The elétricos, the little yellow trams that have climbed Lisbon's hills since 1901, are one of the city's symbols. The renovated 1930s Remodelado cars are narrow enough to squeeze between Alfama's houses and tackle gradients no bus could manage. The most famous is the 28, crossing the historic districts end to end. It is part of the Lisbon guide.
The tram 28 route
The 28E runs from Martim Moniz, at the foot of Mouraria, to Campo de Ourique, near Prazeres cemetery, in about 40-50 minutes. Main stops:
- Martim Moniz: the terminus, where the longest queue forms.
- Graça: the working-class district with the Graça viewpoint.
- Largo das Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia: viewpoints over Alfama (see Alfama).
- Sé: the cathedral, with the classic photo of the tram in front.
- Baixa: Rua da Conceição, in the heart of the Pombaline city.
- Chiado: Praça Luís de Camões and A Brasileira café (see Baixa and Chiado).
- São Bento: Parliament, in the São Bento palace.
- Estrela: the great baroque basilica and garden.
- Campo de Ourique: a residential district with a fine food market.
Avoiding the crowds
The 28 has become a tourist attraction, with hour-long queues at the terminus and packed cars. Some tips:
- Ride early in the morning, before 9am, or in the evening after 7pm.
- Start from Campo de Ourique (Prazeres), where the queue is shorter, rather than Martim Moniz.
- Board at an intermediate stop in the less crowded direction.
- Take alternative lines: the 12E, a short loop from Praça da Figueira around Alfama and Mouraria, passing the viewpoints; the 24E, from Praça Luís de Camões to Campolide; the 18E, towards Ajuda; the 15E, the modern tram to Belém.
Tickets
A ticket bought on board costs 3.30 euros (2026) per ride. It is better to use the rechargeable Navegante card with zapping credit, valid on trams, metro and buses, or the 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket at 7.25 euros, which includes the metro. The Lisboa Card covers all trams. See transport.
Pickpockets
Tram 28 is the place with most thefts in Lisbon: in the crush and the bends, pickpockets work in groups. Wear your backpack in front, keep your wallet in an inside pocket and your phone in hand. If the tram is too full, wait for the next one.
The miradouros
Lisbon is built on hills and has dozens of miradouros, public viewpoints often with a kiosk, benches and musicians. At sunset they are the daily ritual of locals and visitors.
| Viewpoint | View | District |
|---|---|---|
| Senhora do Monte | The highest: castle, Baixa, river | Graça |
| Graça (Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen) | The castle and bridge at sunset | Graça |
| Santa Luzia | Alfama's rooftops, the river, azulejos | Alfama |
| Portas do Sol | Alfama and São Vicente | Alfama |
| São Jorge Castle | 360-degree view | Castelo |
| São Pedro de Alcântara | The castle and the Baixa | Bairro Alto |
| Santa Catarina | The river and 25 de Abril Bridge | Bica |
| Monte Agudo | Less touristy Lisbon at sunset | Penha de França |
| Jardim do Torel | The city from a quiet garden | Santana |
| Cristo Rei | All of Lisbon from the south bank | Almada |
Other vantage points include the MAAT roof in Belém, the Rua Augusta Arch, rooftop bars in Chiado and Bairro Alto and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos.
A tram and viewpoints tour
A half-day route: take the 28 at Campo de Ourique early in the morning, get off at Graça and climb to Senhora do Monte, walk down to the Graça viewpoint, continue to São Vicente de Fora and Portas do Sol, then down through Alfama to the Sé and the river. At sunset, head up to the Bairro Alto for the Santa Catarina viewpoint.
The funiculars
Lisbon also has three historic funiculars, Glória, Bica and Lavra, and the Santa Justa lift. After the Glória derailment of 3 September 2025, which killed sixteen people, they were closed for checks and, at the time of writing, remain out of service; Glória will be replaced by a new system. The more modern Graça funicular reopened in April 2026. Check the Carris website before you go.
See also what to see in Lisbon.