GIRA Bike Share in Lisbon: Passes, Prices and How It Works
Lisbon's shared electric bikes are run by EMEL and cost less per year than one taxi ride across town. Residents with a monthly transit pass can ride for free.
GIRA is Lisbon’s public bike-sharing system, run by EMEL, the city’s mobility and parking company. As of November 2026, an annual pass costs €25, a monthly pass €15 and a day pass €2, and every ride up to 45 minutes is free. Lisbon tax residents with an active Navegante monthly pass can join for free with the GIRA Navegante pass.
You use GIRA through a smartphone app; there are no ticket machines at the stations. Prices and rules below come from GIRA’s own price page and FAQ, as of November 2026.
How much does GIRA cost?
You pay twice: an access fee for the pass, and a usage fee only when a ride goes over 45 minutes.
| Pass | Access fee | Ride 45 to 90 minutes | Each extra 45 minutes beyond 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | €25 | +€1 | +€2 |
| Monthly | €15 | +€1 | +€2 |
| Day | €2 | +€2 | +€2 |
| GIRA Navegante (Lisbon residents) | Free | +€1 | +€2 |
The day pass can only be bought with MB WAY or a credit card. For daily commuting, the annual pass works out far cheaper than buying day passes, and most trips across central Lisbon fit inside the free 45 minutes.
Who can get GIRA free with a Navegante pass?
GIRA Navegante is free for people aged 16 or over whose tax address (domicílio fiscal) is in the municipality of Lisbon and who hold a Navegante (or Lisboa Viva) card with an active monthly pass. The free access lasts as long as the monthly pass stays active, and EMEL checks it periodically.
- If you have an EMEL resident parking badge, you can link your Navegante card directly in the GIRA app.
- If you do not, download a certificate of tax address (certidão de domicílio fiscal) for free on the Portal das Finanças, then apply on EMEL’s website by choosing GIRA Navegante.
- The NIF on your GIRA account and on your Navegante card must be the same.
If you have not got a monthly pass yet, see our guide to the Navegante pass in Lisbon. EMEL residents’ badges are explained in our guide to parking in Lisbon.
How do I register and take out a bike?
Anyone aged 16 or over can use GIRA. A new app, “GIRA a app”, replaced the old one in 2026; existing logins and passes moved across automatically, and the old points system ended.
- Download “GIRA a app” from the App Store or Google Play.
- Register with your email and a password, or log in with an existing account.
- Open the pass menu, choose a pass and pay.
- Find a station with bikes on the map and release the bike you want from its dock.
- Check the bike before riding; if something is wrong, dock it again, report it in the app and take another.
- At the end, dock the bike at any station and confirm the end of the ride in the app.
You do not have to return the bike to the station where you started. Stations have Wi-Fi for releasing and locking bikes, but GIRA says it is not guaranteed, so keep mobile data on.
Are GIRA bikes electric?
Yes. GIRA’s FAQ describes its bikes as pedal-assisted electric bikes (pedelecs) with a maximum continuous power of 0.25 kW. The motor cuts out at 25 km/h or when you stop pedaling, which is why the law does not require a helmet on them. Wearing one is still sensible on Lisbon’s hills and cobbles.
Where are the stations?
GIRA has stations in all 24 Lisbon parishes (freguesias), according to EMEL, and keeps adding more along routes such as the riverside, the Benfica to Braço de Prata axis, the central avenues, Olivais and Alcântara to Luz. The app map shows live availability of bikes and free docks at each station.
A green dock is free for ending a ride. If your destination station is full, the app shows the nearest one with space; plan for this around Cais do Sodré and the riverfront on sunny weekends.
What should I know about riding in Lisbon?
Lisbon’s cycle network runs mostly along the river and the flatter avenues, and the city publishes its cycle lane map on lisboa.pt. Hills are steep in the historic center, which is where the electric assist earns its keep.
- Stick to cycle lanes and the road; pavements are for pedestrians.
- Tram rails in Baixa, Graça and Estrela can catch a wheel; cross them at an angle.
- Cobblestones (calçada) get slippery when wet.
- Shared e-scooters from private operators are separate from GIRA and have their own apps and parking rules set by the city.
GIRA support answers 24 hours a day on +351 211 163 060 or [email protected].
Bottom line
If you live in Lisbon and already pay for a Navegante monthly pass, sign up for GIRA Navegante: it costs nothing and covers most short trips. Visitors and people living outside the city get the most from the €2 day pass for a single outing, but anyone riding more than a dozen days a year is better off with the €25 annual pass.
FAQ
Is GIRA free in Lisbon?
Access is free with GIRA Navegante for Lisbon tax residents aged 16 or over with an active Navegante monthly pass. Rides are free up to 45 minutes; longer rides cost extra.
Can tourists use GIRA?
Yes, anyone over 16 can register in the app. The €2 day pass is paid by MB WAY or credit card.
Do I need a helmet on a GIRA bike?
No. GIRA’s FAQ says its pedal-assist bikes, limited to 25 km/h and 0.25 kW, do not legally require a helmet.
What happens if I keep a bike for two hours?
With an annual or monthly pass, a 45 to 90 minute ride adds €1, and each further 45-minute period beyond 90 minutes adds €2.
