British tourists visiting Lisbon are being urged to allow extra time when travelling across the Tagus after concerns over late and cancelled ferries prompted intervention by Portugal’s transport regulator. The Mobility and Transport Authority has ordered ferry operator Transtejo/Soflusa to begin submitting monthly reports detailing delayed and cancelled services, causes and what is being done to address them.
The intervention follows recent disruptions and reliability concerns plaguing local ferry services, which have faced operational hurdles tied to fleet electrification and technical snags. Many people use the ferry services for the popular Cais do Sodré-Cacilhas crossing, which is popular with tourists heading across the river for restaurants, viewpoints, and sightseeing.
Travel advice from a specialist
Emily Matthews, travel specialist at Private Portugal Tours, has issued guidance for tourists. She says visitors need to be particularly careful this week because ferry disruptions coincide with another important change at Cais do Sodré.
She said: "Cais do Sodré Metro station is closed until August 26, so tourists should not plan their day assuming they can get off the ferry and immediately continue on the Green Line. If you have a dinner reservation, evening tour or train booked afterwards, I would leave at least 30 minutes more than you normally would for that return journey."
Do not make one ferry your only option
Matthews claims a 'mistake' would be planning a visit to Cacilhas or Almada around the last ferry, which she says, in theory, gets tourists back in time for another prepaid activity. She explained: "If you have a 7pm booking in Lisbon, I would not be standing in Cacilhas waiting for a ferry that is due to get you back at 6.40pm. Right now you have two variables to account for: whether that crossing runs to time and how you continue your journey once you reach Cais do Sodré."
She urges tourists to check Transtejo/Soflusa’s live departures before leaving Cacilhas or Almada rather than relying on a timetable checked earlier in the day. She says the operator specifically provides a real-time 'Próximas Partidas' service for current departure information.
Know the Pragal backup
Matthews also recommends tourists know the alternative route across the river before they need it. "If the ferry is badly disrupted while you are in Cacilhas, you are not completely dependent on the river," she said. "One useful backup is Metro Sul do Tejo Line 3 from Cacilhas to Pragal. From Pragal, Fertagus trains cross the 25 de Abril Bridge into Lisbon, stopping at Campolide, Sete Rios, Entrecampos and Roma-Areeiro."
Almada council identifies the Cacilhas to Pragal connection as an alternative route. Meanwhile, current Fertagus timetables confirm regular trains from Pragal into several Lisbon stations. Matthews added: "I would save that route before crossing the Tagus. If there is a cancellation, knowing ‘Pragal’ is your alternative is much more useful than standing at the terminal searching for a way back while a paid booking is getting closer."
