Lisbon Ferry Guide 2025 – Tickets, Routes & Tips

How to Take the Ferry in Lisbon as a Visitor

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 the routes available as of 2025:

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

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 Route Map

Lisbon Ferry Timetable 2025

On weekdays, ferries between Cais do Sodré and Cacilhas operate approximately every 15 minutes throughout the day, with around four departures per hour in each direction.

During peak commuting times (between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning, and 17:00 to 19:00 in the evening) the frequency increases to one ferry every 7 to 8 minutes, or up to eight departures per hour.

The first ferry typically departs around 5:30am, and the final service leaves shortly after midnight.

On Saturdays, ferries run about every 20 minutes during the day, while Sundays and public holidays offer a slightly reduced schedule. The crossing time remains consistent at approximately 10 minutes each way.

For the latest schedule information, visit the official Lisbon ferry timetable on TTSL.pt.

Tip – When to Take the Ferry?

As a tourist, it’s best to avoid taking the ferry during local rush hours — around 9am in the morning or 5pm in the afternoon — when it gets very busy with commuters heading to or from work.

Lisbon Ferry Tickets: How to Buy

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 is €0.50 and available at the same stations/machines.

Ticket prices vary depending on the route. Here are the latest prices as of 2025. Note: these prices are subject to change and it is best to check the official Lisbon ferry website.

Lisbon Ferry Prices 2025 by Route

Ferry Route	Price (EUR)	Zapping Fare
Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas	€1.55	€1.50
Belém to Porto Brandão-Trafaria	€1.45	€1.45
Terreiro do Paço to Barreiro	€2.85	€2.85
Cais do Sodré to Montijo	€3.20	€3.20
Cais do Sodré to Seixal	€2.80	€2.80

The Navegante card can also be used to purchase a ’24 hour pass’ for just €10 which allows you unlimited travel across Lisbon for 24 hours, including buses, metro and the ferry.

Lisbon Ferry – Useful Tips

• Navegante Cards:
  • For tourists, the Navegante Occasional card is ideal – it costs €0.50 and can be loaded with single tickets, day passes or Zapping credit.
  • Cards are valid for 1 year after first use and can be recharged at stations and kiosks.
  • Can also be used on metro, buses, trains and trams.
  • The Personalized Navegante card is for locals and required for monthly passes.
    
• Zapping (Pay-as-you-go):
  • Zapping is a prepaid balance loaded on your Navegante card.
  • It offers discounted fares on some ferries compared to buying paper tickets, and on other modes of transport, Zapping does save you more (e.g. Metro: Zapping fare = €1.66, vs. paper ticket = €1.85)
  • Minimum load: €3. Maximum: €40.
  • With this system, you won’t need to queue to get paper tickets.

• You can’t use contactless bank cards directly on Lisbon ferries, you need to get a Navegante card first.
• Vehicle ferries (e.g. Cacilhas) allow cars and motorbikes. Prices may vary.

• Discounts and Free Travel:
  • Children under 5 ride for free on all ferry routes.
  • Kids aged 4–12 often qualify for half-fare tickets.
  • Seniors (65+) and students (Sub23/Sub18) can get discounted.
  • Pets and bikes are usually allowed free or for a small extra fee.

Lisbon Ferry: Frequently Asked Questions

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