Belem Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Belem Transportation

It’s easy to get around in Belem. Here are your best transportation options from, fast to scenic and from cheap to free.

Getting to Belem from Lisbon

There are several routes to choose from when traveling to Belem. Travelers coming from Lisbon can hop on the train from the Cais do Sodre station, but be aware that even if a train is scheduled to go through Belem, it might not stop there. Typically the slower trains are the ones that will stop. The tickets can be purchased using a Lisbon Card or Metro pass, or a round-trip ticket can be purchased from one of the machines. These tickets must be validated on the platform before entering the train. There are inspectors who randomly check this and issue fines to those who got on the train without validating their ticket first.

Tram number 15, from the Praca do Comercio or the Praca da Figueira Square, is one of the most popular ways of traveling from Lisbon to Belem. It travels along a beautiful path straight to the main tourist area of Belem. It is fast and cheap, and accepts the LisbonCard. There are choices of a few buses going to Belem, but if time allows you may enjoy the scenic 6 km walk along the river.

Going into Belem by car or a motorhome is not a problem. There’s always access to many parking spots that are close to the popular tourist spots. There are even “parking helpers.” They are people who hold up a white rolled-up paper and stand in front of vacant parking spaces. This helper aids drivers in safely navigating the parking spot.

Seeing Belem

There’s a hop-on, hop-off street train that’s great for round-trip views of Belem. Tourists hop on it to see whatever area they want and then get back on it again to travel on to the next destination. It follows along the main city streets. Except for Mondays, the tours are available every day.

Another option for tours that you can get off and then on again is the open-top double-decker buses. People can sit on the upper deck to enjoy the sun while watching the people and places below. Although they’re run by Lisbon’s public transportation system (Carris), you need a special ticket to ride the double decker buses. The LisbonCard or regular day tickets aren’t accepted. As a cheap alternative, taxis are easy to find.

Whether for reasons of romance or convenience, nothing tops seeing Belem on a horse-driven carriage. The carriages wait in the areas around Albuquerque Park and the Afonso monument. Drivers wear traditional costumes.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transportation in Belem.