Why Transit Cards Matter for Expats
Figuring out Portuguese transit cards quickly determines whether you'll confidently navigate public transport or fumble with tickets while locals breeze past you. Unlike some European cities with contactless bank card payments, Portugal still relies primarily on proprietary transit cards—and Lisbon and Porto each use completely different systems.
The good news? Both systems are straightforward once you understand the card types, where to buy them, and which option matches your usage pattern. This guide walks you through both cities' ticketing systems so you can make smart decisions from day one.
Lisbon: Viva Viagem Card System
What Is Viva Viagem?
Viva Viagem (formerly called 7 Colinas) is Lisbon's integrated reloadable transit card system. One card works across Metro Lisboa, Carris buses and trams, funiculars, and regional CP trains within the metropolitan area. The system uses a pay-as-you-go model called "zapping" and offers both occasional and registered personal cards.
Card Types: Occasional vs Personal
Occasional Card (Cartão Ocasional)
This is your starter card—available immediately with no registration:
- Cost: €0.50 for the physical card (one-time purchase)
- Usage: Pay-as-you-go "zapping" credit (reload with any amount €3-€40)
- Best for: First weeks, tourists, infrequent users, testing the system
- Limitations: No monthly passes, no discount programs
Personal Card (Cartão Pessoal)
The registered version unlocks monthly passes and resident benefits:
- Cost: €7 for the card (includes €0.50 card + €6.50 registration fee)
- Registration: Requires name, ID/passport number, and photo upload via Viva Viagem website or app
- Advantages: Access to monthly passes (Passe Mensal), senior/student discounts, card replacement if lost
- Best for: Regular commuters, anyone making 25+ trips monthly
How Much Does Travel Cost?
Single Trip Pricing (Zapping):
- Urban zone (core Lisbon): €1.50 per trip
- Extended zones: €2.00-€3.50 depending on distance
- Carris buses: €1.50
- Metro + bus transfer within 1 hour: No additional charge (integrated fare)
Tourist Passes (Unlimited Travel):
- 24-hour pass: €10.65
- 48-hour pass: €18.00
- 72-hour pass: €24.00
These tourist passes work across Metro, Carris buses, trams, and funiculars for unlimited travel within the time window.
Monthly Pass (Passe Mensal):
Monthly passes cost approximately €40 for central Lisbon coverage (prices vary by zone). Break-even calculation: At €1.50 per trip, you need 27 trips monthly to justify a monthly pass. If you commute Monday-Friday, that's about 3 trips per weekday (round trip commute + one evening/weekend outing).
Viva Viagem Mobile App
The official Viva Viagem app (iOS/Android) lets you:
- Check your balance in real-time
- Reload zapping credit remotely (personal cards only)
- Manage monthly pass subscriptions
- View trip history
The app is available in English and Portuguese, making balance management easier than relying on station machines.
Where to Buy and Reload
Purchase locations:
- Metro station ticket offices and vending machines (all stations)
- Carris kiosks at major transportation hubs
- CTT post offices (Correios)
- Payshop retail locations (look for the red Payshop logo)
Reloading options:
- Ticket vending machines at Metro stations (cash or card)
- Same retail locations as purchase
- Mobile app (personal cards with registered payment method)
- Online via Viva Viagem website (personal cards)
Vending machines have English-language options. The interface walks you through selecting zapping credit amounts or purchasing passes. Machines accept coins, notes up to €50, and contactless bank cards for payment.
Reference guide: Lisbon Public Transport: Complete Guide for Expats
Porto: Andante Card System
What Is Andante?
Andante is Porto's integrated fare system covering Metro do Porto, STCP buses, and CP regional trains in the metropolitan area. Like Lisbon, it uses reloadable cards—but with a zone-based pricing structure that's generally cheaper than Lisbon for equivalent distances.
Card Types: Occasional vs Personal
Andante Ocasional (Blue Card)
Porto's instant-access card for casual users:
- Cost: €0.60 for the physical card
- Usage: Pay-as-you-go single trips or tourist passes
- Best for: New arrivals, tourists, infrequent travel
- Color: Blue plastic card
- Limitations: No monthly pass options
Andante Pessoal (Silver Card)
The registered version for residents:
- Cost: €0.60 for card + registration (completed online or at Andante shops)
- Registration: Name, ID, contact details
- Advantages: Monthly pass eligibility, lower per-trip costs, replacement protection
- Color: Silver/gray card
- Best for: Daily commuters, students, anyone making 30+ trips monthly
How Much Does Travel Cost?
Single Trip Pricing (Zone-Based):
Porto uses a zone system—your fare depends on how many zones you cross:
- Zone 1 (central Porto): €0.60 per trip (occasional card)
- 2 zones: €0.85
- 3 zones: €1.20
- 4+ zones: Up to €2.00 for maximum distance
This zone system makes Porto significantly cheaper than Lisbon for urban travel. Most expats living in central Porto pay €0.60-€0.85 per trip.
Andante Tour Passes (Tourists):
- Tour 1 (24 hours): €7.50
- Tour 3 (72 hours): €16.00
These tourist passes cover all zones with unlimited travel across Metro, STCP buses, and regional trains.
Monthly Passes:
- Municipal pass (central Porto): €30
- Metropolitano pass (extended zones): €40
Monthly pass pricing for 2025 has been frozen at these rates. Break-even point: At €0.60 per trip, the €30 pass breaks even at 50 trips monthly—meaning you need to travel approximately 12-13 times per week. For typical Monday-Friday commuters making round trips, this is easily exceeded.
Anda Mobile App
The Anda app (iOS/Android) provides:
- Real-time balance checking
- Trip history and usage tracking
- Fare optimization (the app automatically selects the best fare for your journey)
- Remote reloading for registered personal cards
The app includes an English interface and makes balance management significantly easier than using validators at stations.
Where to Buy and Reload
Purchase locations:
- Metro do Porto stations (ticket offices and machines)
- Andante shops (Campanhã, Trindade, São Bento stations)
- Selected retail partners
Reloading options:
- Ticket vending machines at metro stations (English interface available)
- Anda app (personal cards)
- Andante shops
- Online via Andante website (personal cards)
Porto's machines accept cash, cards, and contactless payments. The interface is straightforward and guides you through selecting zones and adding credit.
Reference guide: Porto Public Transport: Complete Guide for Expats
Choosing Your Card Strategy
Scenario 1: Just Arrived (First 2 Weeks)
Best approach: Buy an Occasional card immediately at the airport or first metro station.
- Lisbon (Viva Viagem Ocasional): €0.50 card + €10-€20 initial credit
- Porto (Andante Ocasional): €0.60 card + €10 initial credit
This lets you start exploring immediately without registration hassles. Load zapping credit and pay as you go while you figure out your usage patterns.
Scenario 2: Daily Commuter
Best approach: Upgrade to a Personal card and get a monthly pass.
Lisbon: If commuting Monday-Friday round trip (10 trips/week = 40+ trips/month), a €40 monthly pass saves money compared to €1.50/trip zapping (€60/month for 40 trips).
Porto: Similar calculation—12-13 round trips per week exceeds the 50-trip break-even for a €30 pass.
Registration takes 10-15 minutes online. You'll need:
- Valid ID or passport number
- Photo (for Viva Viagem only)
- Email address
- Portuguese mobile number (helpful but not always required)
Scenario 3: Remote Worker (Occasional Travel)
Best approach: Stick with an Occasional card and zapping credit.
If you're making 10-20 trips monthly for errands, social activities, and occasional office visits, zapping is cheaper than a monthly pass. Reload €20-€30 monthly and track your balance via the mobile app.
Scenario 4: Tourist or Short-Term Stay (< 3 Months)
Best approach: Compare daily trip intensity to pass costs.
-
High intensity (4+ trips daily for sightseeing): Tourist passes make sense
- Lisbon 72-hour pass: €24 = break-even at 16 trips over 3 days
- Porto 72-hour pass: €16 = break-even at 27 trips over 3 days (unlikely unless very active)
-
Moderate intensity (2-3 trips daily): Stick with zapping on an Occasional card—more cost-effective
Scenario 5: Splitting Time Between Lisbon and Porto
Reality check: You need both cards. Viva Viagem doesn't work in Porto; Andante doesn't work in Lisbon. If you regularly travel between cities, maintain an Occasional card for each city with €10-€20 credit as a backup. Use monthly passes in your primary city if you meet the break-even threshold there.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Forgetting to Tap In or Out
Problem: Many metros outside Portugal use tap-in-only systems. In Portugal, you must tap in AND tap out at validators (yellow card readers) at both station entrance and exit gates. Failing to tap out can result in maximum fare charges or card blocking.
Solution: Make tapping in/out a habit. Validators beep and show a green light when successful. If you forget to tap out, contact customer service at the station immediately—they can usually correct the charge.
Mistake 2: Assuming Cards Work Between Cities
Problem: Expats often assume one card works nationwide. It doesn't. Viva Viagem is Lisbon-only; Andante is Porto-only.
Solution: Buy separate cards for each city. If traveling between cities for a day trip, purchase an Occasional card at your destination and reload with enough credit for your visit.
Mistake 3: Letting Tourist Passes Expire
Problem: Tourist passes (24h/48h/72h) start the moment you first validate them, not when you buy them. If you buy a 24-hour pass at 6 PM and first use it at 9 PM, you've wasted 3 hours.
Solution: Buy tourist passes right before your first trip of the day. Validate immediately when you enter the metro to start the clock strategically.
Mistake 4: Not Checking Balance Before Travel
Problem: Running out of zapping credit mid-journey is inconvenient and potentially results in fines if inspectors check tickets.
Solution: Download the mobile app and check your balance every few days. Keep at least €5-€10 credit as a buffer. Reload proactively rather than reactively.
Mistake 5: Losing Your Card Without Registration
Problem: Occasional cards aren't registered, so if lost, your remaining credit is gone forever.
Solution: If you're loading significant credit (€30+), consider upgrading to a Personal card for loss protection. Personal cards can be blocked and reissued with remaining balance intact.
Mistake 6: Not Understanding Zone Pricing (Porto)
Problem: Porto's zone system confuses newcomers. Buying the wrong zone ticket results in fines.
Solution: Check your origin and destination zones before validating. The Anda app shows zone maps. Validators display zone coverage for each ticket type. When in doubt, buy one extra zone—it's cheaper than a fine.
Troubleshooting
My card won't validate (red light and error beep):
- Check balance—you may have insufficient credit
- Ensure you're using the right card (Viva Viagem in Lisbon, Andante in Porto)
- Try a different validator—machines occasionally malfunction
- If persistent, take the card to a ticket office for inspection (may be demagnetized)
I bought the wrong pass type:
- Same-day purchases at ticket offices can sometimes be refunded/exchanged
- Vending machine purchases are generally non-refundable
- Contact customer service at major stations for assistance
The app won't accept my payment method:
- Personal cards only allow remote reloading
- Some international cards are rejected—try a Portuguese bank account card
- Alternative: Reload at physical locations (machines, Payshop, CTT)
I was charged twice for one journey:
- This happens if you tap in but forget to tap out, then tap in again later
- Visit a ticket office with your card to request a transaction review and refund
Can I use contactless bank cards instead of transit cards?
Contactless bank card payment integration is inconsistent and limited in Portugal as of 2025. Traditional transit cards remain the primary payment method. Some pilot programs exist, but you cannot rely on contactless bank cards for consistent access to public transport in Lisbon or Porto.
Note: Transit card pricing and policies are subject to annual review. Verify current 2025 tariffs directly with operators before making long-term commitments like yearly passes. Monthly pass prices frozen for 2025 in Porto; Lisbon rates may adjust in January 2026.
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