For Lisbon's regular CARRIS trams, load a fare onto a Navegante occasional card before your ride, or buy an onboard fare. Validate the journey when you get on. Buying a fare and validating it are separate steps. CARRIS explains validation.
Choose a fare for your day
Zapping is stored pay-as-you-go credit. On CARRIS, one Zapping journey gives you an hour on the regular network. A 24-hour CARRIS/Metro ticket covers unlimited travel on both networks for 24 hours from the first validation. Changing operator with Zapping means paying the new operator's fare under its own validity rules. Check the fare conditions.
The 2026 CARRIS fare table lists Zapping at €1.72, the CARRIS/Metro 24-hour ticket at €7.25, and an onboard tram fare at €3.30. Compare those options against your planned rides, including any Metro journeys. These are 2026 prices; check the operator's current table before travelling.
Get and load a Navegante card
Buy and load a Navegante occasional card at a Metro ticket machine or ticket office. The card itself costs €0.50, in addition to the fare, and can be reloaded during the year after purchase. Each traveller needs a separate card: two people cannot share one at the same time, even with several tickets loaded. Metro describes the card and sales points.
Keep the purchase or loading receipt; Metro asks for it if the card malfunctions. You can check the balance at a Metro ticket machine or ticket office. CARRIS allows only one fare type on the card at a time, so use the previous balance before loading a different type. Read CARRIS's loading conditions.
If you buy your fare on board
The onboard fare is useful when you have not loaded a card, but it ends when you leave that vehicle. You cannot use it to transfer to another tram. CARRIS's FAQ explains the single-vehicle rule.
CARRIS lists cash, bank-card payment and MB WAY for onboard tram fares, with electronic payment at the validator. Some articulated trams (with joined sections) do not accept cash, so avoid relying on cash alone. See the current onboard payment options.
Validate whenever you board
Hold your travel card near the validator as you enter and look for the green light. CARRIS requires validation on entering the vehicle, including when you already have a loaded ticket. Its validation guide describes the green signal.
Take the intended card out of your wallet rather than presenting several contactless cards together. Metro recommends keeping it apart from other cards. If you do not see a successful validation, ask the crew for help.
