Hop On Hop Off Lisbon

Yellow Bus operates two main bus routes plus a historic tramcar and boat tour. Both bus routes start from Praça da Figueira in the city center.

Route maps and tracking: Find live bus schedules here.

Belém Lisbon Bus Tour – Yellow Bus

• Frequency: Buses every 30 minutes
• Operating hours: 9:00 – 17:30
• Main starting point: Praça da Figueira

Stops:

1. Restauradores 1 – Terminal
2. Restauradores 2
3. Marquês de Pombal
4. El Corte Inglés
5. Parque Eduardo VII
6. Amoreiras
7. Basílica da Estrela
8. Pilar 7 / Lx Factory / Museu da Carris
9. Belém / Museu dos Coches
10. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
11. Torre de Belém
12. Padrão dos Descobrimentos
13. MAAT
14. Docas Cruise Terminal
15. Jardim da Estrela
16. Back to Restauradores 1 – Terminal

Route Highlights:

This route travels from Lisbon’s historic center through the main avenues to the monumental Belém district. You’ll pass through Amoreiras shopping area and see the distinctive Basílica da Estrela before heading west along the Tagus River.

The big draws are in Belém, where Portugal’s Age of Discovery comes to life. The UNESCO-listed Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower both date back to the early 1500s when Portuguese explorers were mapping the world. The Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument honors those seafaring heroes, while MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) shows Portugal’s modern creative side.

Stop at the Coach Museum to see ornate 17th and 18th-century royal carriages, or hop off at Pilar 7 to walk under the 25 de Abril Bridge. Don’t miss trying pastéis de nata (custard tarts) at the original Pastéis de Belém bakery near the monastery.

Modern Lisbon Bus Tour – Yellow Bus

• Frequency: Buses every 30 minutes
• Operating hours: 9:15 – 17:15
• Main starting point: Praça da Figueira

Stops:

1. Rossio
2. Restauradores 2
3. Avenida da Liberdade
4. Graça
5. Panteão Nacional / Feira da Ladra
6. Lisbon Cruise Terminal
7. Museu do Azulejo
8. Beato
9. 8 Marvila / Ah Amália
10. Oceanário de Lisboa
11. Vasco da Gama Shopping
12. FIL
13. Torre Vasco da Gama / Hotel Myriad
14. Back to Rossio

Route Highlights:

This route takes you from old Lisbon through to Parque das Nações, the ultra-modern district built for Expo 98. The contrast is striking as you leave behind traditional neighborhoods and arrive at sleek contemporary architecture.

The star attraction is the Oceanário de Lisboa, one of the world’s largest aquariums. Nearby you’ll find the Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre and the cable car that runs along the waterfront. The Torre Vasco da Gama offers panoramic views from 145 meters up.

Along the way, stop at the National Tile Museum (Museu do Azulejo) to see Portugal’s famous decorative tiles spanning five centuries. The Graça neighborhood gives you authentic Lisbon with its viewpoints overlooking the city, and the Panteão Nacional is worth a stop for both its baroque dome and the Sunday Feira da Ladra flea market held nearby.

Hills Tramcar Tour – Yellow Bus

• Duration: Full loop time not available (non-stop tour)
• Frequency: Departures every 25 minutes
• Operating hours: 9:30 AM – 5:05 PM
• Main starting point: Praça do Comércio

This is a premium, tourist-focused version of Lisbon’s famous Tram 28 route, running through the narrow streets and steep hills of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods. Unlike the regular Tram 28, this is a non-stop tour with audio commentary in 12 languages.

The route winds through traditional areas like Graça, Alfama, and Baixa, passing viewpoints, historic buildings, and local neighborhoods. The vintage tramcar experience itself is part of the attraction.

Note: This tramcar has no wheelchair ramp. There’s space to store a folded wheelchair, but the entrance is narrow with three high steps to climb.

Yellow Boat River Tour

• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Frequency: Check schedule online
• Operating hours: Daily
• Hop-on-hop-off: One stop in Belém

Stops:

1. Terreiro do Paço – Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste
2. Belém MAAT
3. Terreiro do Paço – Estação Fluvial Sul e Sueste

Route Highlights:

The Yellow Boat gives you a completely different perspective of Lisbon from the Tagus River. You’ll cruise past the city’s waterfront landmarks including the 25 de Abril Bridge, Cristo Rei statue across the river, and the riverside docks that once launched Portuguese explorers around the globe.

The boat makes one hop-on-hop-off stop in Belém, letting you explore the monuments there before catching a later boat back. The 90-minute cruise gives you time to see the city skyline and major riverside landmarks without rushing.

Gray Line operates five bus routes plus a night tour, making it the most extensive coverage in Lisbon. Most routes start from Marquês de Pombal.

Route maps and tracking: Use the free “Find my Bus” app to track buses in real-time.

Belém Line (Red Line) – Gray Line

• Duration: Approximately 90 minutes full loop
• Frequency: Check app for real-time schedules
• Operating hours: 9:30 – 18:00
• Main starting point: Marquês de Pombal Square

Stops:

1. Marquês de Pombal Square
2. Restauradores
3. Príncipe Real
4. São Pedro Alcântara Belvedere
5. Corpo Santo
6. Cais Sodré
7. Ancient Art Museum
8. Pilar 7
9. Coach Museum
10. National Ajuda Palace
11. Jerónimos Monastery / CCB
12. Palácio do Governador
13. Belém Tower
14. Monument to Discoveries
15. MAAT
16. Doclands
17. Basílica of Estrela
18. Amoreiras
19. El Corte Inglés
20. Eduard VII Park – Northside
21. Marquês of Pombal Square

Route Highlights:

This is Gray Line’s flagship route, traveling from the city center through the main avenues to Belém’s monumental district. You’ll pass through upscale Príncipe Real and stop at the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint before descending to the riverside.

The route hits all of Belém’s heavy hitters: the UNESCO-listed Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, the Monument to Discoveries, and the Coach Museum with its collection of royal carriages. The Ancient Art Museum and MAAT provide cultural stops, while Pilar 7 lets you experience the 25 de Abril Bridge up close.

On the return journey, stop at the Basílica da Estrela with its white dome, or hop off at El Corte Inglés for shopping. The route loops back through Eduardo VII Park with its manicured gardens stretching down from Marquês de Pombal.

Oriente Line (Blue Line) – Gray Line

• Duration: Approximately 90 minutes full loop
• Frequency: Check app for real-time schedules
• Operating hours: 9:30 – 18:00
• Main starting point: Marquês de Pombal Square

Stops:

1. Marquês de Pombal Square
2. Duque Loulé Avenue
3. Saldanha / José Fontana
4. Campo Pequeno
5. Oceanarium
6. Lisbon Casino
7. Vasco da Gama Shopping Center
8. Vasco da Gama Tower
9. Oriente Station
10. Tile Museum
11. Cruise Terminal
12. Santa Apolónia Station
13. Martim Moniz
14. Restauradores
15. Marquês de Pombal Square

Route Highlights:

This route takes you along the Tagus River to Parque das Nações, the site of Expo 98 that’s now Lisbon’s modern business and entertainment district. The contrast between traditional Lisbon and this contemporary area is striking.

The Oceanário de Lisboa is the star attraction here, ranked among the world’s best aquariums. Nearby you’ll find the Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre, the cable car, and the Torre Vasco da Gama with its observation deck. The Oriente Station itself is an architectural landmark with its dramatic glass and steel canopy.

On the return journey, the route passes through Alfama (though doesn’t stop in its narrow streets) before stopping at the National Tile Museum, where you can see five centuries of Portugal’s distinctive azulejo art. The Cruise Terminal and Santa Apolónia station stops connect you to river transport and trains.

Castle Line (Green Line) – Gray Line

• Duration: Approximately 60 minutes full loop
• Frequency: Check app for real-time schedules
• Operating hours: 9:30 – 18:00
• Main starting point: Praça Marquês de Pombal

Stops:

1. Praça Marquês de Pombal
2. Duque de Loulé Avenue
3. Martim Moniz (Mundial Hotel)
4. St. George Castle
5. Graça Belvedere
6. National Pantheon
7. Flea Market
8. Martim Moniz / Praça da Figueira
9. Restauradores
10. Eduard VII Park – Northside

Route Highlights:

This route uses single-decker buses to navigate Lisbon’s oldest and steepest neighborhoods. It’s designed to take you up the hills you wouldn’t want to climb on foot.

São Jorge Castle is the main draw, an 11th-century Moorish fortress with panoramic views over the city and river. The castle ramparts and archaeological site take about an hour to explore properly. Nearby, the Graça Belvedere offers equally stunning views without the entrance fee.

The National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional) with its massive white dome houses the tombs of Portuguese presidents and notable figures. On Sundays, hop off at the Flea Market stop for the Feira da Ladra, where locals have been trading goods since the 12th century.

This route gives you authentic neighborhood atmosphere in Alfama and Graça, where you’ll see laundry hanging from windows, tiny taverns, and narrow cobblestone streets unchanged for centuries.

Note: This line only operates single-decker buses, and the company notes their tours are not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Cascais Line (Orange/Yellow Line) – Gray Line

• Duration: Extended route (approximately 2 hours one-way)
• Frequency: Check app for real-time schedules
• Operating hours: 9:30 – 18:00
• Main starting point: Marquês de Pombal

Stops (Lisboa to Cascais – Orange Line):

1. Marquês de Pombal
2. Jerónimos
3. Carcavelos (Rua do Gurué)
4. Estoril (Tourism Office)
5. Cascais (Hotel Baía)
6. Guincho (Parque de Campismo Orbitur)
7. Guincho (Rest. Porto Santa Maria)
8. Guincho (Forte dos Oitavos)
9. Cascais (Boca do Inferno)
10. Cascais (Casa das Histórias – Paula Rego)

Stops (Cascais to Lisboa – Yellow Line):

1. Cascais (Casa das Histórias – Paula Rego)
2. Cascais (Hotel Baía)
3. Estoril (Tourism Office)
4. Carcavelos (Rua do Gurué)
5. Monument to Discoveries
6. Marquês de Pombal

Route Highlights:

This route extends far beyond Lisbon proper, following the Costa do Sol coastline to the resort towns of Estoril and Cascais. It’s a completely different experience from the city routes, trading monuments for beaches and coastal scenery.

The route passes Carcavelos Beach, popular with surfers, before reaching Estoril with its famous casino and belle époque villas. Cascais, once a fishing village and now an upscale resort town, offers a charming historic center, marina, and coastal promenade.

At Guincho Beach, you’ll see dramatic Atlantic coastline with white sand dunes backed by the Sintra mountains. The Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) is a cliff formation where waves crash into a rocky chasm. The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego museum showcases the work of Portugal’s most famous contemporary artist.

Special seasonal stops: During summer (July-August), some Guincho stops operate on different schedules depending on weather and weekends.

Uptown Line (Purple Line) – Gray Line

This route covers Lisbon’s modern and residential districts, including stops at Colombo shopping center and Lisbon Zoo. It is ideal for shopping lovers and families, focusing on business districts, university areas, and contemporary zones that contrast with the historic routes.

Night Tour – Gray Line

Available with Classic, Explorer, Expert, and Epic passes. Departures from Restauradores Square (stop #2 on Belém Line). The tour lets you experience Lisbon’s illuminated monuments and evening atmosphere.

City Sightseeing operates three routes covering 38 stops across Lisbon. All three routes start at Marquês de Pombal.

Red Route – City Sightseeing

• Duration: 105 minutes full loop
• Frequency: Buses every 30 minutes
• Operating hours: 9:30 – 17:00
• Main starting point: Marquês de Pombal

Stops:

1. Marquês de Pombal
2. Príncipe Real
3. Cais do Sodré
4. Mercado da Ribeira
5. Pilar 7
6. Museu dos Coches
7. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
8. Torre de Belém
9. Padrão dos Descobrimentos
10. MAAT / M. Eletricidade
11. Docas
12. Basílica da Estrela
13. Restauradores 1
14. Restauradores 2

Route Highlights:

City Sightseeing’s Red Route is a streamlined version of the Belém run, hitting the essential monuments without excess stops. You’ll travel through Príncipe Real, one of Lisbon’s trendiest neighborhoods with its garden square and boutiques, then descend to Cais do Sodré, the historic riverside district that’s become Lisbon’s nightlife hub.

The Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market) is worth a stop for its food hall featuring dishes from top Lisbon chefs. Pilar 7 gives you access underneath the 25 de Abril Bridge with a bridge exhibition and viewpoint.

In Belém, you get all the main monuments: the Coach Museum with royal carriages, the UNESCO-listed Jerónimos Monastery (allow 1-2 hours), the iconic Belém Tower you’ve seen in every Lisbon photo, and the Monument to Discoveries showing Portugal’s explorers setting sail. MAAT provides contemporary contrast with its white wave-like building housing modern art.

The return stops at Basílica da Estrela, an 18th-century baroque church with a massive dome you can climb for city views.

Blue Route – City Sightseeing

• Duration: 105 minutes full loop
• Frequency: Buses every 40 minutes
• Operating hours: 10:00 – 17:00
• Main starting point: Marquês de Pombal

Stops:

1. Marquês de Pombal
2. Av. Duque de Loulé
3. Campo Pequeno
4. LCT – Only for Cruise Ships
5. Santa Apolónia
6. Museu da Água
7. Museu do Azulejo
8. Poço do Bispo
9. Oceanário de Lisboa
10. C.C. Vasco da Gama
11. Torre Vasco da Gama
12. Gare do Oriente
13. Entrecampos
14. Jardim Zoológico
15. José Malhoa | Hotel Mercure
16. José Malhoa | Novotel
17. El Corte Inglés
18. Parque Eduardo VII

Route Highlights:

The Blue Route covers the most ground, running from the city center up to the zoo, then east to Parque das Nações. It’s City Sightseeing’s longest loop at 105 minutes without stops.

Campo Pequeno bullring (now a cultural center and shopping mall) marks your departure from central Lisbon. The route then follows the river to the National Tile Museum, where Portugal’s five-century tradition of decorative tiles comes to life in a former convent.

Parque das Nações is the big draw, with the Oceanário de Lisboa as the star. One of the world’s largest aquariums, it’s home to sharks, rays, sea otters, and a massive central tank representing the global ocean. Plan at least 2 hours here. The nearby Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre and Torre Vasco da Gama (offering panoramic views) give you more to explore.

On the return, the zoo stop connects you to Lisbon Zoo if you’re traveling with kids. The route loops back through Eduardo VII Park before returning to Marquês de Pombal.

Green Route – City Sightseeing

• Duration: 105 minutes full loop
• Frequency: Buses every 30 minutes
• Operating hours: 10:00 – 17:00
• Main starting point: Marquês de Pombal

Stops:

1. Marquês de Pombal
2. Restauradores 1
3. Martim Moniz
4. Castelo S. Jorge
5. Miradouro da Graça
6. Panteão Nacional
7. Feira da Ladra
8. Praça da Figueira
9. Restauradores 2

Route Highlights:

The Green Route uses smaller red buses specifically designed to navigate the steep, narrow streets leading up to São Jorge Castle. Think of this as City Sightseeing’s solution to Lisbon’s challenging topography.

Martim Moniz square sits at the base of the old Moorish quarter, marking where the city begins climbing. The route winds uphill to São Jorge Castle, Lisbon’s 11th-century fortress with panoramic views over the red rooftops to the Tagus River. Plan to spend an hour exploring the ramparts, towers, and archaeological site.

The Miradouro da Graça stop puts you at another stellar viewpoint without the castle entrance fee. The National Pantheon’s white dome is visible from here; inside you’ll find the tombs of Portuguese presidents and a terrace with more views.

The Feira da Ladra stop serves the flea market (Tuesdays and Saturdays), where vendors have been trading since medieval times. The route loops back down through Praça da Figueira, returning you to the flat city center.

Important: The Green Route buses are not wheelchair accessible due to the small size and steep streets they navigate.

This 16th-century fortress stands where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic, guarding Lisbon’s harbor since 1519. Built in Manuel I’s reign during Portugal’s maritime golden age, the tower’s ornate stone carvings mix military architecture with decorative Manueline details like twisted rope motifs and armillary spheres.

Climb the narrow spiral staircase to the terrace for river views, then explore the chambers where spices and treasures from the East were once stored. The tower’s position on the waterfront means you’ll get photos of it rising from the river with sailboats drifting past.

All three operators stop at Belém Tower. Plan about 30-45 minutes for your visit, more if there’s a queue to climb the tower.

Book your Belém Tower tickets

This UNESCO World Heritage monastery sits a short walk from Belém Tower and represents Portuguese Manueline architecture at its finest. Built starting in 1501, the monastery celebrates Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India and the wealth that flowed back to Portugal.

The cloisters are the real draw, two stories of carved stone columns covered in maritime motifs, exotic plants, and religious scenes. The church contains Vasco da Gama’s tomb, and the architectural details throughout show how Portugal’s overseas discoveries influenced even religious buildings.

The monastery takes 1-2 hours to explore properly. Buy your ticket in advance since it’s one of Lisbon’s most visited sites. All three operators stop here, usually combining it with other Belém attractions.

Book your Jerónimos Monastery tickets

Perched on Lisbon’s highest hill, this Moorish castle dates to the 11th century and offers the best panoramic views in the city. The fortification walls, towers, and archaeological site sprawl across the hilltop where Lisbon’s original settlement began.

You can walk the ramparts, explore the castle grounds, and see the remains of the royal palace. The observation terraces provide 360-degree views over Lisbon’s terra-cotta roofs down to the Tagus River and the 25 de Abril Bridge. Bring your camera.

City Sightseeing’s Green Route and Gray Line’s Castle Line both stop here, saving you the steep uphill walk. Plan at least an hour for your visit. The castle tends to be less crowded early morning or late afternoon.

Book your São Jorge Castle tickets

One of the world’s best aquariums sits in Parque das Nações, featuring a massive central tank representing the global ocean. Sharks, rays, tuna, and a huge sunfish circle the tank while smaller exhibits around the perimeter showcase marine life from the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic regions.

The highlight is watching the sea otters play, but the penguins, puffins, and the enormous sunfish (mola mola) also draw crowds. The aquarium’s modern design and conservation message make it more than just fish tanks.

All three operators have routes stopping at the Oceanarium. It’s a 2-3 hour visit minimum, so factor that into your day. The location in Parque das Nações means you can combine it with the Vasco da Gama shopping center, cable car ride, or waterfront promenade.

Book your Oceanário tickets

This white limestone monument juts into the Tagus River like a ship’s prow, celebrating Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Erected in 1960, it shows Henry the Navigator at the front leading 32 other explorers, cartographers, and historical figures down both sides of the monument.

Take the elevator to the top for rooftop views of Belém, the river, and the 25 de Abril Bridge. At ground level, a compass rose in the plaza pavement shows the routes Portuguese explorers took around the world.

The monument sits between Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, making it easy to visit all three in sequence. All operators stop here. The visit takes about 30 minutes including the elevator ride up.

Housed in a 16th-century convent, this museum tells the story of Portugal’s azulejo tradition from the 15th century to today. You’ll see everything from early Moorish geometric patterns to baroque narrative panels and contemporary installations.

The highlight is a 36-meter-long tile panel showing Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake, giving you a view of the city that no longer exists. The convent church drips with blue and white tiles covering every surface, showing how tiles evolved from decoration to art form.

City Sightseeing’s Blue Route and Gray Line’s Oriente Line both stop here. Budget an hour for your visit. The museum helps you understand the decorative tiles you see on building facades all over Lisbon.

Book your National Tile Museum tickets

This wave-like white building on the Belém waterfront opened in 2016, instantly becoming Lisbon’s most photographed contemporary building. The museum focuses on how art, architecture, and technology intersect, with rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection covering Portugal’s industrial history.

The rooftop is free to access and provides great views of the river and 25 de Abril Bridge. The building itself, designed by British architect Amanda Levete, is worth seeing even if you don’t go inside for exhibitions.

All three operators stop at MAAT on their Belém routes. If you’re not interested in the exhibitions, just walk the rooftop for views and photos. The riverside promenade continues from here toward the monuments.

This massive white-domed baroque church sits in Alfama and serves as the final resting place for Portuguese presidents, writers, and fado singers. The interior’s pink marble and geometric inlaid floors contrast with the simple white exterior.

Climb to the terrace circling the dome for one of Lisbon’s best viewpoints, looking across the red rooftops of Alfama and down to the river. The Pantheon took 284 years to complete after construction started in 1682, which is why “obras de Santa Engrácia” (works of Santa Engrácia, the church’s original name) became a Portuguese saying for projects that never finish.

City Sightseeing’s Green Route and Gray Line’s Castle Line stop here. The visit takes about 30 minutes, including the terrace. It’s usually less crowded than São Jorge Castle but offers equally good views.

This white baroque basilica with its distinctive dome sits in a quiet residential neighborhood between downtown and Belém. Built in the late 18th century, the church features pink and black marble floors, a nativity scene crafted entirely from cork and terracotta, and the tomb of Queen Maria I.

For a small fee you can climb inside the dome to the rooftop terrace, which provides panoramic views across western Lisbon without the crowds of São Jorge Castle. The Jardim da Estrela park across the street is perfect for a break.

City Sightseeing’s Red Route and Gray Line’s Belém Line both stop here. It’s a 20-30 minute visit unless you climb the dome, which adds another 20 minutes. Most tourists skip this one, so it tends to be peaceful.

Portugal’s oldest zoo (opened 1884) houses over 2,000 animals across 16 hectares in the middle of Lisbon. You’ll find everything from big cats and primates to dolphins, reptiles, and a cable car that runs overhead for aerial views of the exhibits.

The dolphin presentations are popular, as is the cable car that gives you a different perspective on the zoo layout. It’s a solid half-day activity if you’re traveling with kids or animal lovers.

City Sightseeing’s Blue Route stops at the zoo entrance. Gray Line’s Epic 72-hour pass includes zoo admission, making it excellent value if you were planning to visit anyway.

Book your Lisbon Zoo tickets