LISBON - Portugal - page 16

ground floor (next to Starbucks) sells long-distance and international train tickets (Mon-
Fri 7:00-20:00, closed Sat-Sun, cash only).
CaisdoSodréStation, on the waterfront just west of Praça do Comércio (Metro: Cais
do Sodré), serves Cascais and Estoril (30 minutes).
By Bus
Lisbon's efficient Sete Rios bus station is in the modern part of the city, several miles in-
land from the harbor. It has ATMs, a rack of schedules (near entrance), a nifty computer
that displays routes and ticket prices, and two information offices—one for buses within
Portugal, the other for international routes (Intercentro booth). While you can buy bus
tickets up to a week in advance, you can almost always buy a ticket just a few minutes
before departure. The EVA company covers the south of Portugal (Lisbon bus info tel.
808-224-488, www.eva-bus.com ) , while Rede Nacional de Expressos does the rest of the
country (bus info tel. [phone], www.rede-expressos.pt ) .
The bus station is across the street from the small Sete Rios train station, which sits
above the Jardim Zoológico Metro stop. To get from the bus station to downtown Lisbon,
it's a €5 taxi ride or a short Metro trip on the blue line (from bus station, walk down and
across to Sete Rios train station, then follow signs for Metro: Jardim Zoológico ).
By Cruise Ship
Lisbon's port is the busiest on Europe's Atlantic coast, with most cruise ships docking at
one of two terminals: Alcântara (about two miles west of downtown) or Santa Apolónia
(near the train station of the same name).
Both terminals have taxi stands, public phones, ATMs, and WCs. Most cruise lines of-
fer inexpensive shuttle service from either terminal to Praça do Comércio. If you're taking
public transit from the Alcântara terminal, you can reach central Lisbon on trolley #15E
(use pedestrian underpass to reach trolley stop, 5/hour, 15 minutes, €3, coins only) or on
any bus (direction: Centro, pay the driver). From the Santa Apolónia cruise-ship terminal,
it's a short walk to the Santa Apolónia train station, described above under “By Train.”
From this terminal, bus #714 goes to Praça da Figueira and out to Belém.
The taxis that wait at either terminal are notoriously dishonest. For a fair, metered rate,
you might have better luck walking across the big street and hailing one as it drives by.
By Car
It makes absolutely no sense to drive in Lisbon. If you're starting your trip in Lisbon,
don't rent a car until you're on your way out of town.
If you enter Lisbon from the north, a series of boulevards takes you into the center.
Navigate by following signs to Centro, Avenida da República, Marquês de Pombal, Aven-