One of the best ways to know Lisbon is to use the old tramcars. With these, you will discover a lot of the highlights and charm of Lisbon comfortably.
Going back for a hundred years, most of the tramways of Lisbon have already been removed from the streets. There are only a few remaining active lines like the 12E, the 15E, and the famous 28E.
Riding these tramcars you will discover Lisbon as if you were taken back in time for a hundred years and go through the narrow streets, inside the heart of the old Lisbon.
Lisbon Tram 28 Self Guided Tour:
Lisbon Tram 28 is the most complete of all the tramways available to visit Lisbon. When doing this tour, you will charmingly see most of historic Lisbon.
It goes from the city center, passing close to Saint George Castle, Portas do Sol viewpoint, Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Campo de Ourique.
Although this tour is great just for the tram route, we highly recommend leaving on some stops to explore and see the best of Lisbon and then take the next one, on the same stop. But to do this, you will need the 24-hour ticket or the Lisboa Card, otherwise, every time you enter the tram, you need to pay for a new ticket. See prices below.
Just riding the Tram 28 will take you about an hour, but doing our self-guided tour should take you a full day of amazing experiences.
Get your camera ready when doing this tour. The views are excellent!
Tram Tickets Prices:
If you buy a one-way ticket inside the Trams, for one way: 3.00 euros – This is a very expensive option because it’s double the price if you buy it on the vending machines.
If you buy a one-way ticket in a vending machine, for one way: 1.50 euros – these machines are easily located on the subway stops.
If you buy a 24-hour ticket in a vending machine: 6.40 euros – This option for hopping on and off the tram and discovering all of what Lisbon has to offer. It is even valid for buses, tram cars, elevators, and subway.
Insider tip:
Another option is the Lisboa Card, which besides including all the transportations in Lisbon and even the train connection between Lisbon and Cascais, and Lisbon and Sintra, will afford you free entrances or discounts in a large number of museums and monuments. There is an option for 24h, 48h, and 72h. Click here to know more about the advantages of the Lisboa Card and buy it.
Where to start the tour:
- Praça da Figueira – link for google maps
or
- Igreja Santo Condestável – link for google maps
Insider tip:
If you start on “Igreja Santo Condestável” you will avoid huge lines and crowded trams, as most tourists start from the Martim Moniz square. And for this, take the Lisbon Tram 25 from the Praça da Figueira square and enjoy the tram ride until you reach the ªIgreja Santo Condestável”.
Schedule of the Lisbon Tram 28 route:
Daily between 05:45 and 22:30.
Click here for more details on the schedule and the name of the stops, from the tram website CARRIS Travel Routes 28E | Martim Moniz – Prazeres
Map of the Lisbon Tram 28 route:
Tram Stops:
Insider tip:
There is no stop map inside the tram. We recommend following the stops from this map, so you know exactly where you are. But if you are in doubt or feeling a bit lost, just ask the driver. They will gladly help you.
Igreja Santo Condestável – Google Maps
Leave on this stop and go behind the Church, there you will find the Mercado de Campo de Ourique – an old food market that was rebuilt as a food court with many restaurants in a common food court. Keeping its outside structure, made mostly of iron, even from outside this is a place to visit. But if you enter, you will discover the best of the traditional food in Portugal and fall in love with it. You should not go here if you are on a diet.
Estrela (Basilica) – Google Maps
On this stop, there’s one of the most beautiful and impressive Catholic Churches in Lisbon. The Basilica da Estrela has an amazing design that becomes even more impressive, due to the huge dome on the roof. The monumental interior is made almost completely with marble of different colors.
It was built as a result of a promise made by D. Maria I, Queen of Portugal, who swore to build a church if she had a son to be heir to the throne.
And if you are feeling up for it, you can go to the top of the roof and the dome, after climbing 116 steps. It costs 4 euros, but the views over Lisbon are spectacular.
Be aware that the church closes on Mondays.
And when you are leaving the Basilica, right across the street there is the Jardim da Estrela. A beautiful garden with a 19th-century feeling. It is a great opportunity for a romantic stroll and a coffee break in the esplanade.
Assembleia da República
On this stop, you see an impressive monument. It is the house of parliament of the Portuguese government, the Assembleia da Republica. You will feel tempted to leave on this stop, to see the monument, but to be quite honest, I don’t recommend it.
But a bit of a background, it started out as an old Benedictine monastery in the 7th century, and that was adapted to the functions it now has. Having undergone several and extensive interventions to date, the staircase, for example, was not part of the monastery, it was added in 1941
Just enjoy the views of this majestic building from the tram.
Santa Catarina
A few roads down this stop, you will find one of the best viewpoints of Lisbon and the River Tagus. Just follow the signs saying “Miradouro de Santa Catarina”. It is a beautiful place just for you to seat down, enjoy a beer, and “tremoços”. A kind of lupine that Portuguese people love to eat with beer.
Calhariz-Bica
From this stop, you can take the “Ascensor da Bica”. A funicular called in Lisbon as elevators, it connects the high part of Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré. It was built because this area has one of the steepest hills of Lisbon and just like the other “elevators” in town, it was built to help people overcome the difference in altitude from the downtown to the neighborhoods on the top of the hill. Bairro Alto literally means the high neighborhood.
If you take this funicular, at the bottom, down the street you will find the “Time Out Ribeira Market”. Click here to know more.
If you have a 24-hour ticket or the Lisboa Card, you can ride this funicular for free.
Chiado
And in this district, you will find the most culture-filled square with plenty of religious buildings, museums, and stores dotted around the statue of the poet Antonio Ribeiro, also known as Chiado, which seems to have few rivals in whole Lisbon.
Click here to read our self-guided walking tour of Chiado and Bairro Alto.
Baixa
Being the proud work of the post-earthquake reconstruction held by Marquis de Pombal in the 18th century, the downtown area of Lisbon stands for the modern urban planning winner.
The entire area comprises several squares, and avenues covered in charming Pombaline architecture and fountains.
Click here to read our self-guided walking tour of Baixa.
Sé
Here is the Lisbon Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in Lisbon today. Dating 1147, the original construction reveals Romanesque features enriched with Gothic cloister and chapel in the 13th century, with gothic additions, like the cloister. After that, several other alterations were done in Baroque and Neoclassical styles that add a unique appearance to the Cathedral.
Largo das Portas do Sol
This area is a balcony-like viewpoint surrounded by red-roofed white houses and sacred buildings that present amazing views over Alfama and the Tagus River.
Savoring coffee and Portuguese pastry in this tourist-filled area is a great way to surrender oneself to a break during your lively Tram 28 tour.
From this stop is where our Alfama Walking Tour starts. Click here to read our self-guided walking tour of Alfama.
Voz do Operario
On this stop, there’s one of the most important monasteries in Portugal. The monastery as it is now, was done in the 17th Century and was built in the period that Portugal lost its independence to Spain, from 1580 to 1640.
It is worth the visit and when you are inside the monastery, it is possible to go to the roof and enjoy the magnificent views, with centuries of history.
On your way out of the monastery, go around it and you will discover the most famous flea market in Lisbon, the “Feira da Ladra”. It’s just behind the big monastery, the “Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora”. In this market, you will find a lot of vintage items of the daily life of Portuguese people, vintage art, and maybe some collectibles underpriced. Explore the stands and maybe you’ll find a treasure.
Keep in mind that the “Feira da Ladra” only happens on Tuesdays and Saturdays, normally until 13:00.
Graça
On this stop, you can feel the old residential area of Lisbon, away from the tourists. But here you will find one of the best, if not the best, viewpoint on Lisbon. The “Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte” is a must-see and you cannot skip it!
Get your phone, camera, or GoPro ready. This is where you will take the best pictures and selfies over Lisbon.
Beware:
Because of the fame and popularity, Tram 28 is a magnet for pickpockets. It is easy for them to pick some unaware tourists’ pockets, because of the normally crowded tramcars. All you need to do is be careful about your belongings. Besides that, there are no other problems.
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Lisbon Tram 12
For those in a hurry or just looking for something to do on a rainy day, the Lisbon Tram 12 is an excellent choice for a short trip around Alfama.
Starting from the “Praça da Figueira”, it will do a round trip in about 20 minutes.
Where to start:
Martim Moniz Square
Google Maps Link
Schedule of the Lisbon Tram 12route:
Daily between 08:00 and 20:45.
Click here for more details on the schedule and the name of the stops, from the tram website: CARRIS Travel Routes 12E | Martim Moniz / circulação Castelo
Map of the Lisbon Tram 12 route:
Tram Stops
In this very short tram ride, we only recommend one stop:
Largo das Portas do Sol:
In this stop you are in one of the most popular viewpoints of Lisbon and a short walk from the “Castelo de São Jorge”.
Also, from this stop is where our Alfama Walking Tour starts. Click here to read our self-guided walking tour of Alfama.
Bonus tip just for you:
The same company that manages the public buses and trams in Lisbon also has double-decker buses and trams specifically for tourist lines.
And the best thing is that it is not that expensive and has a lot of options and lines to ride included in the price.
And to top it off, there is also a line on the River. This ticket can also include, depending on the option you chose, the boat. That does a tour on the Tagus River and can also drop you off on the other riverbank, where you will find Caxias. A place of great traditional restaurants and all that they serve is fresh fish and fresh seafood.
Here you can enjoy a fantastic meal, no more expensive than a burger, with great views of Lisbon.
Click here to know more.