Lisbon Ferry Guide – Tickets and Routes

Tourist Information for the Ferry in Lisbon

Lisbon commuter ferries, navigating the River Tagus, provide a transport solution for local residents on the southern side to bypass the rush hour traffic often encountered at the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge.

Although the ferry rides are brief, lasting around 10-15 minutes, some tourists opt for a cheaper alternative to the river cruises on offer. Despite the shorter journey, you can still enjoy captivating views of the city’s attractions from the water, making it a cost-effective and scenic experience.

Lisbon Ferry Routes

Lisbon has multiple ferry routes to take you across the Tagus river. The majority of these are local transport links and are used for workers on their daily commute into the centre of Lisbon.

The most common route for tourists is the Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas route. This route offers excellent views of the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Baixa district, but also allows visitors to explore the countless excellent seafood restaurants in Cacilhas – a special place for seafood in Lisbon.

Other than the Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas route we wouldn’t really recommend any of the other ferry trips for tourists, with none of the major Lisbon tourist attractions being easily accessible from the ferry destinations.

Here is a summary of routes available:

Ferry Route	Departure Terminal	Destination Terminal	Highlights
Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas	Cais do Sodré	Cacilhas	Stunning views of Lisbon, seafood restaurants in Cacilhas
Terreiro do Paço to Barreiro	Terreiro do Paço	Barreiro	Industrial city with waterfront area
Terreiro do Paço to Seixal	Terreiro do Paço	Seixal	Maritime traditions and cultural events in Seixal
Belém to Trafaria	Belém	Trafaria	Coastal village with a relaxed atmosphere
Alcântara-Mar to Porto Brandão	Alcântara-Mar	Porto Brandão	Picturesque village on the south bank

Top Tip: As a tourist, try to avoid taking the ferry around rush hour (9am in the morning or 5pm in the afternoon) as it can get very bus with local workers.

The time taken for each route can differ depending on time of day and weather conditions. Generally speaking, apart from the Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas route (which takes 10-15 minutes), all of the routes take roughly 20-30 minutes.

Lisbon Ferry Schedule and Times

For each of the ferry routes there are up to four departures per hour at intervals of 15 minutes.

During rush hour (between 7am and 9am in the morning, and 5pm and 7pm in the evening) the ferries are more frequent, and there can be up to 8 journeys per hour.

The first ferry of the day is at around 5:30am with last ferries leaving at around 1am.

For the latest schedule information please check the official ferry transport website.

Lisbon Ferry Tickets: How to Buy

Ticket prices for the various ferry trips differ quite depending on route.

Here are the latest prices as of 2024. Note these prices are subject to change and it is best to check the official Lisbon ferry website.

Tickets can be purchased at each of the ferry stations using the ticket machines available. You will need to use a Navegante card to purchase ticket which are €0.50 and available at the same stations/machines.

Ferry Route	Price (EUR)
Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas	€1.30
Belém to Porto Brandão-Trafaria	€1.25
Terreiro do Paço to Barreiro	€2.50
Cais do Sodré to Montijo	€2.85
Cais do Sodré to Seixal	€2.50

The Navegante card can also be used to purchase a ’24 hour pass’ for just €6.80 which allows you unlimited travel across Lisbon for 24 hours and includes the ferry.

More on Visit-Lisbon