Before you go · Lisbon
Lisbon essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, checked against official sources on 28 October 2026. Entry rules change: always check the official sources before you travel.
Updated October 2026
Entry to the EU
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) registers travellers from outside the EU electronically at the border.
ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not yet in operation: the EU will announce the start date on its official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, in advance. Never pay a third-party site.
From the airport
Humberto Delgado Airport is run by ANA (lisbonairport.pt). The Metro’s Red Line runs from the airport station into the city; change at Alameda, Saldanha or São Sebastião for the other lines.
Metro, trams and the navegante card
Metro de Lisboa runs four lines; Carris runs the trams, including Tram 28, and the buses. Load a navegante card (navegante.pt) for the Metro, Carris, CP trains and the ferries.
The historic lifts in 2026
At the time of writing (28 October 2026), Carris lists the Glória, Bica and Lavra lifts and the Santa Justa lift as closed. Replacement buses run: 51E for the Glória, 22B for the Bica and 19B for the Lavra. The Graça funicular runs, apart from planned maintenance stops. Check carris.pt on the day.
The city tourist tax
Lisbon charges a tourist tax per guest per night, collected by your hotel and set by the city council. Ask your hotel for the current rate.
Customs and etiquette
Lisbon is hilly and its pavements of polished stone are slippery in the rain: wear flat shoes with grip. Keep quiet while fado is sung. On Tram 28 and in crowds, watch your bag. Dress respectfully in churches and monasteries.
Emergencies
Call 112 for ambulance, police and fire. For health advice that is not an emergency, the SNS 24 line is on sns24.gov.pt. See our health page for hospitals. Carry your EHIC or GHIC, or travel insurance that covers medical costs.
Questions and answers
Do I need ETIAS to visit Lisbon?
Not yet: ETIAS is not in operation. The EU will announce the start date in advance on its official site.
How do I get from Lisbon Airport to the city?
By the Metro’s Red Line from the airport station, or by taxi from the official rank.
Is the Santa Justa lift open?
Carris lists it as temporarily closed in October 2026; check carris.pt before you go.
What is the emergency number?
112.
Entry rules and transport change, sometimes at short notice. Check the EU’s official sites, lisbonairport.pt, carris.pt, metrolisboa.pt, cp.pt and your government’s advice before you travel.