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Tram 28: Explore Lisbon the Traditional Way!

Sat 18 June 2011

, Nicole Bader, Charming Travel Choices

There are many ways to tour a European city, including those that take you on board of double-decker buses or sightseeing boats with multi-lingual commentary or live guides. I guess we all know the original red sightseeing tour buses in London, the fiakers (horse carriages) in Vienna and the Strömma canal company boats that take you through the beautiful Archipelago of Stockholm. But are you also familiar with tram 28 in Lisbon? This legendary little trolley is a tourist attraction in itself.

Lisbon is build on seven hills and situated directly at the River Tagus. The city is famous for its nice climate, the melancholic fado, azulejos and great port wine, but also for the Portuguese poet Pessoa, the explorer Vasco da Gama and tram 28.

Nothing is more memorable and fun than to visit the various attractions in Lisbon with tram 28. Tram 28 (Electrico 28 in Portuguese), is the vintage yellow tram that takes you through a maze of narrow streets, steep slopes and sharp turns through the city. Before visiting Lisbon for Charming Travel Choices, I was so naïve to think that there is only one tram 28. Once I arrived in the city, I discovered there are many of them.

The old, small and rickety carriages with open windows are internally decorated with polished wood. It is like stepping back in time to the Victorian era. It even has a scent of the old about it. The tram lurches from side to side, trundles happily and sometimes speeds unexpectedly when it crosses the picturesque traditional neighborhoods of Lisbon like Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Bairro Alto. And although the tram can sometimes be overrun with tourists, you will definitely get a flavor of the locals, as many "Lisboetas" commute daily on these historical trams.

The total journey of tram 28 takes approximately one hour. The starting point is downtown in Praca Martim Moniz and the end is uptown in Campo de Ourique (Prazeres). However, the tram is a hop-on, hop-off service and there are more than thirty stops you can choose from. The tram route is very scenic and therefore a great way to see Lisbon and avoid the hills! Along the route the attractions, including historical museums and theaters, striking parks, and modern galleries are picture-perfect. One of the best stops is nearby the ruins of the six-century-old São Jorge castle. This magnificent castle with its esplanades and ramparts is located on one of the seven hills and offers breathtaking views of the Tagus and the city of Lisbon. But also the impressive Sé Cathedral (the oldest church in the city), the Royal Pantheon, the San Vicente de Fora Church, the majestic São Bente Parliament, the Estrela Basilica, the legendary flea market ‘Feira da Ladra’ and the house of the famous Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa are worth a visit.

Tram 28 has become a national treasure, not only for its particularly beautiful and historical route, but also for the entertainment it provides to locals and tourists alike.

Nicole Bader - Charming Travel Choices