GOING OUT FOR DINNER?
Dinner at Penalva da Graca
WANT TO GO FOR A SWIM?
A busy day during the high season.
WE LOVE RIDING THE TRAM 28
Lisbon's popular Tram 28 is only 3 minutes from Tins Lisbon. Here is all you need to know.
What you need to know about 28E Lisbon’s most popular tram
Lisbon's most popular Tram line is the 28E to Graça
Our first rides with the #28 was in 1996 when tourist was something the city was talking about and preparing to receive with the upcoming EXPO two years later. 20 years later we opened a hotel here.
Firstly, travelling through a city in an old classic tram is a marvellous experience! It’s particularly delightful if you’re on holiday with plenty of time and no stress.
For residents, however, the situation is rather different. Things can be a bit tricky – especially for elderly or disabled individuals who have spent a lifetime living atop Lisbon’s highest hill, with the old 28E tram as their sole link to the rest of the city.
Do bear this in mind as you enjoy your journey.
Better still – if possible – consider using alternative modes of transport during peak hours. Mornings and evenings are not only enchanting – they’re also more comfortable as you’re guaranteed a seat, you won’t be jostled about during the ride, and you needn’t fret about pickpockets, for whom the tourist-packed Tram 28E is akin to an enormous all-you-can-eat buffet with free “delicacies”.
28E
Why is tram 28E so popular?
I’m quite certain that if it were feasible, Lisbon would have replaced all its old trams with the modern ones that operate in most of the city.
However, these modern trams are too large for the narrow, winding streets that traverse Lisbon’s hills. This is particularly true for the stretch from Chiado up to Graça, which is home to the city’s most historic buildings, monuments, and popular tourist attractions. In this area, you’ll still find the classic, romantic trams that tourists adore. This route is serviced by the renowned line 28E.
The vintage trams, dating back to the 1930s, continue to operate in Lisbon because the streets are too constricted for longer trams and too undulating for multiple-bogie vehicles. In fact, the tram tracks in Alfama are considered the world’s steepest, with the single carriages barely managing to navigate the turns without grazing the ancient overhanging buildings.
When the tram network was modernised in the 1990s, only the 15E route could accommodate the new, articulated trams. For the other lines, particularly the iconic 28E, it was deemed more appropriate to upgrade the historic trams with new engines, brakes, and electronics, preserving their charming exterior while improving their functionality.
These classic trams have become an integral part of Lisbon’s identity and a significant tourist attraction. They offer a nostalgic journey through the city’s narrow streets and historic neighbourhoods, providing a unique experience that modern trams simply cannot replicate.
28E
How long does a tram ride with 28E take?
Be aware… the pickpocket is looking for the next wallet!The ride takes i hour.The pickpockets only needs a few minutes to empty tourists – who have left their common sense at home – pockets. From LEGO IDEAS’ Tram 28E work in progress
The first trams starts just before 6 am – and the last ones departs around 11 pm on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends
Theoretically there should be around 10 minutes intervals between each vehicle. But due to traffic jam during rush hours and, overloads of tourists getting in and out of the trams in the high season and especially stupid parking (read dbl parked) vehicles blocking the tracks, these intervals rarely happen.
So forget about timetables and prepare yourself for long lines in the summer heat…
It takes around 1 hour to go from Martim Moniz where 28E it starts to its final stop in Campo De Ourique. During the peak of the tourist season it can easily take longer.
We recommend our guests to jump on the tram stop at Largo da Graca 2 minutes from our door where it stops and skip the relatively boring ride from Martim Moniz at the bottom of our hill up to us.
BUT don’t be surprised if the tram passes by you without stopping. It’s probably already packed with tourists that have been waiting for ages from its starting point
Lisbon Tram – Iconic Streetcar of Portugal All aboard for a charming ride through the cobbled streets of Portugal’s capital with the LEGO Ideas Lisbon Tram! This project pays tribute to the iconic "Eléctrico 28" the classic yellow tram that winds through the narrow alleys and scenic hills of Lisbon.
Welcome to 28E – enjoy the ride
28E
The popular route from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique
28E
How much does it cost?
If you stay at Tings you can buy (and charge) your Viva Viagem card next to the MiniPreço Supermarket on Largo Da Graça 3 minutes from our door. Closed on Sundays.
Your choice largely depends on the duration of your stay and your personal preferences.
If you’re visiting for just a day or two with a lengthy list of attractions to see, the Lisbon Card might be your best option. It provides access to all public transport as well as entry to numerous monuments and institutions. The price varies based on the card duration you select (24, 48 or 72 hours).
For those staying longer and relying primarily on public transport, the Viva Viagem Card could be ideal. This card can be used not only on the tram network but also on the public boats crossing the Tagus River, the Metro, public buses, and the Santa Justa Lift.
The card itself costs €0.50 and can be topped up as needed. With this card, a tram journey costs €1.50.
If you’re here for an extended period, enjoy walking, are unsure about your public transport usage, and appreciate the flexibility offered by scooters, motorbikes, Uber and other app-based transport options, you might prefer to simply pay for your tram ticket as you board.
At €3.50 per journey, it’s relatively inexpensive compared to many other cities.
For more detailed information about prices and options, please refer to the official transport website.
28E
How to avoid the crowd.
The easiest and cheapest option to avoid the crazy crowd of people gathering like sardines in a tin to “do the 28E” is to walk the route. Of Course you miss the tram-ride. But on the other hand – you get a chance to stop and get lost in the cacophony for sounds, tastes and visions that “hit” you along 28E’s route through Alfarma’s narrow streets…
During the high season – on busy days – 28E sometimes starts from the small tram-round-about on Largo da Graça in front of the Fire Brigade’s red gates.
If walking isn’t an option try the following:
Start your ride either early in the morning or after dinner. Your chances of getting a seat is very high – especially before 8 am.
Board at its starting point in Campo de Orique – one of our favorite neighborhoods in Lisbon that is still not discovered by tourists. Compared to most other parts of town the residents here are relatively wealthy. So the food scene is generally much more interesting here compared to most other parts of town (BONUS: From here it’s only a 10 minutes walk to the old Aqueduct – still hidden gem)
Take another tram. IF your only interest is riding a classic wooden tram – in other words: you don’t care about the historical parts of town – take line 12, 15, 18, 24 or 25. They all use similar wooden cars as ‘our’ 28E.
IF cruising through Lisbon’s historical settings is as important (or more) as the tram ride itself then the lesser known 24E from Largo Camões in Chiado down to Rato via Principe Real is a very good alternative.
That must be it – enjoy your ride. And again, watch out for the pickpockets!
Thomas
28E
More about getting around
