Lisbon Tram Route
Lisbon’s trams are a trademark of the Portuguese capital, an unforgettable experience and one of the best ways to get to know Lisbon. They are one of the few vehicles that can navigate the many narrow streets characteristic of the city. On them, it’s possible to feel the hustle and bustle of people speaking various languages and traveling to different parts of the city. Besides the characteristic yellow color of the funiculars, one of the aspects that draws attention is the noise of the vehicle, originating from the vibration of the solid iron rails: it’s a kind of squeaking from the structure, the clinking of the cables, the rattling of the interiors built of old wood… but the noise is so typical that it doesn’t seem to bother anyone, especially the teenagers who travel for free and illegally hanging on to the exterior rear of the tram…
The “Americans” (so called because they were bought from the United States of America) have been in operation since August 31, 1901, having had more than 50 routes and 80 carriages in Lisbon in their heyday. The first route, inaugurated in 1901, was used to cover the journey between Cais do Sodré and Algés. Due to its success, Lisbon’s tram network expanded throughout the city: first in the Avenidas Novas area with the inauguration of Avenida República in 1904, then in the Lapa and Campo de Ourique neighborhoods in 1904/1905, and finally in Campolide in 1905. In the 1920s, the tram network grew again with the creation of a route that ran to the Andrade neighborhood (1925) and to the Boa-Hora and Ajuda neighborhoods (1927). The inauguration of the Carnide route in 1929 marks the end of the expansion of Lisbon’s trams. In 1937, the Amoreiras Station was inaugurated to house the trams. Ten years later, the station was expanded to also include buses.
All of Lisbon’s trams (funiculars) maintain their original features, giving a “vintage” aspect to the Portuguese capital: the wooden interior, distinctive lighting, and seats. Lisbon’s trams (funiculars) are the ideal vehicle for a first tour of Lisbon, especially tram number 15 on the Belém route, where we stopped to sample the “pastéis de Belém” (custard tarts), visit the Belém Cultural Centre, the Monument to the Discoveries, the Jerónimos Monastery, and the Belém Tower. Another essential tram for exploring Lisbon is the 28, with its route passing by Lisbon Cathedral (Sé Catedral de Lisboa), the Portas do Sol viewpoint, or the Santa Luzia viewpoint.
The five tram (funicular) routes currently in operation in Lisbon are as follows:
- Tram 12: inaugurated January 1, 1915, it makes a circular route starting from Praça da Figueira, passing through Martim Moniz, Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Sé, returning to Praça da Figueira.
- Tram 15: was the first route of the tram network, connecting Lisbon to Algés along the riverside and was inaugurated in 1901. It starts at Praça da Figueira, going to Praça do Comércio, passing along the riverfront, through Cais do Sodré, Avenida 24 de Julho, Belém to Algés, already on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital.
- Tram 18: leaves Cais do Sodré, passes through the riverside area, Avenida 24 de Julho, and then goes up to Palácio da Ajuda, ending at the Ajuda cemetery.
- Tram 25: Your route starts at Praça da Figueira, passing through Praça do Comércio and the Santos neighborhood (near the National Museum of Ancient Art), and then climbs up to the Estrela Basilica (it’s worth going to the Basilica’s terrace and seeing Lisbon and the Estrela Garden) and Campo de Ourique (a typical Lisbon neighborhood worth visiting, especially its market).
Tram 28 is the most well-known route in Lisbon and one of the most sought-after attractions for those visiting the Portuguese capital. Inaugurated in 1914, it has a 7 km route between Praça do Martim Moniz and Prazeres, with a typically English cemetery. This route had about 50 trams at the beginning of the 20th century, built of wood and with a capacity for 20 seated and 38 standing passengers. Throughout the day, a tram 28 runs every fifteen minutes, and the complete journey takes about forty minutes to an hour. You can start traveling on this route from 6 am until shortly after 11 pm. On this route, you can see places like:
The Nossa Senhora do Monte viewpoint in Graça,
The Sophia de Mello Breyner viewpoint, also in Graça,
The Monastery of São Vicente de Fora and the National Pantheon on Calçada de São Vicente,
The Portas do Sol viewpoint,
The Museum of Decorative Arts and São Jorge Castle in Largo das Portas do Sol,
The Cathedral and the Church of Santo Antônio in the Catedral neighborhood,
On Rua da Conceição you can exit and go see Rua Augusta and the MUDE (Museum of Design and Fashion),
In Chiado you can see Rua Garrett, Largo do Camões and Bairro Alto,
In Calhariz or Bairro da Bica, you can see Bairro da Bica and Bairro Alto High
- In Santa Catarina there is the Santa Catarina Viewpoint
- On Calçada do Combro, the Church of Santa Catarina should be highlighted
- On Rua de São Bento and Calçada da Estrela there is the São Bento Palace and the Amália Rodrigues House-Museum,
- In Estrela there is the Estrela Basilica and the Estrela Garden (two incredible places in the city),
- On Rua Saraiva de Carvalho you can get off and visit the Campo Ourique Market where you can buy fish, fresh vegetables and *hear the famous fishmongers’ cries,
and at the last stop, in the Prazeres neighborhood there is the Prazeres Cemetery, built in 1833, which ended up becoming the cemetery of the city’s dominant families.
Despite being very old, Lisbon’s trams (Bondes) are one of the Portuguese symbols of the city of Lisbon and an important element of attraction For tourists all year round. The “yellow” trams are beloved by all the locals who live here and those who come to work here. With Lisbon’s trams, our visitors gain a new perspective of the Portuguese capital!
