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Last updated September 2026. Tram 12 in Lisbon needs a current route check, not just an old loop map. As checked on 12 September 2026, Carris is running 12E trams between Largo do Camões and Graça, with a separate bus shuttle starting and finishing at Martim Moniz. This guide explains that temporary arrangement, ticket choices and how to compare it with Lisbon’s other public transport options. Keep this short city route on your Lisbon sightseeing day; plan a separate excursion using our car-free day trips from Lisbon if you want to travel beyond the city.
Featured image: Mark Fischer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted to WebP.
Quick Answer: What Is Tram 12 Lisbon and Where Does It Go?
Carris’s dated 12E and 28E service notice announces changes for three weeks from 31 August 2026 because of a road closure in Rua Forno do Tijolo. For 12E, the tram section connects Largo do Camões and Graça. A separate bus shuttle runs a loop from Martim Moniz through streets near the Sé and back to Martim Moniz. These are different vehicles and service patterns, not one continuous tram circuit. Do not arrive at Martim Moniz expecting the usual short sightseeing loop to be operating unchanged. The published duration is a plan, not a guaranteed reopening date; check for a newer Carris notice before travelling.
Changes begun 31 August 2026 divided tram 12 into separate tram and bus segments with different routes—check the stop notice and destination display before boarding.
Current Tram Section and Replacement Bus Loop
Use the current service notice to identify which part of 12E you actually want to ride. The tram section is useful for travelling between the Chiado side at Largo do Camões and Graça. The replacement bus loop serves the Martim Moniz and Sé side of the historic centre. If your main aim is a ride on a historic tram, a bus displaying the route number will not provide the same experience. Older maps describing a Praça da Figueira loop, or a through tram from Martim Moniz, should not determine your boarding point during these works. Check the stop notice and destination display before boarding. For a day on foot, the self-guided walking route can help connect the historic districts without relying on a through tram. Walking still involves steep streets, so judge the route against your mobility and the weather.
| Service during the announced alteration | Published route |
|---|---|
| 12E tram | Largo do Camões ↔ Graça |
| 12E replacement bus shuttle | Martim Moniz → Rua dos Cavaleiros → Calçada de Santo André → Rua de São Tomé → Rua do Limoeiro → Rua Augusto Rosa → Rua António da Sé → Largo da Madalena → Rua da Madalena → Martim Moniz |
Tram 12 vs Tram 28: Which Should You Ride?
Do not compare the two services solely on their normal maps or on a promise of shorter queues. During the same September works, 28E uses a bus between Martim Moniz and Graça and a tram between Graça and Prazeres. The 12E tram section also reaches Graça from Largo do Camões, but it does not give you the full western 28E route to Prazeres. Select the service by the destination actually shown, the stop you can reach and the vehicle you want to use. A smaller crowd at one stop does not guarantee a seat or a shorter overall wait. The tram 28 route guide explains its route and temporary bus-to-tram transfer.
| Factor | Tram 12 | Tram 28 |
|---|---|---|
| Current tram section | Largo do Camões–Graça | Graça–Prazeres |
| Martim Moniz service | Separate replacement bus loop | Bus to Graça, then transfer for the tram section |
| Best fit | Shorter tram ride between the published endpoints | Continuing west towards Estrela or Prazeres |
| Crowding and waiting | Variable; no seat guarantee | Variable; allow for the bus/tram connection |
- Choose the tram section if a historic vehicle ride is the point of the outing.
- Choose the route serving your actual destination if you are travelling with luggage or keeping an appointment.
- Allow time for changed stops and transfers; neither route is a reliable shortcut simply because its queue looks shorter.
- With children, account for waiting, crowded standing space and the steps on historic trams rather than assuming one route is automatically family-friendly.
Fares and Ticket Options for Tram 12
The Carris occasional-ticket page and 2026 fare sheet settle the conflicting old prices still found in travel guides. A tram ticket bought onboard costs €3.30; Carris zapping is €1.72, and a Carris/Metro 24-hour ticket is €7.25. An occasional navegante card costs €0.50 before any credit is loaded. Buy and top up at a station before boarding if you want a prepaid product; the metro ticket guide explains the process. Paying an onboard single fare is different from buying unlimited hop-on/hop-off travel: that ticket is tied to the vehicle where it is bought. For the sightseeing pass, use the Lisboa Card comparison and its current inclusions before paying for a separate ticket.
| Ticket | 2026 price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Onboard tram single | €3.30 | Pay using an accepted onboard method; valid on the vehicle where bought |
| Carris zapping | €1.72 | Preload credit on an occasional card; card costs €0.50 |
| Carris/Metro 24-hour ticket | €7.25 | Rolling 24 hours after first validation, not just until midnight |
| Lisboa Card | Depends on duration | Check the card’s current Carris transport inclusions before purchasing |
Schedule, Frequency, and Best Time to Ride
Use the current Carris timetable and the temporary stop notice for the day you travel. Older articles give conflicting frequencies and first or last departures; those figures do not establish the timetable for the altered service. Leave room for traffic delays and avoid making a timed museum entry depend on one particular tram arriving on schedule. If a tram ride is optional, look at the actual queue and vehicle display before committing to a wait. If it is essential to your itinerary, identify the current tram endpoint first and check how you will return. Early travel can fit a quieter sightseeing plan, but neither a seat nor a short wait is guaranteed.
Practical Tips: Historic Trams, Safety, and Accessibility
Historic Lisbon trams have compact interiors and high boarding steps. Do not assume the tram or replacement bus is suitable for a wheelchair: check the actual vehicle and stop arrangement with Carris before depending on it. A folded stroller and fewer bags are easier to manage in crowded space, but a different route may suit your family better. Keep doors clear, hold a rail when standing and let people leave before boarding. The operator’s passenger advice also warns riders to watch their belongings. Cash, contactless bank-card and other electronic onboard methods are listed by Carris, with cash exceptions for specified modern articulated trams; follow the validator instructions on the vehicle you actually board.
Onboard fares are €3.30 per ride; payment methods vary by tram type, so confirm that your preferred method (cash, contactless, or other) is accepted before boarding.
Nearby Connections and What to Pair With Tram 12
From the Chiado terminus at Praça Luís de Camões, it's a walk downhill to the Cais do Sodré district, home to Lisbon's ferry terminal and connections covered in the Lisbon ferry guide. Martim Moniz, where the replacement bus loop starts, sits within walking distance of Baixa's main squares. Check that the connection takes you to the tram section rather than to the separate bus shuttle. Travelers arriving by air typically connect via metro before continuing towards the relevant current stop. See the airport transfer guide for the full route. Rail arrivals via CP's urban train network can transfer by metro toward Martim Moniz. The train stations guide covers those connections in detail. Coach travelers can also reach Martim Moniz by metro from Lisbon's bus terminals; see the bus station guide for specifics.
How Tram 12’s Normal One-Way Loop Works
Older Tram 12 maps describe a compact circular route, but it is not a hop-on, stay-on loop in both directions. The usual route follows a fixed one-way track direction around the Alfama-side streets. Its outward and return legs therefore use different streets and stops.
This matters when normal service eventually replaces the current works arrangement. A stop that looks nearby on a map may serve the tram only in the opposite direction. Check the destination display and stop sign before boarding. Plan to leave the tram at a terminus if you need to reverse direction.
- During the current alteration, do not apply the old loop map at all.
- 12E trams run between Largo do Camões and Graça.
- The separate Martim Moniz shuttle is a bus loop through the Sé area.
Carris says the change began on 31 August because Rua Forno do Tijolo closed. The notice describes a temporary arrangement and does not confirm a reopening date. Check the current operator notice before relying on any normal-route map: Carris temporary route changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tram 12 or tram 28 better in Lisbon?
Choose by the operating route, not a promise of a seat. During the announced September alteration, 12E trams run Largo do Camões–Graça, while 28E trams continue Graça–Prazeres with a bus connection to Martim Moniz. Both require checking current stop notices.
Where does tram 12 start and end in Lisbon?
As checked on 12 September 2026, the temporary 12E tram section runs between Largo do Camões and Graça. A separate replacement bus loops from Martim Moniz through the Sé area and back. Do not interpret the two as one through tram.
How much does tram 12 cost in Lisbon?
The 2026 Carris fare is €3.30 for an onboard tram single, €1.72 with zapping, or €7.25 for a Carris/Metro 24-hour ticket. An occasional card costs €0.50 before credit. Check which product you are buying and validate on boarding.
Is tram 12 included with the Lisboa Card?
Check the Lisboa Card’s current Carris transport inclusions and validity before buying a separate ticket. Pass coverage does not mean the route is operating normally: the temporary 12E bus and tram arrangements still affect where you board.
How often does tram 12 run?
Check Carris’s current route timetable and the notice at the temporary stop. Conflicting frequencies in older guides are not a dependable schedule for the altered service; allow extra time for traffic and boarding.
Is tram 12 worth riding if you've already done the 28?
Only if its current tram section fits something else you want to see. During the September works, there is no reason to assume a second complete loop from Martim Moniz. Compare the actual endpoints and consider walking part of the historic centre instead.
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