Metro Lisbon: scheme, working hours, interesting stations

Do you like the metro the way people in big cities like it? But they really do not even notice it. For them, the metro is part of the everyday landscape, the ability to quickly get from point A to point B. But the so-called limit comes to the city and remains struck by the beauty of the underworld. For example, you should see the metro of Lisbon. The scheme of this object is quite simple, especially if you take the metropolitan analogue for the criterion. Will we sort it out there? Can we enjoy the walk? Forward to adventure!

Through the streets of Portugal

Coming to the westernmost of European capitals, you are immersed in an atmosphere of bliss and imposing. The city is spread over seven hills, and the Tagus River flows slowly down below. It's very warm here. And there is absolutely no time. A real cocktail from the past is Portugal! Lisbon - her heart, dotted with colorful mosaic of sidewalks, ancient quarters with narrow streets and tiles. Here you can and should walk. Leave the car and the first days just enjoy the local air, architecture, lots of greenery. There is a huge number of panoramic terraces and parks with ponds. On the hills feet are buzzing? Then it's time to get into one of the many funiculars or elevators. Appropriate as a means of transportation and an old tram. By the way, this is one of the symbols of the city. With transport, things are fine here, so you can safely avoid spending a taxi. On the roads there are lanes for public transport, so there will not be traffic jams.

To pay the bills

Around you stretched regal Portugal, Lisbon! This is a big city, and it takes a long time to go round it. To do this, buy tickets in advance. So money will save, and time. All sales are carried out by the machine gun. In it, you can refill the balance card travel or cash. The cards themselves have different colors, which, in principle, does not play a special role. But each passenger must have a personal card in order not to use it as a whole gang. The document will have to pay about 0.5 euros.

Also, the card can be bought in bookstores and newsstands. On the weekend, however, the ride will not work: the sales points are closed. Only the center of Lisbon operates. Metro is also there. You can recharge the card for one trip, which will take 1.4 euros. When replenishing "zapping" can be saved, because one trip will cost 1.25 euros. The payment is not for one trip, but for an hour that can be spent in transplants. Pay a simple card - it must be attached to a special yellow device at the front door. I must say that the controllers are on the routes, and they are very harsh. In particular, stowaways can get a fine, one hundred times the cost of a ticket.

That's what it is!

The Lisbon metro is before you! The most modern, reliable and fastest mode of transport for moving around the city. There are four metro lines with a total length of 46 km. There are 55 stations. The metro operates from 6:30 am to 1 am, which once again confirms the opinion that this city is surprisingly calm, mature and solid. There are few carefree party-goers and lovers of nightlife. Trains, by the way, go quite often - every 6-9 minutes.

Buy a ticket

And how to buy a ticket for the metro in Lisbon? You can do it in the cash register or in the machine. Here our countries are similar. Many people are of the opinion that the devices can not be trusted, so a person selling tickets is necessary. Young people prefer to buy tickets through the terminal. By the way, it has instructions in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What is the sum?

The whole metro scheme can be divided into two price zones. The first include the main attractions and the airport. Do you wonder how much it costs to travel by subway? A one-way ticket will deduct € 1.40 from your budget. Accordingly, twice the ticket is more expensive there and back. And for 6 euros you can get an unlimited number of trips per day, not only on the metro, but on buses and trams.

If you are the first time

Residents of the city give advice to guests. First, the ticket in the vending machine is issued along with the receipt. You need to keep it to insure yourself in case of problems with the travel card. Please check in advance how much it costs to travel by metro. Use small money to pay for tickets. In the subway you need to be more careful, then street robbery is thriving. At a later time, sit only in a crowded car and avoid suspicious personalities.

Excursion to the history

In the metro of Lisbon, the scheme hangs at every step, so it's very, very difficult to get lost here. Each line has its own color and even a corporate badge. The green branch connects the main tourist routes and the railway station. Red connects Expo Park and the airport. Yellow and blue branches are "older"; They pass through the center along the main avenues in the north and north-west directions. For tourists these places are not so attractive.

It's hard to believe that the metro started here already in 1953. The work took 6 years. Initially, the subway stretched only 6.5 km - from Baix to Zoosad. There were only 11 stations. In 1995, the network ordered and allocated two lines - blue and yellow. Three years later, a red line was added to the two "pioneers" (from the Alameda metro station to the Expo territory). Further expansion was followed by jerks - in 2004 new stations were added to the blue, yellow and green branches. In September 2013, the airport of Portela opened and the corresponding metro station. Emotions at the same time were controversial, as the airport's location changed, and many were uncomfortable.

Through the eyes of tourists

Russian tourists like Lisbon. It's quiet here, especially after the noisy Moscow. The city is very beautiful, everywhere the order reigns. In order not to get lost, you need to study in advance what the Lisbon metro is. The scheme seems easy. The language of the locals is fast and very emotional. Even if you know it at a basic level, then at first nothing is clear. Therefore, it is preferable to make out tickets through the machine. He, by the way, accepts cash bills, coins, and credit cards. The touch screen, you can choose English, which we all understand a little thanks to video games. There are two options - buy a card or replenish it. If you just arrived in Lisbon, then, of course, you need to buy the document. The card is valid for a year, and on all types of transport. If you keep the check, then you can return it when you are ready to leave. Here we find out what "zapping" is. This is the replenishment of the balance card for a large amount, ie, 5, 10 and 15 euros. If you plan to drive often, then it's profitable to take a spare. Even for one trip there is a saving. When you replenish the balance on the card drops the bonus. The larger the amount, the faster the bonus increases. It seems a trifle, but nice! Here is the ticket paid. The Lisbon Metro will hospitably open its turnstiles before you.

Movements

In the metro of Lisbon, the circuit is active, and you can always see at which station you are at a particular moment. To be guided simply: if the desired station is on the left-hand side, then you need to go to the left. Platforms are large and spacious, crowds, by the way, there is none at all. Stations are decorated in the same style, so it's pretty cozy. The floor is lined with small paving stones, like the pedestrian Lisbon. On the walls are interesting paintings and even avant-garde portraits. Sometimes they can recognize famous Russian writers! Deep stations are decorated with tiles, similar to the one used in the USSR for public baths. It seems that this is the "scoop", but for some reason it is perceived to be extremely organic. At one of the stations an interesting zest - the floor resembles the shape of the piano keys. Footsteps can be heard from footsteps. Mood rises for a time! Without musicians, of course, you can not do without any of the world's subways, but you have to give them their due - they play music reflecting the spirit of the station where they settled.

From "Seagull" to "Rose of the Winds"

What are the most interesting subway stations in Lisbon? This is an amateur question, as every point of the city is attractive for its authenticity. Even the subway lines here are original. Blue - the line "Seagulls", yellow - "Sunflower", green - "Caravelle", and red - "Roses of the winds". It is necessary to note the station "Terreiro do Paso", which goes directly to the river transport. It is built in the spirit of typical minimalism. Only polished concrete, light and navigation signs. There are no wires and communications here! But there are horizontal escalators. On the green branch there is a station "Sys do Sodra", which is very close to the resort of Cascais. Here the walls are decorated with glazed tiles, and along them run rabbits drawn from "Alice in Wonderland". On the red line there is a truly epic station "Oriente", where the metro intersects with the station. On the floor there are many decorative metal structures, and the wall itself reminds of an epic comic strip. Opposite the wall is decorated in a marine style. The signs are placed on huge fish.

One of the most beautiful metro stations in the world is the Olayas with columns and a translucent ceiling. The walls go at an angle, and the floor looks like a patchwork quilt. In the end there are complex stained-glass windows.

From call to call

In the metro of Lisbon, the work time differs from the usual Moscow one. Here the first train starts at 6:30, and the last one leaves at one o'clock in the morning. Season and holidays determine the interval of train traffic. On working days the train arrives every 5-7 minutes, and in the evenings and on weekends the interval increases by 3-5 minutes. If you do not have time on the subway, you have to get home on another transport. In Lisbon, there are many buses - about 50 routes, and 3 of them take passengers to the airport. There are 9 night routes, working from 23:00 to 5:00. The ticket price is identical to the variant with the metro, and if you purchase it from the driver, it grows to 1.8 euros.

Visiting card of Lisbon is called trams and funiculars. True, only five routes function, and they ply in the historical zone. Some are equipped with fixed-route taxis, not trams. The prices for tickets are also fixed, but the driver's ticket is almost twice as expensive, so it's better to think in advance on what to go home.

Funiculars in Lisbon are a full-fledged transport that connects the upper and lower parts of the capital. There are three routes, one of which was opened in 1884. Funiculars work only until 9 o'clock in the evening, and in the weekend - almost round the clock. For two trips will have to pay about 3.6 euros.

If you are a pedestrian, and ahead of a steep slope, which often happens in the city, then an elevator lift comes to the rescue, which is also considered a kind of transport. At the highest point of the rise, such a beautiful view of the city opens, that rumors of Eiffel's involvement in the project are strong. For travel on an elevator with a visit to the viewing terrace take 5 euros or you can use the daily travel by subway.

Results

So, how to use the metro in Lisbon? It has a long history here, and the Lisbonians love it very much, but the tourist can get a little lost in this abundance of light and colors hidden underground. The stations were expanded, now they take four trains at a time instead of two. The metro often "participates" in the cultural life of the city, as it was during the Lisbon World Exhibition. Then the red line opened. To date, there are more than 340 wagons, 225 of which are motor powered from the third rail, and 113 are non-motorized.

I must say that public transport is very convenient here, especially if you take into account that there are always parking spaces on top. Be sure to take a camera with you to capture the beauty of the local subway. Stronger hold on to your pockets, as the theft here is booming! Take your cash with you in small amounts. Better keep the money on your credit card. Keep track of your bags, especially if you get into the crowd. Although such a prospect in Lisbon is unlikely, people here are calm and unhurried. They also smile a lot, which is always pleasant for a tourist!