Navigating Portugal is actually pretty easy when you have the right resources. After moving to Portugal from the US in 2023, I’ve picked up some helpful apps along the way that will help Swifties coming to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon this May!
Apps you need to download to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal:
These 10 categories of apps are the ones we use most often for daily life in Portugal and they’re each must-haves to make your Eras Tour experience as smooth as possible!
1. See Tickets Wallet
ALL tickets to The Eras Tour will be in your See Tickets Wallet after tickets are released May 10-11th. If you purchased directly from See Tickets, your tickets will appear automatically as long as you’re logged in with the same email address of your purchase.
If you didn’t purchase directly from See Tickets, you will need to create a See Tickets account online before downloading the app. The original ticket purchaser will then need to transfer your ticket to the email associated with your See Tickets account. Once they do that, you’ll see your tickets in your See Tickets Wallet!
All Taylor Swift in Lisbon tickets are digital. If someone is offering to sell you a physical ticket, it’s a scam!
Download the See Tickets Wallet for iOS or Android.
2. Comboios de Portugal
Comboios de Portugal (CP) is the train ticketing app used across Portugal. If you’re planning on traveling around Portugal, visiting Sintra, or taking a train at any point while Taylor Swift is in Lisbon, I highly recommend downloading the CP app.
Although you can purchase train tickets at the counter or on a browser, the CP app makes it easy to check train schedules on the go, save your tickets to your smartphone wallet, and have everything in one place.
And it’s a little vocab lesson: comboios = trains in Portuguese!
Download the CP app for iOS or Android.
3. Bolt and Uber
Getting around Lisboa is super easy by public transit, but there are times where rideshare apps might be a little easier, especially if you have mobility limitations.
Does Portugal Have Uber?
Yes, Uber is widely used throughout populated areas of Portugal. It’s especially common in major cities like Lisbon.
But, Uber isn’t the only rideshare app; Bolt is another popular app used just as often in many countries throughout Europe.
Does Lyft Work in Portugal?
Lyft is not currently available in Portugal, but Uber and Bolt are two rideshare apps that are common and just as easy to use!
Americans coming to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon may expect to hail a Lyft, but they’ll be out of luck! So, I recommend downloading both Uber and Bolt, especially because demand for both is expected to skyrocket during The Eras Tour.
Pro tip: Uber One is more affordable in Portugal than the US at €5/month. If you plan on using it often in Lisboa, it’ll save you money on rides and you’ll earn 5% Uber credit when you use Uber Eats or Uber. You can use code qkt4bumnb6v3 to get €3 off your first 5 Uber trips!
Side note: If you plan on traveling to less populated and touristic areas like the Alentejo region of Portugal, Uber and Bolt will not be as common.
Download Uber for iOS and Android. Use code qkt4bumnb6v3 to get €3 off your first 5 Uber trips
Download Bolt for iOS and Android.
4. FlixBus or myRNE
For those looking to travel to the Algarve, Alentejo, and many other regions of Portugal when Taylor Swift is in Lisbon, FlixBus and myRNE are two bus apps that’ll help you get there.
FlixBus is used throughout Europe and in some places in the US. They often have promos that will take you across the entire country for as low as €5.
The thing I don’t like about FlixBus is that they usually charge you to select your seats, so even though it’s “low cost”, it’s low cost with limitations.
Download FlixBus for iOS and Android.
Rede expressos’s app, myRNE, is the one we use most often to travel between the Algarve and Lisboa. Fares between Lagos and Lisboa are usually about €10/person but can be as low as €3,95 one way. The app makes it easier to store your tickets and check bus times on the go.
Unlike FlixBus, you can choose your seat ahead of time for no extra fee (usually in the back of the bus) or upgrade your seat for an additional fee. If you’re on a bus that’s not sold out, it’s common to just sit in a vacant seat to spread out.
You can join the RFlex program if you have a NIF/NIPC (Portuguese finance number). This will save you 10-65% off all tickets. The more you ride throughout the year, the more you save! I have taken dozens of buses since we moved to Portugal but just found out about this program as I was grabbing links for this article!
Download the myRNE app for iOS and Android.
5. Google Maps
As full time travelers of over 4 years, Google Maps is our #1 used app across the world. Our favorite feature is the ability to save maps offline, so even if you don’t have service, you can get directions and easily navigate your surroundings.
Google Maps is extremely helpful for navigating the public transit system when you come to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal. You can toggle your route by driving, walking, and public transportation routes to select the one that works best for you.
We primarily use the metro system for getting around Lisbon, which is also one of our top recommended activities for Swifties in their 1989 Era on our Guide to Lisbon for each Era of Taylor Swift!
6. Citymapper
This app comes highlight recommended by many people in our Taylor Swift Lisbon Facebook Group. It allows you to navigate multiple kinds of transport and works well across most major European cities!
Download Citymapper for iOS and Android.
7. TheFork
The number one question we get asked is for Lisbon restaurant recommendation. I’m going to be honest…. It’s a nearly impossible question to answer because of the endless choices throughout the city and personal preference.
TheFork is an app recommended to us by a Lisboa local to help narrow down your choices. Plus, you can make reservations directly in the app, which we recommend for any popular restaurants during your Eras Tour trip. When Taylor Swift comes to town, it adds about 200k extra people to the city, most of which are visitors looking for delicious places to eat!
Using TheFork in combination with Google Maps will provide you with the exact food type you’re looking for. Other than that, you can just wander the city and pop into a spot that smells delicious to you.
That being said… we do recommend checking out Bifanas o Alfonso near Praça do Rossio (one of our Rep Era recommendations)
DO NOT leave Portugal without eating a delicious Pastel de Nata. The most famous bakery of this Portuguese custard dessert is Pastéis de Belém which is easily accessible by train! Our personal favorite Pastel de Nata is in the nearby town of Parede at A Merenda Padaria e Pastelaria. But honestly, Pastel de Nata from any local bakery is going to be delicious! It’s fun to try the different ones to pick a personal favorite.
Download TheFork on iOS and Android.
8. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a messaging app that is used throughout most of the world. The US is rare in that people primarily message using iMessage and SMS. It’s not just individuals that use WhatsApp… many businesses, delivery drivers, private drivers, and more use WhatsApp as their primary form of communication.
When you’re abroad, iMessage blows through your data plans quickly where WhatsApp typically uses less data and works through data plans instead of individual SMS.
You and your family members back home should download WhatsApp to communicate while traveling internationally. And don’t be surprised if you meet people that prefer exchanging WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook messenger info instead of cell phone numbers!
We’ve lived abroad for over a year now, and my brother has lived abroad for more than 6 years… yet, we still have family members that refuse to communicate with us via WhatsApp. I can tell you as someone that lives internationally, this drives us nuts! Especially because iMessage can be finicky during travels with some messages never going through at all.
It’s also pretty common for people to start massive group chats on both WhatsApp and Telegram (another international messaging app)
Download WhatsApp to be a cool traveler on iOS or Android.
9. International Cell Phone Provider App
Your primary cell phone carrier plan will determine whether or not you’ll need to purchase an additional plan when you come see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal. Check with your carrier before you arrive in Lisboa to avoid any surprise charges. It’s common for US providers to offer “unlimited” data but at an extremely throttled speed that takes you back to the 3G days.
How can I get cell phone service or a SIM card in Portugal?
If your phone has the ability for dual SIMs, it’s super easy to just get a temporary SIM card for your travels. Here are three companies you can use to purchase an international SIM.
We haven’t personally used Orange, but Mike’s uncle who toured Europe this year with his band, Yawning Man, used this eSIM option to have service throughout his extended stay abroad. It worked very well throughout each country on his tour and he was able to easily sign up after he arrived in Europe.
- NOS pre-paid monthly SIM
This is one of the major Portuguese cell phone carriers (and what we personally use). You can buy a pre-paid physical SIM card at any NOS location (there’s one in the city center mall, Armazéns do Chiado). It cost €21/month for us to have 5GB of high speed data and unlimited calls.
This is the other major Portuguese cell phone carrier. You’ll notice MEO hotspots throughout Portugal in major cities. You can buy a SIM through MEO or purchase a public WiFi pass where you’ll get access to these hot spots across the country. Paying for the hotspot access is a great option to supplement your current plan if you’re only in Portugal for a short time.
Downloading the company’s app that you choose for your international plan will make it easier to reload your card and check how much data you’re going through while you’re out and about.
Although it’s helpful to get international plans, many areas throughout Lisbon have free public WiFi, including the main praças and most restaurants. However, it’s critical to check your carrier in advance so that you can have easy access to your Taylor Swift tickets once you arrive in Lisbon!
10. DeepL Translator App
DeepL was first recommended to us by our Portuguese teacher, Portuguese with Anita! We’ve found that most apps default to Brazilian Portuguese, but this one is better at European Portuguese. We also recommend following Anita on socials for Portuguese phrases, vocab, and tips.
Download DeepL for iOS and Android.
We hope these apps help you have the BEST time during Taylor Swift in Lisbon! For our favorite places to see and activities to do so that you can live out your own Eras Tour in Portugal, check out our Lisboa Guide for Swifties.
Don’t forget to join our Facebook group to connect with other Swifties traveling to Lisbon for the shows as well as more up-to-date info like pre-show events, tips, and friendship bracelet ideas.
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