If you do one tram ride in Lisbon, make it line 28E. This is the city’s most famous tram route, running from Campo Ourique in the west through Estrela, Baixa, Alfama and Graça all the way to Martim Moniz in the east. The journey takes around 40–50 minutes end to end and passes through some of the most atmospheric and historic neighbourhoods in Lisbon.
The trams themselves are part of the attraction: the iconic yellow wooden carriages date from the 1930s and have been preserved and restored. Climbing steep cobbled hills and squeezing through narrow streets that barely fit the tram, they are a genuinely charming way to see the city.
Last updated: June 2026.
⚠️ Before You Board: The Pickpocket Warning
Tram 28E is one of the most pickpocket-heavy locations in Europe. This is not an exaggeration — it is consistently flagged by police, travel advisories and visitors alike. The combination of dense crowds, slow speeds, narrow doorways and distracted tourists makes it a prime target.
- Keep your bag in front of you at all times, ideally a zipped bag worn across the chest.
- Do not put your phone, wallet or passport in your back pocket or the outer pocket of a backpack.
- Be especially vigilant at busy stops (Alfama, Sé, Portas do Sol) where people push on and off.
- If someone creates a distraction near you — a sudden stumble, an argument, someone asking for directions — check your belongings immediately.
- Consider doing the route early in the morning (before 9am) when the tram is less crowded and the risk is lower.
🗺️ The Route: Stop by Stop
Tram 28E runs between Campo Ourique (west) and Martim Moniz (east). Most tourists board somewhere in the middle — the stops around Alfama and Baixa are the busiest. For the best experience, try to board at or near one of the terminal stops so you can get a seat.
| Stop | What to see / do |
|---|---|
| Campo Ourique | Western terminus. A quiet, residential neighbourhood popular with locals for its food market (Mercado de Campo de Ourique) — excellent for a meal before or after. Good place to board if you want a guaranteed seat. |
| Prazeres | The Prazeres Cemetery — one of Lisbon’s most atmospheric and historically significant burial grounds, with elaborate 19th-century mausoleums. Worth a short detour. |
| Estrela | Home to the stunning Basílica da Estrela, one of Lisbon’s finest churches, with a neoclassical white facade and impressive interior including an elaborate tomb of Queen Maria I. The adjacent Jardim da Estrela is a lovely park for a rest. |
| Assembleia da República | The Portuguese parliament building (Palácio de São Bento) is visible from the tram — a grand neoclassical structure that has housed the Portuguese legislature since 1834. |
| Calhariz / Bica | Near the top of the famous Elevador da Bica funicular. A short walk down leads to the Bairro Alto neighbourhood and the Miradouro de Santa Catarina viewpoint. |
| Chiado / Camões | The cultural heart of Lisbon. The Praça Luís de Camões and the surrounding streets are lined with bookshops, cafés and theatres. Also close to the Museu do Chiado. |
| Baixa-Chiado | The commercial centre — grand 18th-century grid streets rebuilt by the Marquis of Pombal after the 1755 earthquake. Rua Augusta, Praça do Comércio and the riverfront are all nearby. |
| Sé (Cathedral) | ⭐ The Sé de Lisboa, Lisbon’s oldest church, founded in 1147, sits right on the tram route. Its fortress-like Romanesque facade is one of the city’s most iconic images. Well worth stopping here. |
| Portas do Sol | ⭐ One of the best viewpoints in Lisbon, overlooking the rooftops of Alfama and the Tagus river. A natural stop on the route — get off, take in the view, and reboard the next tram. |
| Santa Luzia | Another miradouro (viewpoint) with beautiful azulejo tile panels on the garden wall depicting old Lisbon. Adjacent to the Igreja de Santa Luzia. |
| Largo das Portas do Sol | Gateway to the heart of Alfama — the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon, with roots going back to Moorish times. Steep, narrow streets, fado houses and authentic local life. Easy to spend an hour exploring on foot. |
| Graça | One of Lisbon’s oldest and least-touristy districts, sitting on the highest hill. The Miradouro da Graça offers arguably the best view of central Lisbon and the Tagus. Less crowded than Portas do Sol. |
| Martim Moniz | Eastern terminus. The Praça Martim Moniz is a large multicultural square in Mouraria — Lisbon’s historically Moorish neighbourhood. Lively street food scene, especially at weekends. |
🎟️ Tickets and Prices (2026)
There are several ways to pay for Tram 28E. Buying tickets in advance or using a travel card is strongly recommended — paying cash on the tram to the driver is possible but costs more, and boards can be closed during peak hours.
| Ticket type | Price (approx. 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single journey (on board) | ~€3.00 | One-off ride; least good value |
| Viva Viagem card + single journey | €0.50 card + ~€1.50/journey | Visitors using transport a few times |
| 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket | ~€6.60 | ⭐ Best value for a full day of sightseeing by tram and metro |
| Lisbon Card (24 hrs) | ~€22 | Worth it if also visiting museums — includes free entry to many attractions |
| Lisbon Card (48 hrs) | ~€37 | Best for 2+ days of museum-heavy sightseeing |
💡 Buy your Viva Viagem card at any metro station ticket machine or at the airport on arrival. Load it with a 24-hour ticket or individual journeys. You can also top it up via the Carris app. Avoid buying from touts near tram stops selling “discount” cards — these are scams.
🕐 Practical Tips
- Travel early: Tram 28E starts running around 6am. Before 9am it is far less crowded, the light is beautiful for photography, and the pickpocket risk is lower. In peak season (June–September) the tram can be completely packed by 10am with long queues at stops.
- Board at the terminus: If you want a seat, board at Campo Ourique or Martim Moniz rather than at a stop in the middle. Seats fill up fast once the tram is moving.
- Don’t just ride — get off and explore: The best way to use Tram 28E is as a hop-on, hop-off service. Get off at Sé, walk around Alfama, get back on. Stop at Portas do Sol for the view, then continue. Your 24-hour ticket makes this easy.
- The tram is small: The historic carriages hold around 20–30 seated passengers and a few standing. In high season, you may have to let 2–3 trams pass before you can board. This is normal.
- Photography: The tram itself is photogenic — but the best shots are taken from the street, watching it squeeze through narrow Alfama alleys. Wander a block off the route in Alfama for the classic image.
- Frequency: Trams run approximately every 10–20 minutes on the route. In practice, two or three often bunch together after delays, then there’s a long gap. Use the Carris app to track real-time positions.
- Direction: Make sure you board in the right direction. The tram is signed “Campo Ourique” or “Martim Moniz” at the front. Eastbound (towards Martim Moniz) takes you through Alfama; westbound takes you up to Estrela and Campo Ourique.
🚋 Alternative: Tram 12E
Tram 12E is a shorter circular route around Alfama and is significantly less crowded than the 28E. It covers less ground but gives a similar experience of the historic tram cars through narrow streets — and you’re much more likely to get a seat. If the 28E queues are overwhelming, consider 12E as a less-touristed alternative.
🚶 Walking the Route
It is worth noting that the entire Tram 28E route can also be walked in around 2–3 hours at a leisurely pace. Walking gives you more freedom to stop, explore side streets and duck into churches — and eliminates the pickpocket risk entirely. Many visitors do the route partly by tram and partly on foot, mixing the two.
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