LISBON - Portugal - page 18

Fri 8:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 9:00-18:00). The Portugal Telecom office on Rossio sells
phone cards, and has metered phones and card-operated pay phones (daily
8:00-23:00).
Travel Agency: Agencies line the Avenida da Liberdade. For flights (and train tickets in
Portugal only—same price as at station, no fee), GeoStar is handy and helpful (€15
booking fee for flights, Mon-Fri 9:30-18:30, closed Sat-Sun, Praça dos Restauradores
14, tel. [phone]).
Updates to this Topic: For news about changes to this topic's coverage since it was pub-
lished, see www.ricksteves.com/update .
Getting Around Lisbon
To use Lisbon's transit economically, take advantage of the reloadable VivaViagem card
(which works much like London's Oyster Card). The card works on the Metro, funiculars,
trolleys, and buses.
VivaViagem cards are sold at smart machines at any Metro stop for a one-time €0.50
fee and loaded with your choice of options: single ride (€1.25, good for one hour of travel
within Zone 1); 24-hour pass (€5); or “zapping” (pre-load the card with whatever amount
you'd like, and credit is deducted at the single-ride rate as you use it—you can “top it up”
when the credit runs out). For intense users, the 24-hour pass is best. If using the system
more sparingly, the “zapping” method may be smartest ( www.carris.pt ).
To buy or top up your Viva Viagem card at a smart machine, touch the screen to begin,
press the British flag for English, then make your selection according to what you need to
do. You can pay with coins or bills (but not with magnetic-stripe American credit cards).
To buy a card without using the machine—or to get information on the system—drop
by the Casa da Sorte office (see blue sign from Rossio and Praça da Figueira, Mon-Fri
8:00-20:00, closed Sat-Sun).