In a nutshell
- Tram line 28E is one of Lisbon’s most iconic photo spots — and a ride is seriously a must for any long weekend in Lisbon.
- The ride is something truly special: the tram winds through Lisbon’s narrow alleyways, squeezing past buildings with just inches to spare.
- The tram runs every day roughly every ten minutes from Martim Moniz all the way to Campo Ourique and back — the full journey takes about 55 minutes.
- To snag a seat, board at Campo Ourique. To save money, use the Navegante card — the same one you need for the Metro — and pay just €1.72 instead of €3.30.
- A great alternative to the 28E is tram line 12E — it runs along part of the exact same route and tends to be far less crowded.
What makes Lisbon’s tram line 28E so special?
Images of Lisbon’s historic trams grace countless travel guides and postcards. No wonder — the cars look as if they were rolled straight out of a museum and onto the tracks.
The trams first ran through Lisbon in the 1930s, and they’re still running today.
A ride on the old trams is a genuine experience, and not just because of their age — the spectacular route plays a big part too. The trams wind through narrow alleyways where only a few inches separate the car from the building facades on either side, and they tackle gradients of up to 13.5%.
And along the way, tram 28E takes you past many of Lisbon’s top attractions and viewpoints — it’s a real sightseeing tram.
Tram 28E Lisbon route map
The 28E tram runs through nearly all of the historic city neighborhoods and, as just mentioned, passes by many of the city’s major attractions.
The terminal stops are Martim Moniz in the Alfama district and Campo Ourique (Prazeres) in the western part of Lisbon’s city center.
In total, the tram stops at 38 stations along its roughly 7-kilometer route. The full journey takes about 55 minutes.
For a better overview, we’ve marked the tram 28E Lisbon route on the map below.
Tickets and fares
A single ride on tram 28E costs €3.30 and can be purchased directly from the driver.
It’s cheaper if you have a ticket for Lisbon’s public transit: the Navegante card (formerly Viva Viagem).
You can simply load credit onto the card and tap it on the card reader when you board. With this card, a ride on tram 28E costs just €1.72 — so it’s well worth picking one up if you’re planning to use public transport more than once or twice.
You can also ride the tram for free if you have a Lisboa Card. To find out whether the Lisboa Card is worth it for you, check out our article on the Lisboa Card.
Schedule and travel times for line 28E
Tram 28E runs daily from 5:40 AM to approximately 11:30 PM. On weekends, the trams start a little later and don’t run quite as long. Officially, the tram runs on a 10-minute frequency.
Schedules vary slightly between winter and summer.
That said, don’t count on the schedule too heavily. It’s common for trams to be slowed down by cars parked on the tracks, which means the schedule is basically never kept.
This often results in two or three trams arriving back-to-back, followed by a long gap with no trams at all.
Tips for riding tram 28E
Riding the 28E has become one of the most popular things to do in Lisbon. The trams get correspondingly crowded. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your ride on this beloved tram.
Ride as early as possible
As just mentioned, everyone wants to ride line 28E through Lisbon at least once.
We recommend riding as early as possible — most tourists are still at breakfast in the morning, which makes the whole experience so much more relaxed.
Start your ride at the Campo Ourique (Prazeres) station
Boarding somewhere in the middle of the route is really not a great idea. The chances are very high that you’ll only get a standing spot.
Unfortunately, the view from standing isn’t great, which takes a lot of the fun out of the ride. On top of that, you’ll spend half the journey holding on for dear life — the 28E is quite a bumpy ride, and the driver often has to brake abruptly.
That’s why we recommend starting your tram ride at the Campo Ourique terminal. It’s located a little outside the city center, which means you can almost always count on getting a seat there.
Our tip: While you’re there, make sure to check out the stunning Cemitério dos Prazeres cemetery, which is right at the terminal stop. You can find more details in our insider tips for Lisbon.
Avoid the Martim Moniz terminal
If your hotel in Lisbon is right in the old town, the other terminal at Martim Moniz is probably much closer. Even so, we’d strongly advise against boarding there.
Lots of people have the same idea, which means a long line often forms at this terminal. You’ll end up waiting a long time and will probably still only get a standing spot.
Don't board just before the terminal
If you’re thinking about boarding just before the terminal and then simply staying seated, we’re sorry to disappoint you.
At every terminal, all passengers must exit, since the drivers have earned a short break.
So unfortunately, this trick doesn’t work.
Travel light
The cars have very little space, which is why large pieces of luggage are not allowed. A small bag in a typical carry-on size is fine, but don’t bring all your travel luggage with you.
If you’re traveling in Lisbon with kids, you should also leave the stroller behind when riding one of the old trams. It simply won’t fit. A small foldable travel stroller should be fine, though.
Watch your valuables
Where large numbers of tourists crowd together, pickpockets are never far away. Signs inside the trams warn passengers about this too. Keep a close eye on your valuables.
Lisbon trams: Which other lines are worth riding?
In addition to the 28E tram Lisbon route, there are other tram lines you can use as a classic mode of transportation.
Line 12E has identically built cars and partly runs on the exact same route as the 28E. It runs in a loop and takes about 20 minutes in total. Like the 28E, its terminal is at Martim Moniz.
The old cars are also used on lines 18E, 24E, and 25E. If all you want is to ride one of the historic trams, these lines are a great alternative.
Besides the regular lines, there are also hop-on/hop-off trams in Lisbon designed specifically for tourists. These also run in historic cars and cover many parts of the old city that the 28E passes through as well.
With a hop-on/hop-off ticket, you can ride the tram as many times as you like and can also use various buses and boats that serve other tourist-friendly destinations.
