Tram 28 Lisbon: Route, Fares, Timing and What to Know Before You Ride

Featured image: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted to WebP.

What Is Tram 28 in Lisbon, and Is It Worth Riding?

Tram 28 is Carris's historic line usually linking Martim Moniz to Prazeres in Campo de Ourique. Along the way it threads through Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, São Bento and Estrela. The cars are Remodelado trams, wood-bodied vehicles dating to the 1930s that were later upgraded with modern brakes and electrics. The compact cars can become crowded, so allow for standing and do not assume you will find a seat. The line has operated for more than a century, one of Lisbon's oldest tram routes still doing daily commuter service rather than sitting in a museum. Following the usual point-to-point route shows tiled façades in Alfama, hilltop viewpoints in Graça, and the shift from narrow medieval lanes to wider streets around São Bento and Estrela. It genuinely earns its reputation as one of Lisbon's most scenic rides, but it remains a working transit line: expect standing room for stretches, sharp braking on the hills, and delays whenever a car blocks the tracks in Alfama. Ride it if photos and views matter more than a fixed schedule. If you need reliable point-to-point transport, plan around the crowds or pick an alternative covered later in this guide. It fits inside Lisbon's public transport network, with Carris operating the trams and city buses while other operators run the Metro, trains and ferries.

Tram 28 Route and Major Stops

The usual route covers about 7km between Martim Moniz and Prazeres; the places below describe that corridor, not a guarantee of a through tram today. Carris announces the alteration for three weeks from 31 August 2026 because Rua Forno do Tijolo is closed. During it, buses cover Martim Moniz–Graça and trams cover Graça–Prazeres. Change modes on the east side of Largo da Graça; Carris permits fare transfer between the two sections. Check the latest notice before travelling rather than assuming the announced duration guarantees reopening.

• Martim Moniz – the eastern terminal, in Lisbon's most multicultural square.
• Graça – hilltop stop near several miradouros (viewpoints) and the Graça church and convent.
• Calçada de São Vicente – below Graça, near the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora and a flea market held Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• Portas do Sol (Alfama) – the Alfama viewpoint terrace, with steps down into the old quarter's lanes.
• Sé – outside Lisbon Cathedral.
• Rua da Conceição (Baixa) – walking distance from Rua Augusta and Praça do Comércio.
• Praça Luís de Camões (Chiado) – the edge of Bairro Alto's bars and restaurants.
• São Bento – near the Assembleia da República, Portugal's parliament building.
• Estrela – opposite the Estrela basilica and the Jardim da Estrela park.
• Prazeres / Campo de Ourique – the western terminal, by the Prazeres cemetery and the Campo de Ourique market.

Tram 28 Schedule and Best Times to Ride

Traffic in narrow streets can delay and bunch trams, so a scheduled departure is not a guaranteed arrival time. Allow extra time during the current bus/tram split, including the connection at Graça. Older guides often quote a 45–60-minute full ride, but that is not a dependable journey time for the altered service. Use the current Carris route timetable and the notice at the actual boarding point for first and last departures. If a tram ride is optional, compare the queue with the time available instead of planning a timed attraction entry immediately afterwards. The suggestions below are planning preferences, not measured crowd forecasts or seat guarantees.

Tram 28 Fares and Ticket Options Compared

The Carris occasional-ticket page lists the onboard tram single at €3.30 in 2026, while zapping costs €1.72. Buy a prepaid card before boarding if you want the lower fare; the onboard validator also supports bank-card payment of the onboard tariff. Every option is compared in the table below. These are 2026 operator fares checked on 12 September; recheck if travelling later. Navegante cards and Zapping top-ups are sold at metro ticket machines and counters, detailed on Metro Lisboa's ticket page. For a full walkthrough of buying and validating tickets, see our Lisbon metro tickets guide. The Lisboa Card includes unlimited rides on trams like the 28 as part of its overall price. If you're weighing that against pay-as-you-go, our Lisboa Card comparison breaks down the cost tradeoffs.

Tram 28 vs Tram 12E vs Tram 24E vs Walking — Which Fits Your Trip

Route 12E is sometimes suggested as a shorter historic-tram outing, but it is affected by the same September 2026 works. Its current tram section runs Largo do Camões–Graça, with a separate replacement bus loop from Martim Moniz. Read the tram 12 guide before treating it as an interchangeable service. Route 24E serves a different corridor; consult its current Carris route before using it as an alternative, and do not expect a guaranteed seat. Walking lets you choose individual districts without waiting for another vehicle, although hills and cobblestones remain a consideration. Our self-guided walking route helps judge which stretches fit your time and mobility.

Avoiding Crowds and Pickpockets on Tram 28

Queues and standing passengers are common enough that a seat should not be part of a fixed plan. During the September works, boarding at Martim Moniz puts you on the replacement bus, not the tram; the tram section begins at Graça. Standing room fills fast on packed cars, so hold on tight: braking on the hills is sharp. Pickpocket risk is real on tram 28, the same combination of crowds and tourists that draws petty theft on any busy transit line. Watch bags and pockets while boarding and alighting, since the jostling crowd at doorways is when pickpockets tend to work. Wear bags on your front rather than your back, and keep valuables out of back pockets. None of this should discourage a ride, but treat the 28 with the same street sense you'd use on any crowded city tram. If the queue is longer than the time you want to spend waiting, choose another route or walk a suitable section instead.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Tram 28

A few avoidable mistakes trip up first-time riders. Tram 28 does not stop at Castelo de São Jorge, even though it's often marketed as the way up to the castle. Get off at Portas do Sol instead, then walk uphill to the castle entrance. Route 737 from Praça da Figueira is the nearest bus connection to the castle gate. Other common errors are easy to plan around once you know them.

• Expecting a castle stop: get off at Portas do Sol and walk up, or take bus 737 from Praça da Figueira instead.
• Following an old boarding tip: during the current works, Martim Moniz is served by the replacement bus. Check where the tram section actually starts, and do not expect a seat.
• Assuming cash-only: the validator accepts contactless cards, but the driver takes cash only.
• Treating it as hop-on-hop-off: waiting for the next tram can take a while when the line is busy, so plan one continuous ride rather than several stop-offs.

Where to Stay Along the Tram 28 Route

Where you stay along the route affects how early you can reach the tram before queues build. A base near Graça may make the current tram section easier to reach. A hotel near Martim Moniz instead places you near the replacement bus during the announced works; do not select a room expecting an unchanged tram departure there. Staying near Chiado or Estrela puts you closer to the quieter western half of the route, useful if you'd rather board mid-line and skip the Alfama queue entirely. Baixa sits roughly in the middle of the route, convenient for reaching either end by tram or on foot, though not directly on the busiest section. Rooms directly on the tram's tracks can pick up noise from the rails and, near Chiado, from Bairro Alto's evening bars, so ask about a quieter, street-set-back room if that matters. Weigh proximity to the terminal against proximity to the rest of your itinerary rather than picking a neighborhood for the tram alone.

Getting There and Onward Travel

However you arrive in Lisbon, check the current tram boarding point before you set out. Our airport to city centre guide covers getting into the center first. Historic Remodelado trams have boarding steps; do not assume the tram or replacement bus will provide a step-free journey. If a wheelchair, a stroller, or a large suitcase is part of the trip, check directly with Carris before relying on tram 28. Once the route ends at Prazeres, or you head back into the center, onward travel spreads across several networks. Our guide to Lisbon's train stations covers rail connections onward. See our bus station guide for long-distance coach departures. Our Lisbon ferry guide covers river crossings if the Tagus waterfront is next on the itinerary. For day trips that continue by rail, such as toward Sintra or Cascais, CP's Lisbon urban trains page lists current routes and departures.

When Does a 24-Hour Ticket Pay Off?

The €7.25 Carris/Metro 24-hour ticket is not automatically the cheapest choice for a Tram 28 day. Compare it with the journeys you will actually pay for. A transfer included within one ticket does not count as another paid ride.

• At €1.90 per single Carris/Metro ticket, the 24-hour ticket becomes cheaper on a fourth separately charged journey. Four singles cost €7.60.
• With €1.72 Zapping fares, four journeys cost €6.88. The 24-hour ticket becomes cheaper on a fifth separately charged journey.
• An onboard Tram 28 ticket costs €3.30. If you expect several tram or metro rides, buying tickets before boarding may reduce both cost and delay.

Choose Zapping for a light day with a few rides. Choose the 24-hour ticket when you will make repeated paid trips across Carris and Metro. Check the current fare rules before travel on Metro Lisboa’s fare notice and the Carris fare sheet.