Tram 28 is probably the most famous tour in Lisbon. It is a vintage yellow tram that crosses the city centre, passing by many of Lisbon’s main attractions. So a single ride on it has all the benefits of a sightseeing bus tour, and it is much cheaper.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased on board or in advance from any metro station or kiosks located throughout the city. You can buy a card (€0.50) and load it with season tickets or you can just top up as you go. The former option costs €2.90 for a single ticket, which is more expensive than buying it in advance.
So the best option is to buy a daily pass for €6.15, which covers unlimited metro, tram and bus. This ticket is valid for 24 hours, so the time is also a variable to consider.
Route
The tram joins Martim Moniz and Campo Ourique (Prazeres) stations. The former is also a metro station, so it is easy to get there. Bear in mind that if you end your journey at Prazeres, you will need to get back by bus or by the same tram (in the opposite direction).
We recommend a single journey from Martim Moniz to Prazeres (upward). You will get the best views if you seat on the double seats on the left, mainly because they face the Tagus River’s coast.
There is always a long queue at Martin Moniz, and it can take at least an hour, but probably more. However; people queue for a seat, so if you are willing to go standing you can just skip the line and get in. We recommend to be patient and wait for a seat, so you can enjoy the ride and have the best views. A very good option would be to go early in the morning (the first train departs at 5:40 on weekdays, 5:45 on Saturdays and 6:45 on Sundays) or late in the evening (the last train departs at 21:15 on weekdays and 22:30 on weekends).
The map below shows the full route on Google Maps:
Best Stops
Below you can find the full list of stops. The best ones are highlighted, with an additional comment describing what you can see, so pay attention to those.
- Martim Moniz
- additPalma (Metro)
- Igreja Anjos
- Maria Andrade
- Maria Fonte
- Angelina Vidal
- Sapadores
- R. Graça
- Graça => Graca Church/ Miradoura Da Graca
- Voz Operário
- Cç. S. Vicente
- Escolas Gerais
- Lg. Portas Sol => Alfama District, best viewpoint!
- Miradouro Sta. Luzia
- Limoeiro
- Sé => Santo António Church/ Castelo de São Jorge
- Conceição
- Lg. Academia Nacional Belas Artes
- R. Vitor Cordon / R. Serpa Pinto
- Chiado (Metro) => Lisbon’s arts quarter, adjacent to the nightlife spot of the Bairro Alto
- Pç. Luis Camões (Metro)
- Calhariz (Bica)
- Catarina
- Cç. Combro
- Poiais S. Bento
- S. Bento / Cç. Estrela
- Cç. Estrela / R. Borges Carneiro
- Cç. Estrela / R. Dr. Teófilo Braga
- Estrela (Basílica) => Estrela Park
- Estrela – R. Domingos Sequeira
- Domingos Sequeira
- Saraiva Carvalho
- Igreja Sto. Condestável
- Campo Ourique (Prazeres) => Indoor and outdoor market, Cemetery of Pleasures
For a complete timetable and more information, you can visit the official Portuguese site carris.pt.
If you are looking for a good tour in Lisbon, I would recommend a day trip to Sintra and Cascais.
Last but not least, if you are in Lisbon and have some extra time, I would strongly recommend visiting Porto. It is only 3 hours away by train or car, and it is an incredible city. Once in Porto, do not miss the beautiful Douro Valley, land of wine, sun and great landscapes.
And one more very important advice if you are driving: Read carefully how to use electronic toll roads, as you will probably get fined otherwise.