Carris Mobile App: How To Plan Trips And Track Vehicles

Getting around Lisbon efficiently can make or break your trip. The city's iconic yellow trams, sprawling bus network, and funiculars connect neighborhoods that would otherwise require serious uphill walking. The Carris mobile app puts all of this at your fingertips, real-time vehicle tracking, route planning, and even the ability to recharge your Navegante transit pass without hunting down a physical kiosk.

At The Walking Parrot, we guide visitors through Lisbon's streets daily, and one question comes up constantly: how do I figure out the buses and trams here? The answer starts with downloading the right app and knowing how to use it. Whether you're trying to catch a tram to Belém or need a bus to get back to your hotel after one of our food tours, having the Carris app set up saves time and frustration.

This guide walks you through downloading, setting up, and actually using Lisbon's official transit apps to plan trips and track vehicles in real time.

Which Carris app you need in Lisbon

Lisbon actually has two separate Carris apps, and picking the wrong one means you won't see the buses or trams you need. CARRISway covers the central city network operated by Carris (the company that runs those yellow trams and traditional city buses), while Carris Metropolitana handles the wider metropolitan area that extends beyond Lisbon's core. If you're staying in neighborhoods like Alfama, Belém, or Chiado, you need CARRISway. Traveling to Cascais, Sintra, or anywhere outside the city limits requires the Carris Metropolitana app instead.

CARRISway for central Lisbon

You'll use CARRISway for every tram, bus, funicular, and elevator that moves through Lisbon's historic center and surrounding neighborhoods. This carris mobile app shows real-time arrivals for the famous Tram 28, buses to and from the airport, and every route that accepts your Navegante card within the city limits. The interface displays nearby stops on a map, calculates journey times between addresses, and stores your favorite routes for quick access.

CARRISway is your main tool if you're exploring Lisbon's tourist areas and residential neighborhoods inside the city boundaries.

Most visitors download this app and never need the second one, especially if they're staying within Lisbon proper and taking day trips by train rather than bus.

Carris Metropolitana for Greater Lisbon

Carris Metropolitana operates completely different routes that serve suburbs, satellite towns, and the broader metropolitan region. You need this app if you're catching buses to Oeiras, Amadora, or other municipalities that ring Lisbon but fall outside Carris's territory. The system launched in 2022 and replaced multiple smaller operators with unified service, so older guidebooks might not mention it clearly.

Both apps share similar functions (live tracking, route planning, pass management), but they pull data from entirely separate networks that don't overlap.

Step 1. Download, install, and set up the right app

Opening the App Store or Google Play and typing "Carris" returns several results, but you want either CARRISway or Carris Metropolitana depending on where you're traveling. Both apps are free, work offline for saved routes, and require minimal setup to start tracking vehicles.

Download from your app store

Search "CARRISway" in your phone's app store if you're staying within central Lisbon. The official app comes from "Carris, S.A." and displays a yellow icon matching the company's tram livery. For trips outside the city, download "Carris Metropolitana" instead, which shows a green and blue icon. Both apps install quickly and don't require an account to view schedules or track vehicles in real time.

Set your preferences on first launch

Open the carris mobile app you just installed and allow location access when prompted. This lets the app show nearby stops automatically and calculate walking distances. The interface loads in Portuguese by default, but you can switch to English by tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and selecting "Settings" or "Definições." No registration is needed unless you want to recharge your Navegante pass through the app later.

Location permissions are essential for finding the closest stops without manually searching addresses every time.

Step 2. Plan routes and find the right stop fast

The carris mobile app includes a route planner that calculates connections between any two addresses in Lisbon. You tap the search icon, enter your starting point and destination, and the app generates multiple options showing bus and tram combinations, transfer points, and total travel time. This beats guessing which line goes where or trying to decode printed maps at rain-soaked bus shelters.

Enter your destination or browse nearby stops

Tap the magnifying glass icon at the top of the home screen to access the trip planner. Type your destination address, landmark, or metro station name into the "To" field while leaving "From" set to your current location. The app displays three to five route options ranked by fastest journey time, including walking segments between stops. You can also browse nearby stops by tapping the map view and selecting any stop marker to see which lines serve it.

Read the route options and walking times

Each suggested route shows departure time, arrival time, and number of transfers in a single glance. The app breaks down walking distances before you board and between connections, helping you decide whether to take a faster route with a transfer or a slower direct bus. Tap any route to see step-by-step directions with stop names and estimated wait times.

Routes update automatically based on real-time vehicle positions, so you see accurate departure predictions instead of printed timetables.

Step 3. Track buses and trams in real time

Real-time tracking turns guesswork into precision. The carris mobile app displays every bus and tram as it moves through Lisbon, showing exact arrival times that update every few seconds based on GPS data from the vehicles. You see whether your tram is three minutes away or stuck in traffic fifteen minutes out, which means you can time your walk to the stop or grab coffee while you wait instead of standing in the rain hoping a bus appears.

Watch live vehicle positions on the map

Tap any stop on the map view to see vehicle icons moving along their routes in real time. Each icon represents an active bus or tram, and tapping it reveals the route number, destination, and current delay if any. This view helps you decide whether to wait at your stop or walk to an alternate route nearby if your vehicle is running unusually late.

Check exact arrival times at your stop

Select your stop from the nearby list or search results to see countdown timers for every route that serves it. The app displays predictions like "Tram 28: 4 min" or "Bus 737: 12 min" based on actual vehicle locations, not printed schedules. These times adjust automatically as vehicles speed up or slow down in traffic.

Live countdown timers beat static timetables because they account for Lisbon's unpredictable traffic and frequent tourist crowds that slow boarding.

Step 4. Recharge Navegante and go ticketless

The carris mobile app eliminates trips to ticket machines by letting you recharge your Navegante pass directly from your phone and even use ticketless payment for single rides. You link your existing Navegante card to the app, add credit through your phone's payment method, and the balance updates instantly without visiting a kiosk or metro station. This works for all Carris services within Lisbon, from trams to buses.

Link your Navegante card

Tap the "My Navegante" or "Navegante" tab in the app menu and select "Add Card". Hold your physical Navegante card against the back of your phone where the NFC reader sits (usually near the camera). The app reads the card number automatically and displays your current balance and active passes. You only need to link the card once, and the app stores it for future top-ups.

Recharge without visiting a machine

Select "Top Up" from the Navegante menu and choose your recharge amount (options typically range from €5 to €40). The app accepts credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your new balance appears within seconds, and you can immediately use the card on any Carris vehicle or metro turnstile.

Recharging through the app saves time during rush hour when ticket machines have long queues.

Ready to ride

You now have everything you need to navigate Lisbon's public transit system without second-guessing every connection. The carris mobile app transforms uncertain wait times and confusing route maps into precise arrival predictions and clear step-by-step directions between any two points in the city. Download the right app for your destination area, enable location permissions, and link your Navegante card to start tracking vehicles and planning routes immediately. Every feature covered here works whether you're catching a tram to the waterfront or finding the fastest bus back to your hotel after dark.

Transit access opens up Lisbon's neighborhoods efficiently, but guided exploration reveals the context that makes each district memorable. Join The Walking Parrot's food and walking tours to experience historic neighborhoods with local guides who share stories behind the streets and introduce you to authentic restaurants you'd never find riding buses alone.