Tram 28 Lisbon
Riding tram 28 has become one of Lisbon's most popular activities. It’s a journey back in time, over hills and medieval streets, in vintage trams from the 1930s that are still part of the city's public transportation network. These charming vehicles go past some major attractions, and guidebooks never fail to recommend the experience. Here’s what you should know:
Line 28 of Lisbon's iconic trams was inaugurated in 1914, and today it has a 7km-(4.5 miles) route between Martim Moniz Square and Prazeres, by the neighborhood of Campo de Ourique (at night, after 9:30pm, it terminates a few stops before, by the basilica of Estrela). It survived the rise of the automobile and of the bus by being the best way to squeeze through the narrow streets and corners of the older districts, for being an attractive tourist route, and for its clean energy. It's now an essential part of Lisbon's life, and the city would lose part of its soul without the constant rattling of these singular yellow "boxes."
The 28 uses about fifty turn-of-the-century cars, built in wood, with a capacity for 20 seating and 38 standing passengers (although many more cram in).
Tram 28 Schedule
The average intervals between each vehicle is 9 to 12 minutes, and the entire trip takes between 48 minutes and one hour (at a maximum speed of 50km per hour), depending on the obstacles (traffic and doubled-parked cars) along the way. At major stops, digital information boards display the time remaining for the next tram, but even that information isn’t always reliable, as the aforementioned obstacles cause unexpected delays.
The first 28 starts the day just before 6am, and the last one departs shortly after midnight on weekdays and at 11pm on weekends. It’s best avoided from mid-morning to evening, when it’s always packed, so plan your ride for the early morning or after the evening rush hour. For a better chance of getting a seat, board it at its starting point in Martim Moniz. If standing, hold on tight, as breaks are sharp.
During your journey you'll get up close to the tiles covering Alfama's façades, will admire views of the city's oldest monuments framed by the narrow streets, will pass by other trams going in the opposite direction, and will notice details that you'd otherwise overlook. Major attractions on the route include a number of viewpoints and iconic churches
