Quick take
- Ride Tram 28 once for the experience — then switch to walking at your own pace.
- The best time is early; midday is often the most crowded.
- Tram 28 passes through some of Lisbon’s most atmospheric neighborhoods.
- If you hate crowds, skip it and do the same hills on foot.
- Use trams as ‘theatre’, not as your only transport plan.
- A great alternative is a viewpoint + a scenic walk instead.
How we update this guide
We try to keep advice here timeless (neighborhood logic, routes, pacing) and call out details that can change quickly (opening hours, transit patterns, prices, seasonal events). If something important changes, we want to hear it.
- Site-wide review date: 2025-12-31
- If you spot an error: send the page URL + what changed + the date you observed it.
- For anything time-sensitive, verify official sources close to travel time.
What Tram 28 is (and why people love it)
Tram 28 is part transport, part moving viewpoint. It rattles through historic districts and compresses a lot of Lisbon atmosphere into a short ride.
It’s iconic for a reason — but it’s also popular, which means timing matters if you want it to feel fun instead of stressful.
Service updates and route reality (check Carris)
Carris operates Lisbon’s Tram 28E. Because it runs through narrow, historic streets, service can change with works — and sometimes the endpoints shift temporarily.
In 2025, Carris announced a temporary pattern where 28E operated between Martim Moniz and Largo Camões, with a minibus service covering the Campo de Ourique/Prazeres end. If you encounter a shortened route, don’t treat it as a failure — treat it as a cue to ride one scenic segment and then walk the neighborhoods instead.
- Line name on official signage: 28E (Carris).
- If service is shortened or disrupted: switch to a walking route and enjoy the same streets with more control.
- Stay alert in crowds; keep phones and bags secure.
Walking routes
Tram atmosphere, but at your own pace (and without the crush).
Safety in Lisbon
Crowded transit is where basic pickpocket awareness matters most.
Estrela guide
A calmer neighborhood that pairs well with a tram segment.
Sources
- Carris: 28E (official line page) ↗
Use this to confirm the current route, stops, and any service notices.
- Carris: Changes to 28E service (official notice) ↗
Example of temporary route patterns and substitutions (check latest updates).
How to ride Tram 28 without hating it
The best Tram 28 strategy is simple: go early, keep expectations realistic, and treat it as one small chapter of your day — not the whole story.
- Go early for a calmer ride.
- Ride it once — don’t spend hours chasing the ‘perfect’ tram moment.
- If it’s too crowded, pivot to walking and enjoy Lisbon on your own terms.
The best way to “do” Tram 28: ride a segment, then walk
Tram 28 is most fun when it’s a connector, not a quest. The classic approach is to ride one scenic segment through the old districts, then hop off and explore on foot — you’ll get the same streets with better photos, better pace, and fewer crowd headaches.
If the route is shortened the day you’re there, this strategy still works: ride whatever segment is running, then build the rest of the experience with viewpoints and walking.
- Plan: one tram segment → one neighborhood wander → one viewpoint → dinner.
- If you’re traveling as a couple: treat the tram as the ‘setup’, not the whole date.
Neighborhoods Tram 28 connects (great pairing ideas)
Tram 28 passes near several classic districts. The best way to use it is to ride once, then pick one neighborhood to explore on foot afterward.
- Graça + Alfama: old-hills Lisbon and viewpoints.
- Baixa: the flat downtown grid for orientation and cafés.
- Estrela: calmer, greener Lisbon with garden energy.
Best alternatives (if you skip Tram 28)
Skipping Tram 28 doesn’t mean skipping Lisbon. You can build a better day with viewpoints, walking, and one funicular ride — without fighting crowds.
- Do: viewpoint + old-Lisbon walk + a café stop.
- Or: take a different tram/funicular for the experience, then walk.