Elevators & funiculars – the shortcuts to hilly Lisbon

Lisbon's Elevators & Funiculars: Convenient Routes to the Hills

The Lavra Funicular takes you to one of Lisbon's less touristic viewpoints - and to Campo dos Martires with the lush, green and children friendly Parque Canino. A true hidden gem

The Lavra Funicular is Lisbon’s oldest. The 188 m-long line connects Largo da Anunciada to Rua Câmara Pestana. (Photo by Pedro Simões)

Lisbon’s public transportation company Carris’ together with a number of newer public and private elevators boasts a network of elevators and funiculars that provide practical shortcuts for navigating the city’s slopes.

For Lisbon residents who know them, these options save time, especially if you want to cross downtown to reach Bairro Alto and Principe real from Graca during rush hour

The commercial funiculars/elevator run by Carris

Carris’ 3 funiculars and 1 elevator are Tourists attractions. The reason why they are so popular is because they take you through the old neighborhoods that used to house the locals, the Funiculars and elevator were meant for, were living before their flats were turned into short term rentals. And as Carris is a commercial company you need a ticket. 

The Glória Funicular takes you from Marques de Pombal Bairro and neighbouring Principe Real in a few entertaining minutes. (Photo by Lis Fotios -Pexel)

The Glória Funicular takes you from Marques de Pombal Bairro and neighbouring Principe Real in a few entertaining minutes. (Photo by Lis Fotios -Pexel)

The Elevador da Glória is a historic funicular that ascends from Restauradores Square to Bairro Alto, passing through narrow streets adorned with colorful facades.

The Elevador de Santa Justa,an impressive iron structure, connects the lower Baixa district to the elevated Chiado neighborhood, offering panoramic views from its top.

The Elevador do Lavra, Lisbon’s oldest funicular, connects Avenida da Liberdade to Torel Garden, a tranquil green space with stunning city views.

With its dramatic contrast between the steep route with the Tagus in the back, The Bica Funicular is one of Lisbon's most attractions.

With its dramatic contrast between the steep route with the Tagus in the back, The Bica Funicular is one of Lisbon’s most attractions. (Photo by Lis Fotios -Pexel)

The Elevador da Bica, a yellow funicular, winds its way up the steep hillside from Cais do Sodré to Bairro Alto, providing an authentic Lisbon experience with its charming surroundings.

These elevators and funiculars serve as practical means of transport while offering glimpses of Lisbon’s history and ambiance. They provide an efficient and enjoyable way to reach hilltop viewpoints and experience the city’s vibrant atmosphere.

These elevators and funiculars serve as practical means of transport while offering glimpses of Lisbon’s history and ambiance. They provide an efficient and enjoyable way to reach hilltop viewpoints and experience the city’s vibrant atmosphere.

Embark on a journey through Lisbon’s hills using these convenient and fascinating modes of transport, and discover the city’s unique charm from a different perspective

The public Lisbon Municipal Mobility and Parking Company

In addition to the Mouraria route, smooth accesses to the Sé and Graça are planned. In the first case, there will be a lift connecting Escadinhas das Portas do Mar (next to Campo das Cebolas) to Largo da Sé. As for the Graça route, there will be a funicular connecting Rua dos Lagares and the Graça Viewpoint.
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Escalators will connect Martim Moniz to Lisbon Castle in 2017
DesignerObservador, 20 may. 2016,

In 2015 we bought the house on Miradouro da Senhora do Monte – the top of the highest hill in town and started renovating. 

Back then the miradouro was empty. NO tourists – only locals. We could bring tables and chairs and picnic there the whole night in front of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. 

Absolutely fantastic – but at the same time also a little scarry. 

How do we get people up here? 

In 2015 we bought the house on Miradouro da Senhora do Monte – the top of the highest hill in town and started renovating. 

The Projected Elevator from Escadinhas das Portas do Mar to Ze Cathedral

The Projected Elevator from Escadinhas das Portas do Mar to Ze Cathedral

Back then the miradouro was empty. NO tourists – only locals. We could bring tables and chairs and picnic there the whole night in front of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. 

Absolutely fantastic – but at the same time also a little scarry. How do we get people up here? 

By a coincidence I stumbled upon a story in Bloomberg about the Lisbon’s City Transit Authority’s new project: An elevator that would make it easy for Cruise travelers to visit the Ze Cathedral. That didn’t interest me – what caught my attention was a sentence in the last paragraph:

One of them was an elevator that would bring tourists from the (back them) future Cruise Terminal Se Cathedral. That didn’t interest me at all. But the mentioning of other projects made me curious. After a few more clicks I got to the Portuguese Observador who had rolled out the whole Funicular plan: The elevator to Ze Cathedral, A Funicular from Mouraria to Graca And and 3 section Escalator from Martim Monis to Castello.  

The Escalator Castello that in the following 3 sections would bring tourists from Martim Moniz (Baixa) to Castelo de Sao Jorge

While digging to build a new funicular, that will connect Mouraria neighbourhood to Graça area, construction workers found what seems to be a piece of Lisbon's oldest constructions. The old fortified wall from the 14th century, built by Portuguese king D. Fernando between 1373 and 1375.
When the Graça Funicular opens in 2023 after more than 6 years delay you can reach the popular Miradouro da Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen from Mouraria in no time.

Today nobody ever talks about the elevator to Ze Cathedral. And of the Escalator Castello’s 3 sections only A Escadinhas da Saúde exists – and it leads to nowhere.

BUT the third and final project – the Funicular to Graca will see the day of light in 2023. And that will make Graca even more attractive as it will reduce the traffic considerately. 

So together with the relatively unknown Santa Luzia elevator and the popular Baixa/Castello elevator Lisbon Municipality will run 5 free elevators/escalators/funicula.

I have mapped them all with comments for each of them in the map below. Here you also find our shortcut from Tings Lisbon to Chiado.

Enjoy.

Thomas

The Short Cuts to hilly Lisbon.


ElevatorsfunicularsGetting around

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Thomas Tingstrup

Blogger, Traveller and Food, Music & Literature lover. Founding partner of Tings Lisbon.

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