Himba women. Himba tribe
Yellow trailers are everywhere! Most often, this is how numerous tourists describe the capital of Portugal. And this is absolutely true, because it is the legendary tram in Lisbon that sets that unique flavor.
Throughout the city, the rails are laid in the most unusual places. In some places, this required specially bevelling a corner of a building, in others, the sidewalk had to be narrowed as much as possible. In the old Alfama district, carriages pass along such narrow streets that you can easily reach the walls of houses right from the window!
In Portuguese, a tram is called “elétrico”, so the letter “E” is added to all route numbers (for example, 25E is tram route No. 25). Public trams are painted in yellow, besides them there are excursion green and red carriages.
Today there are 6 tram lines operating in the city, which employ 63 cars. On one of the routes - No. 15 - they managed to install a dozen modern trams, because the route runs without ups and downs along the river.
It is especially popular. Day after day it is besieged by crowds of tourists, disturbing local residents get home.
By the way, in many parts of the city both the rails and the contact network are still preserved, although the tram has not been running there for a long time. I really hope that in the next decade there will be more and more legendary yellow carriages on the streets.
Tram stops are no different from, most often they are even combined. Likewise, there will be a sign with the numbers of routes passing through this stop, as well as the current schedule. Tram routes, as well as bus routes.
At the stop there is sometimes an electronic board that displays the waiting time for the nearest trams and buses.
Despite the fact that Lisbon trams have a clear schedule, the cars often get crowded together due to unforeseen obstacles: either someone abandons a car on the tracks, or tourists begin to cross the road en masse. Naturally, in such conditions you shouldn’t rely on punctuality :)
Working hours
The operating hours of different routes vary, on average the service starts at 7:00 and ends at 21:00. The exception is route No. 15, where modern compositions They start moving a little earlier than 6:00 and finish at 1 am. Not all routes operate on holidays and weekends, for example 25E can be seen on the streets only on weekdays.
Information about all routes, as well as the most current schedule, is always available on the official website of the management company Carris.
Fare payment
To pay for travel on the Lisbon tram, you can use one of the contact card options VIVA Viagem/7 colinas, which is best purchased and replenished at metro stations in special machines, or name pass Lisboa VIVA- if you are staying in Lisbon for a long time and expect to use public transport frequently.
Automatic machine for selling and replenishing VIVA cards. Ingolf Photos
But you can also pay for the fare from the driver directly upon entering the carriage. In this case, the trip will cost more - 2.90 €.
Features of the Lisbon tram
As with buses, the local tram only stops on demand. If you are standing at a stop, you need to raise your hand to show that you are waiting for this particular route. Entrance is only through the front door, upon entering which you need to lean your contact card against the validator, or purchase a ticket from the carriage driver.
While sitting on the tram, before the stop you need, do not forget to press one of the “PARAR” (stop) buttons located in the cabin.
Stops are not announced in any way, so you will have to worry about this yourself. I recommend using GPS on your phone, or asking a train driver for help.
Many popular navigation applications usually support the Lisbon tram timetable. It is quite convenient to use the free Moovit application, where in a couple of clicks you can create the optimal route to your destination. There is not only a web version, but also mobile app for iOS/Android.
To calculate trips within the suburbs, it is convenient to use the Transporlis.pt service. You can make a very detailed travel calculation with the approximate cost of tickets.
The Lisbon tram immediately captivates everyone who visits this beautiful city. After all, here you can endlessly watch how small carriages easily overcome local inclines, playfully peek out from behind unsightly buildings and roll down steep slopes at full speed. Sometimes it even seems that the laws of physics are beyond their control!
As soon as they set foot on the windswept land of Lisbon, many in the first minutes try to get on a tram on one particularly famous route. On tram number 28.
Many people don't even know that there are other tram lines in the Portuguese capital!
What's unusual about tram number 28? The fact is that his path lies along a very picturesque route.
It starts from the center - from the Martim Moniz square, then climbs the Graça hill, moves through the narrow streets of Alfama, around the castle, then descends again to the Baixa area, rises to Chiado and then moves towards the Estrela area and famous Cemetery Pleasures (Cemitério dos Prazeres). The entire route of tram number 28 takes about 45 minutes.
Martim Moniz Square is just a couple of hundred meters from Rossio Square. You can take it as a landmark - stand with your back to the entrance and dive into the narrow street on the right. At the end you will already be able to see the approaching trams, and the stop itself is located behind the Mundial Hotel. Look the way in Google Maps in case of difficulties:
This is what the starting stop of the famous route looks like:
Despite the queue, you can also take the tram from the starting point at Martim Moniz Square. Cars arrive quite often, and, as a rule, you are unlikely to have to wait more than 15 minutes. But here the tram is not packed to capacity with tourists - they only let you in according to the number of seats.
But during the season, the number of people wishing to ride the famous route exceeds all reasonable limits, and the waiting time increases to several hours!
To avoid this, you can get to another final stop- Prazeres - and get into the coveted trailer without any queues. How to do it? Take tram number 25, which will take you to your destination by a different, shorter route! But please note: this route only operates on weekdays. And, lo and behold, you can get there with almost no queues!
Also, if desired, you can get to the Prazeres cemetery on foot or by taxi.
You can skip the cemetery and get off a little earlier at Basílica da Estrela, which you should definitely visit and climb onto the roof. Also directly opposite there is a large park with places to relax, wildlife, exotic plants, lakes and cafes. Ideal place for a picnic!
Where else can we meet the image of the famous tram?
28 Cafe
Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 45-47A, near the entrance to the São Jorge Castle
Working hours: from 10:00 to 20:00 seven days a week
Average check: 20 EUR for two
The fame of the famous tram haunted many. Literally ten meters from the entrance to the Castle of St. George there is a unique cafe that recreates the interior of a Lisbon carriage!
Seats, handrails, signs, buttons - everything is in its place. Also displayed on the walls are vintage photographs trams, route maps and even items of clothing worn by tram drivers. Even when ordering food, they give you an old ticket, which you will later pay for at the checkout.
You can come here not only for coffee, but also for a delicious lunch or just to join the Portuguese wine traditions.
Trams in Lisbon are not only one of the most useful Vehicle to explore the city, but also one of its most popular tourist attractions.
The capital of Portugal currently has five routes and 58 trams, of which 40 are old. Lisbon's trams are small and nostalgic; they are the unspoken symbol of the city. Of the five routes, tourists will be especially interested in two: tram 15 and 28. In Lisbon, the first one is the most popular, as it connects the city center and the Belem district. But this tram is not as romantic as the second one, which will be discussed in the article.
What is famous about tram number 28 in Lisbon
It is deservedly called nostalgic. This small wooden tram will take you to another era. Over 80 years old, you'll be able to take in all the city's top attractions while aboard it, while feeling like you've stepped back in time as the sound of squeaking brakes and shrill bells provides nostalgic background noise. No. 28 in Lisbon runs along steep slopes and narrow streets. The car maneuvers masterfully, making sharp turns and warning distracted pedestrians with a loud signal. Thousands of tourists choose this tram to explore the city.
The stunning Remodelado trams date back to the 1930s and in any other city they would probably already be in a museum, but in Lisbon they are an integral part of the public transport network. Why aren’t they replaced with new ones, you ask. Route 28 in Lisbon is completely unsuitable due to its many sharp turns and urban terrain. Well, the authorities don’t dare close it, because it has long become a kind of landmark of the capital.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased on board or in advance at any metro station or kiosks located throughout the city. In this case it will cost you 2.90 €. A more profitable option is to buy a 24-hour ticket for public transport. With it you can easily travel on the metro, trams and buses throughout the day. In addition, you can get off at any stop, and after seeing the sights, continue along the route again without buying new ticket. This is a significant saving. This ticket costs 6.15 euros. Please note that it can only be purchased from ticket machines at metro stations.
You can also use tourist card Lisboa Card, which provides various benefits to museums, historical sites and free travel on all public transport during certain period time.
Route
Where is No. 28 in Lisbon? Perhaps this is one of the first questions of tourists arriving in the capital of Portugal. In principle, you can get on the tram at any stop on the route and continue on your way. However, if you want to drive it to explore the city, then you should start from the first stop.
Tram route 28 in Lisbon runs from Martim Moniz metro station to Campo Ourique (Prazeres). Getting to the departure point will not be difficult if your goal is a sightseeing trip by tram. Keep in mind that if you end your journey in the Prazeres area, you will need to return by bus or the same tram (in the opposite direction).
There is always a long queue at Martim Moniz station and the wait can take at least an hour, sometimes more. However, people queue to get seats on the tram, so if you're willing to stand, you don't have to wait.
Timetable for tram number 28 in Lisbon
The first tram leaves at 5:40 on weekdays, 5:45 on Saturdays and 6:45 on Sundays. The interval between flights is very short - about 15 minutes. The last tram from the Martim Moniz stop leaves at 21:15 on weekdays and 22:30 on weekends.
For those who do not want to stand in a long line, but at the same time want to see all the sights of the route, sitting comfortably on the seats of the tram, we recommend taking the earliest flight or, conversely, the latest. At this time there are very few tourists and townspeople.
Best stops
The number of tram 28 stops in Lisbon differs depending on which direction you are traveling. So, if you depart from Martim Moniz station, there will be 34 of them, and the length of the route is 7.02 km. In the opposite direction, the tram covers a slightly longer distance (7.51 km) and makes 36 stops.
Below you can find a list of the best stops along the route.
This is where the Moors were allowed to live after the Christian conquest of Lisbon in 1147, before being expelled along with the Jews in 1497. Little remains from this period, except for the remains of a medieval wall. Interestingly, Mouraria is still the most cosmopolitan area of the city. It is also known as the birthplace of fado, a music and dance genre.
Alfama Quarter
One of the oldest areas of Lisbon, a delightful maze of narrow cobbled streets and ancient houses that lead up the steep hill from the mouth of the Tagus to the castle. This colorful area is home to numerous historic buildings.
Initially, Alfama was located outside the city walls and was associated with poverty and squalor, only the poor and disadvantaged lived there. As Lisbon grew into an important port, the area retained its humble status, housing sailors and dock workers. Today, Alfama has shed its grim reputation, becoming a fashionable area while retaining its character and run-down charm.
Alfama's labyrinthine streets are best explored simply by walking, as at every corner or steep climb you'll find a delightful tiny square, a unique shop, a café or a wonderful viewpoint.
A beautiful and unique church, which is the burial place of many famous Portuguese. The church is located in the Alfama district and the massive white dome is characteristic feature urban landscape.
At the church complicated story. Since its founding in the 16th century, it has experienced destruction and countless financial difficulties, but was finally opened in 1966.
The historical core of the city is a fortress located on a high hill. It can be seen from almost anywhere in Lisbon. Originally it was the residence of the Moorish emir, after which it was captured by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.
One of the main attractions in Lisbon on tram route 28. The construction of the Cathedral dates back to the twelfth century, its style is defined primarily as Romanesque. The official name is Santa Maria Mayor.
Surprisingly, the cathedral has survived several natural disasters, such as the great earthquake of 1755, which left part of the building in ruins. Over the centuries, the cathedral was reconstructed and rebuilt more than once.
Baixa Pombalino area
One of the popular areas of the city from a tourist point of view. It is one of the first and most impeccable earthquake-resistant urban planning and construction projects in Europe.
The Baixa area was completely renovated after the catastrophic earthquake of 1755, accompanied by a tsunami and fire. He owes his present prosperity mainly to the first Marquis of Pombal (hence the name “Pombalina”). The area is replete with architectural wonders.
Trade area
One of the significant squares of Lisbon that is worth exploring. It is one of the largest in Europe. As a symbol of the city, the square offers tourists various attractions that should not be missed: the Patio da Gale mansion, Cais das Colunas and innovation center history of Lisbon. Climb the Arco da Rua Augusta to admire the interlocking streets and views of the sea. Relax at the feet of King José I and his horse Gentil, a statue by Machado de Castro that so well illustrates the royal power and nobility of the Lusitano breed. The area is great a starting point to explore the city.
This is a 19th-century elevator that carries passengers up the steep hill from the Baixa area to Largo do Carmo and the ruins of the Carmo Church. The hoist dates back to an era when wrought iron was not just building material, but also artistic form. The elevator is decorated with beautiful neo-Gothic arches and geometric patterns, and inside there are two luxurious polished wooden carriages.
Historically, the elevator excluded sharp turn to Carmo Hill and has made life easier for the townspeople, but today it is primarily a tourist attraction, one of the most unique in the city. At the top of the lift there is a recently opened Observation deck, from which a beautiful panoramic view on historical Center Lisbon.
Chiado area
This is a traditional shopping area with a mix of old and modern commercial establishments, mainly located on Carmo and Garrett Streets. The most famous cafe is Brasileira, where the poet Fernando Pessoa often visited.
In 1988, there was a severe fire in the area, 18 buildings were partially or completely destroyed. Since then, thanks to a renovation project coordinated by the architect A. S. Vieira for 10 years, the affected area has been restored and has the highest property prices in Portugal.
As with any trip on public transport in unfamiliar city, be careful of pickpockets, who are known to be common on trams. Remain vigilant and keep wallets and phones safely hidden.
