TRAM LINE 28

Description

Essentials about Tram Line 28

A streetcar ride as an attraction? In most cities rather not – not so in Lisbon! A ride on the streetcar is an absolute must on any trip to Lisbon and should be done even if the time budget is relatively tight. The trains squeeze through the narrow streets of the city, torture themselves up the many hills and offer on their trips a lot of fantastic views of the beautiful Portuguese capital. By the way, the absolute highlight of all Lisbon streetcars is line 28E. Just get on, enjoy what is probably the most exciting streetcar ride in Europe, and don’t forget to keep your camera or smartphone handy – there are plenty of photo opportunities along the way.

The route of Tram Line 28

Although the cars of line 28E are bursting with tourists most days, it is in fact still a regular streetcar line, running between the Martim Moniz and Capo Ourique terminuses. After the ride through the Graça neighborhood comes probably the most exciting and popular section of the line: the Alfama. The streetcar squeezes through the narrow historic streets of the old quarter past the beautiful Portas do Sol viewing area and Lisbon Cathedral. It then continues through the straight streets of the Baixa (Lower Town) and back up the hill on the other side to the chic Chiado shopping district and on to Lisbon’s main shopping district, Bairro Alto (Upper Town). From here, line 28E continues to the Parliament and up to the Estrela Basilica.

The cars of Tram Line 28

The so-called Remodelados are still used on the line; streetcars that were built until the 1940s but were technically overhauled in the 1990s. The Remodelados are perfectly suited to cope with the steep gradients on the line and fit ideally through the narrow alleys of Lisbon’s old town. The interior of the tramcars is still the old one. Passengers take their seats on rather uncomfortable wooden benches. But that, too, is part of the riding experience of the 28E.

Tips for travelling with Tram Line 28

And last but not least, three important tips for riding streetcar line 28E:

First, as mentioned earlier, the streetcar is one of Lisbon’s main tourist attractions and is accordingly crowded. Especially in the summer months, you often can’t get a seat anymore, both in the morning and in the afternoon. It is therefore a good idea to take the streetcar either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Then the chances of getting a seat are much better. It also increases the chances of getting a seat if you don’t get on at the main tourist stops in Alfama or Baixa. Because there the queues are often long.

Secondly, the traffic in the city center of Lisbon is murderous. Since the streetcar doesn’t have its own tracks and has to share the road with all other road users, it is accordingly often stuck in traffic or behind parked cars. If you don’t have patience, you will usually learn it on a streetcar ride. Also, studying the timetables is rather wasted time, because the streetcar almost never comes on time anyway. So if you have to be at a certain place at a certain time, it’s better not to take line 28E or to plan an appropriate time buffer.

Third, a one-way ticket for streetcar line 28E costs 2.90€. If you plan to see more of Lisbon, you should definitely buy a 24-hour ticket, which currently costs 6.30€. The day ticket offers excellent value for money, as it is valid for the metro, streetcar, bus, and other popular tourist attractions, such as the Santa Justa Lift elevator and the Ascensor da Glória funicular.