around Belém, and the open views make it useful for photographs. Refreshments may be available on board, but food and drinks are not allowed on the buses, tram, or other vehicles under the activity rules, so follow the crew’s instructions.

At Belém, boarding can be hard to spot. The pier area is small, and signs may not be obvious. Allow extra time and ask staff if you are uncertain rather than waiting at the first place that looks like a ferry gate.

Timetables, signs, and the ticket’s learning curve

The Belém buses leave Restauradores about every 30 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Modern Lisbon buses use the same general starting point and run about every 30 minutes from 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The Hills Tram departs from Praça do Comércio roughly every 35 minutes. Bus and tram service usually ends well before evening, so plan your final ride carefully. Several people have wished the buses ran later, especially in summer.

The company’s color system takes a moment to understand. The buses themselves are yellow, but the Belém route carries a blue sign and the Modern route a pink sign. The boat may be shown in red on some maps, while another operator in Lisbon may use similar route colors and differently colored vehicles.

Your best first step is to locate Restauradores and confirm the route sign in the windshield before boarding. Staff can help with ticket validation and route questions. The mobile app may also show approximate bus arrival times, though road works can change actual service.

A physical ticket may be issued or validated on the bus, depending on the booking arrangement. If your instructions do not make the exchange point clear, ask staff at the first boarding point instead of spending time searching around the city.

How I would use the pass over three days

On the first morning, I would take the Hills Tram from Praça do Comércio. This gives you the old-center orientation you need before walking Alfama and the streets around the cathedral.

In the afternoon, I would use the Belém route. Get off at Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, or the Monument to the Discoveries, then take the boat back toward Terreiro do Paço if the sailing time works.

On day two, I would ride the Modern Lisbon route to Oriente. Stop at the Oceanário or the Tile Museum, depending on your interests. Use the public trams included with the pass for shorter central journeys, but keep enough time for the return bus.

On day three, repeat the parts you liked. This is where the 72-hour pass earns its keep. You can use the buses as moving viewpoints, stop for cafés, and avoid walking every steep street from one end of Lisbon to the other.

The 96-hour option is better if your visit includes four sightseeing days or you prefer a slower pace. If you have only one full day, the pass may be too ambitious because the boat and tram have limited schedules.

Who will get the most from this ticket?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad picture of Lisbon before choosing which museums and neighborhoods deserve more time. It is also useful for anyone who finds Lisbon’s hills tiring or wants a simple way to connect Belém, the center, and Oriente.

Families may appreciate the variety. A boat ride breaks up museum visits, and the tram is more memorable than another standard bus journey. Older visitors or anyone with limited walking stamina can use the vehicles strategically, though boarding points and street conditions may not always be effortless.

Independent walkers may find the pass less useful if they plan to spend most of their time in central Lisbon. The historic core is best explored on foot once you are there, and the bus routes do not cover every old street or local neighborhood.

The pass is also not ideal if you expect a late-night transport service. The published departures finish in the late afternoon, and you will need other arrangements for evening outings.

Final verdict: a strong three-day sightseeing base

Book this ticket if you want Belém, Oriente, Alfama, a Tagus cruise, and a historic tram ride in one package. The Hills Tram and boat are the most distinctive parts, while the buses are valuable for covering long distances and giving you a first look at districts you might otherwise skip.

Choose 72 hours for a normal three-day stay and 96 hours if you want four relaxed days or expect to reuse the vehicles. Before paying, check the current boat timetable, confirm the meeting point, and make sure the included public transport matches your plans.

I would not buy it solely for local transport or a single bus loop. I would buy it as a flexible sightseeing base, especially if you value rest stops, broad city views, and an easier route to Belém.

FAQ

How long is the ticket valid?

You can choose a ticket valid for 72 or 96 hours. Check availability for the start time connected with your selected option.

What tours are included?

The ticket includes the Belém Lisbon Bus Tour, Modern Lisbon Bus Tour, Hills Tramcar Tour, and Yellow Boat Tour.

Where does the Belém bus route go?

It runs from Restauradores through central and western Lisbon to Belém, including stops near the Coach Museum, Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries, MAAT, and the Docas Cruise Terminal.

Where does the Modern Lisbon route go?

It runs from Restauradores toward eastern Lisbon, with stops near the Tile Museum, Beato, Marvila, the Oceanário, Vasco da Gama Shopping, FIL, and the Vasco da Gama Tower.

Does the Hills Tram stop so I can get off?

The Hills Tramcar Tour has no stops on the route. It begins and ends at Praça do Comércio and passes points including Portas do Sol, Lisbon Cathedral, Graça, the National Pantheon, São Vicente, and Martim Moniz.

Where does the Yellow Boat depart?

The boat departs from Terreiro do Paço South and Southeast Station and from a stop near Belém Tower.

How often do the sightseeing buses run?

The Belém and Modern Lisbon buses are listed as running about every 30 minutes during their operating hours. Road works can temporarily affect service.

Is an audio guide included?

Yes. Bus and tram commentary is provided through earphones, while the Yellow Boat uses a speaker guide. Languages include English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese.

Are public trams included?

Access to Carris public trams is included during the ticket’s validity. Food, drinks, and alcoholic drinks are not allowed in the vehicles.