There are three Hop-on, Hop-off bus companies in Lisbon: Gray Line, Yellow Line, and City Sightseeing. The Gray Line said they weren’t expecting another bus for 30 minutes and they didn’t know if they were going to sell anymore tickets.

I ended up going with City Sightseeing since I’ve used them in multiple cities including Malaga. The guy at the desk gave me a map but told me to go outside to buy my ticket.

I stepped outside. The Gray Line bus pulls away. The City bus pulls up. They’re selling tickets for 27 euros. There is a guy walking down the line with a mobile credit card machine. That’s perfect for me since I’m doing this trip without euros.

There’s a red line and a blue line included with this ticket. Red line is most popular and just left. It’s going to be 20 minutes until the next red line bus. I’m just hopping on this blue line and I’ll pick up red line where they meet.

I like the map on this one. When folded it’s the size of my phone. Normally they’re much bigger and more difficult to deal with.

You can’t even tell this is on the side of a building.

This is the oldest railway terminal in Portugal.

There’s no way these cars are getting by.

I stand corrected.

Covenant of the Mother of God was founded in 1509 by the queen. The temple was partially destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. It was closed in 1868 and re-opened as a museum in 1965.

From here we can see the Vasco Da Gama bridge. It is the longest bridge in the European Union.

Vasco Da Gama Tower is 476 feet high. It was built for the 1998 World’s Fair.

Altice Arena was also built for the 1998 World’s Fair. It was designed to minimize heating and cooling costs.

Oriente Station is Lisbon’s largest transportation hub.

This came out really bad but it’s a street performer balancing a long pole on her head and juggling for tips during a red light.

This is the Lisbon Airport.

I mentioned that I like the size of this map. Another feature I like is you can fold it so you have the red line on one side and blue line on the other

This is the Monument to the Heros of the Peninsular War. It celebrates the Portuguese and British victory against Napoleon’s army during the Peninsular War of 1808-1814.

The guy in the brown pants is another street performer. I missed it again.

This is the Zoo.

Down there is an eco park with 1  million trees.

Lisbon’s only department store

Edward VII park.

Edward VII park is the stop where I can switch buses.

I started walking the bus line but there wasn’t a red line bus from my company. I decided to look for a bathroom while I wait for a bus.

The public bathroom for this park is fenced off and closed. They’re doing some construction on the building.

They have some kind of a book fair going on so I decided to head that way and ask for directions to the bathroom.

One of the book dealers sent me here. All of the doors are locked.

I walked to another book dealer. She said that bathroom opens in 10 minutes.  I asked if there was another that might be open now. She points me further down the path.

This one was open and full of options. Can you pick out the two sinks?

I am making my way back to the bus line.

This looks like a nice tennis facility.

Marquis of Pombal Square is a major roundabout next to the park. Marquis of Pombal was governor of Lisbon from 1750-1777. He is being honored for rebuilding Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755. The monument has him standing with his hand on a lion as a symbol of power.

The first bus I came to just said “to ship” so I guess they have a bus here that just runs to and from the ship. That driver directed me to a red line bus further down the bus line.

There is some overlap between the two lines. Here we are back to the department store.

Back to  Edward VII park

There is plenty of room on this bus. It was impossible to get on red line at the port.

These are cables for their streetcar system.

This is Pedro Alvares Cabral monument. He was a navigator who discovered Brazil and claimed it for Portugal in 1500.

Estrella Basilica was ordered built by Queen Maria I after the birth of her son. It was completed in 1779. The tomb of Queen Maria is inside it.

This is the 25th of April bridge. We sailed under it this morning and will again this evening.

This bakery is on my list but that line is quite long.

Jeronimos Monastery is one of the most popular attractions in Lisbon. Construction on it began in 1501 and it took 100 years to complete.

The Monument to the Discoveries.

Tower of Belem. This is the stop I’ve been waiting for.

For full coverage of my Belem Tower tour, please visit Lisbon: Belem Tower.

I got in line at 1:32 and I’m walking out at exactly 2:32. The line is much shorter now.

There are a few places on my list in this area so I’m going on foot for awhile.

This monument is for Portuguese pilot Gago Coutinho. He was the first to fly across the South Atlantic Ocean in 1922.

This is Belem Lighthouse.

The next place I wanted to stop is Monument of the Discoveries.

For full coverage of Monument to the Discoveries please check out Lisbon: Monument to the Discoveries.

I am heading over to the Monastery. To get across the street here we have to go underground

There’s a tunnel that takes you to the other side of the street. I think I got caught in the middle of a grade school field trip here.

Now we are across the street from the monument.

This is The Gardens of the Empire Square.

The ducks love these fountains.

Look at that line for Jeronimos Monastery. That’s definitely going to have to wait for a future trip to Lisbon.

We can at least get a closer look at the outside our way to the bakery.

The bakery is just a block from the monastery. The lines are much better. There’s a takeout line and an eat in line. I am running short on time so I’m going to walk and eat

The big thing to get here is the custard tarts. In the takeout section it’s all they sell. They have singles, or 6 packs, or 50 packs.

I’m just getting two.

They gave me powdered sugar and cinnamon. I guess I’ll try one of each.

Let’s start with powdered sugar.

Now the cinnamon.

Those are really good. I’d just eat them plain.

I think I ran into a soda drinking competition at Burger King.

Belem Palace is the residence of the President of the Portuguese Republic.

The plan is to head towards the port and if I see a Hop-on, Hop-off bus stop, I’ll catch it.

I need to get across the road again because the traffic on this side is heading in the wrong direction. I spot a walking bridge.

if I can find a beer, a bathroom, and a bus stop, I’ll just hang out until the bus comes. Otherwise I need to head to the port.

I see beer.

I found a stop with all three companies.

I thought this was a port o potty but it’s just a trash can.

I made it in that lighthouse building and I’m in line for the bathroom. The men’s room is closed and everyone is using the single person ladies room.

Here comes my bus. I’m going to try to make it.

No!

I get back in and the line is longer. Then I notice the men’s room is open. I head for it. One of the ladies in line says “someone is in there.” What she doesn’t know is the men’s room has three urinals and a toilet.

This was just $3.50 total for both. I can keep an eye on the bus stop from here. The yellow line bus just came through

This is gray line. Not me.

Mine should be next. I finished up the beers and headed to the bus stop.

I’m getting a little nervous. We’re 30 minutes until back on board. I decided whichever bus comes next, I’m going to try to get on it.

Here comes another yellow bus. It’s not mine. But I’m going to play dumb and try to get on it.

Wait. My bus is coming in right behind it.

We make a couple stops and now we’re in some traffic. I decide to talk to the driver to make sure I’m going to be good. I move up to the front seat and ask “are we going to the port?” No. “What?” No port. You need to get off at next stop and walk. “We’re stuck in traffic and back on board is in 20 minutes. If in need to walk, let me out now.”

That concludes my time on the Lisbon Hop-on, Hop-off bus. You’re going to have to check back next time to see how this ends.

As for a recommendation, there’s just no way you can see and do everything in Lisbon in a day. If you want to get a good overview of the city and maybe make a stop or two, the Hop-on, Hop-off buses are good.

If I could do it again I would’ve tried to get transportation straight to Belem Tower. Then I would’ve tried to fit the monastery tour in with Belem Tower and The Monument to the Discoveries since they are all in the same area.