Lisbon's river ferries are working boats run by Transtejo Soflusa (TTSL), not sightseeing cruises. For a cruise visitor that is part of the appeal: a short crossing to Cacilhas, on the south bank, shows you the city from the water as part of an ordinary public ticket. Our Lisbon ferry hub lists the routes; this post explains how to use them without losing track of the ship. Everything below was read on TTSL and Port of Lisbon pages on 29 October 2026.
1. From your ship to the boat
The Port of Lisbon names three cruise terminals: the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, the Santa Apolónia Cruise Terminal and the Gare Marítima da Rocha Conde de Óbidos, and says its terminals are near the historic and cultural centre. It gives no distances or step-by-step directions from them, and its useful-information page lists buses (Carris), the metro, trains (CP) and taxis without routes and has no accessibility information. So ask your cruise line which terminal your ship uses and how to reach the river terminal you want, and allow for the walk.
On TTSL's timetable pages, the Cacilhas, Seixal and Montijo boats leave from Cais do Sodré, the Barreiro boats from Terreiro do Paço, and the Trafaria and Porto Brandão boats from Belém. Our hub says Cais do Sodré is a short walk from the cruise terminals; neither Port of Lisbon page we read states that, so do not take it for granted.
2. The crossings
| Crossing | Lisbon terminal | Average time as TTSL states it |
|---|---|---|
| Cacilhas | Cais do Sodré | 10 minutes |
| Seixal | Cais do Sodré | 20 minutes |
| Montijo | Cais do Sodré | 25 minutes |
| Barreiro | Terreiro do Paço | 20 minutes (some departures are marked as 25 minutes) |
| Trafaria, via Porto Brandão | Belém | 25 minutes |
Each timetable page has separate departures for weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and public holidays, so read the column for your day. TTSL posts service changes for each link on its notices page, so read it for your date as well. The Troia peninsula is not among the six river links on TTSL's timetable page, and we did not research it.
3. Tickets, validation and cost
- TTSL's tariff page lists a single ticket for Cacilhas to Cais do Sodré at 2.00 EUR and says the tariff has applied since 1 January 2026, updated on 16 March and 15 May. It also lists a Viva Viagem card at 0.50 EUR. Check the tariff page before you travel.
- Tickets are sold at staffed counters and at vending machines in the stations and terminals. The machines take coins, notes and bank cards. The counters take Multibanco, and cash except at the Cais do Sodré and Terreiro do Paço terminals. The page does not mention buying on board.
- Validation is compulsory. TTSL says a ticket counts as validated only when the validator shows a green light, and that cards are validated at the entrance to the boarding room. Travelling without a validated ticket carries a fine of 30 to 350 EUR, according to the passenger rules page.
4. Accessibility, luggage and comfort
TTSL's rules say wheelchairs and baby strollers travel free on all river links, and that smoking is banned inside terminals and on board. Its customer-service page describes priority service for people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant women and people with children under 2, and says the service centre can suggest routes suited to a customer's mobility needs. The contact is 808 20 30 50 or apoio.cliente@ttsl.pt, and the customer-service space was temporarily closed when we read the page, with services available by email.
We found no TTSL page describing gangways, ramps or step-free access at each terminal, and the rules page has no general luggage rules. If you travel with a walker, a large bag or limited stamina, write to TTSL before you go and ask about the specific terminal and boat. Our guide to access questions to ask before booking a ferry suggests what to ask, although it was written for Greece.
5. Keeping a safe margin for the ship
Check the timetable column for your day, note the last departure that gets you back to the terminal with time in hand, and keep a second option written down. Ask your cruise line what happens if you are late; we have not checked any cruise line's policy. Our guides on the all-aboard worksheet and why separate tickets need a buffer help you set the margin, and the Trafaria boats leave from Belém, where a heritage day with time to sit may suit you better. All routes are on the Lisbon ferry hub.
Checked on 29 October 2026: TTSL's timetable pages for Cacilhas, Seixal, Montijo, Barreiro and Trafaria, its tariff, sales network, validation, passenger rules, customer service and notices pages, and the Port of Lisbon's cruise terminals and useful-information pages. Timetables, fares and rules change: check TTSL's pages for your date before you travel.