What Is Tram 28?

Tram 28 (officially route 28E) is one of Lisbon's historic tram lines, running a roughly 7-kilometer route between Martim Moniz Square in the northeast and Prazeres in the Campo de Ourique neighborhood to the west. Along the way it climbs and winds through some of the steepest, narrowest streets in the city — the Graça and Alfama hillside quarters, the Sé Cathedral area, Baixa, Chiado, and the district around Estrela Basilica — with more than 30 stops in total.

The cars themselves are part of the appeal. Lisbon's tram network was electrified in 1901, and the compact, narrow-gauge cars still running route 28 today are known as "Remodelado" trams — a 1930s design refurbished with modern brakes and electrics in the 1990s but built to the same dimensions needed to squeeze through streets never meant for motor traffic. Locals still use Tram 28 as a genuine commuter line, which is part of why it stays crowded: it's simultaneously public transport and one of the most photographed rides in the city.

Tickets & Prices 2026

There's no admission fee for Tram 28 — it's a regular public bus/tram fare, not an attraction ticket. The simplest option is to pay on board: a single ride costs €3.30 in cash or by contactless card, paid directly to the driver as you enter through the front door. That's the fare Carris set effective January 1, 2026, up €0.10 from the 2025 rate.

It's cheaper to preload a Viva Viagem or Navegante card before you board. A 1-hour ticket loaded onto one of these cards costs €1.90 and covers transfers across Carris trams, buses, and the Metro within that hour — but the card itself has to be bought and topped up in advance at a Metro station ticket machine, since you cannot buy one on the tram, only pay the flat €3.30 on-board fare. If you're planning to ride Tram 28 plus explore the city by public transport for a full day, a 24-hour Navegante pass (€7.25) is usually better value than paying per ride.

Visitors doing heavier sightseeing may also want to weigh the Lisboa Card, which bundles unlimited Carris and Metro travel — including Tram 28 — with free or discounted entry to 50+ museums and monuments; the 24-hour adult version runs about €31. Whether that pays off depends on how many paid sights are on your list — see our breakdown of whether the Lisbon Pass is worth it before buying one just for the tram.

Opening Hours & Best Time to Go

Tram 28 runs on a daily schedule roughly as follows:

• Weekdays: first departure from Martim Moniz around 5:40am, last departure around 11:30pm
• Sundays and public holidays: first departure around 6:45am, service ending somewhat earlier in the evening

Departures run every 10 to 15 minutes for most of the day, with the shortest gaps during the morning and early-evening peak between roughly 9am and 6pm. Late in the evening, some runs terminate a few stops early near Estrela Basilica rather than continuing to Prazeres, so double-check the destination shown on the tram if riding after dark.

The best time to go is genuinely early: before 9am or after 6pm, the tram is noticeably less packed and there's a real chance of a window seat. Between roughly 10am and 5pm, especially in summer high season, Tram 28 is consistently the most crowded ride in the city, and standing-room-only carriages are the norm rather than the exception. If photos or simply enjoying the ride matter more than checking a box, shifting to the early-morning window is the single biggest improvement you can make.

How Long to Plan

A full one-way ride from Martim Moniz to Prazeres takes approximately 40 to 45 minutes, covering the entire route end to end. Most visitors don't ride the whole thing — a shorter stretch through the Alfama and Graça hills, roughly 15 to 20 minutes, covers the most scenic and photographed section of the route and is enough for most people to say they've "done" Tram 28. Riding out and then walking back through the neighborhoods you passed is a common and often more satisfying alternative to a round trip on the tram itself.

Budget extra time for waiting, not riding — during peak hours, the line to board at Martim Moniz or other busy stops can add 30 minutes or more before you even get on. If Tram 28 is one stop among several on a broader day in the city, our 2-day Lisbon itinerary shows where a short tram ride like this fits alongside the city's longer museum and monument visits.

How to Get There

The main starting point is Martim Moniz Square, at the northeastern end of the route, reachable directly by the green line of the Lisbon Metro (Martim Moniz station) or a short walk from Rossio. Starting here gives the best chance of boarding a lightly loaded tram, since it's the first stop on the line. The Baixa-Chiado area, roughly midway along the route, is the other common boarding point for visitors already exploring downtown, though trams passing through there during the day are frequently already full.

The western terminus, Prazeres in Campo de Ourique, is a quieter residential neighborhood with its own metro connections — a reasonable place to start if you'd rather ride the route in the opposite direction with a better chance of a seat, since fewer tourists board there.

Visit Tips: Queues, Booking & Mistakes

There's no ticket to book in advance — Tram 28 is public transport, not a reservation-based attraction, so the only "booking" that helps is preloading a Viva Viagem card before you go, saving both money and the time spent fumbling for cash at the driver's door. If a tram arrives already full, it's normal — and often faster overall — to let it pass and wait for the next one rather than squeezing on.

Tram 28 is a well-documented target for pickpockets, particularly during the crowded 9am–6pm window, when the jostling of people boarding and exiting provides cover. Keep bags and phones in front of you, not in back or open side pockets, and stay alert near the doors where crowding is worst.

The most common mistake is assuming Tram 28 goes to Belém — it doesn't. The route runs nowhere near the Belém waterfront; that's a separate line, Tram 15E, departing from a different stop near Praça da Figueira. Confirm the tram number before boarding, since a Belém-bound visitor who boards the 28 by mistake ends up heading the opposite direction entirely. For a quieter alternative, some visitors ride the shorter, less-publicized 12E loop, which shares the historic-car experience with far less competition for space.

Nearby Attractions

São Jorge Castle sits directly above the Portas do Sol tram stop, a short uphill walk from the route through the Alfama district — it's the natural next stop for anyone riding Tram 28 through the old town, and one of the best viewpoints over the city and river. See our full São Jorge Castle guide for current tickets and hours.

Near the Baixa-Chiado section of the route, the Santa Justa Lift is a five-minute walk from where Tram 28 passes through downtown, and pairs naturally with a ride if you're covering central Lisbon on foot.

Frequently Asked Questions