Riding Tram 28 in Lisbon

Tram 28 is a streetcar line in Lisbon, Portugal, running from Martim Moniz in the eastern city center to Campo de Ourique in the west. Along the way it climbs through the hillside districts of Graça and Alfama. It then crosses Baixa and Chiado before reaching Estrela. The line covers about 7 km and takes 45 to 50 minutes end to end. Carris, Lisbon’s city transport operator, applies the same fare system to this line as to its buses, metro, and other trams.

Three choices matter most on this line: when you ride, how you pay, and where you board. Pay before you get on. A single ride costs €3.30 when you pay cash to the driver’s crew and €1.90 on a prepaid Carris and Metro ticket. To avoid the worst crowds, ride before 9:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. If you want a seat, board at a terminus.

Tram 28 Stops and Route

The eastern starting point is Martim Moniz, a square near the Intendente area where the main queue forms. The western end is Largo dos Prazeres in Campo de Ourique, where the tram turns around. Lisbon Tourism lists about 35 stops on the Tram 28 route. The exact stop list varies slightly by direction.

Between those two points, the tram passes Graça, the Sé cathedral and the Portas do Sol viewpoint. From there it runs through Santa Luzia and Alfama. Next come the Chiado and Calçada do Combro area and Bica. The tram then reaches the Basílica da Estrela and the Prazeres end of the line. Praça Luís de Camões, the square at the western edge of Chiado, is a common stop for riders who want to board later in the route. Stop names appear on the tram and at the stops, so match the names you see to your own plan rather than to any printed map.

Service changes happen. Carris publishes its own service notices, and roadworks, events or blocked tracks can alter the route or bring replacement buses. Check Carris’s notices before you travel if you have a fixed time to keep.

How to Board and Validate Your Ticket

Lisbon Tourism advises boarding at the front and middle doors and leaving through the rear door. Confirm this against the signs on the tram, because door use on busy runs is the first thing that gets mixed up. The validator is a box beside the driver, and each rider taps a ticket or card on it. Lisbon Tourism describes the validator as beside the driver, but the color and exact position may differ on individual trams, so look for the device before you queue to board.

Carris’s own page says cash can be paid directly to the crew member when you board. Carris also notes that cash payment is not available on certain articulated trams, numbered 501 to 505, 507, 510 and 601 to 615. If the tram at your stop carries one of those numbers, buy your ticket before you board. Do not plan on paying by card on board. Bring a prepaid card or buy a ticket in advance.

Once you board, hold a handrail or a seat back. The line has many curves and steep grades, and the braking can be sharp.

Tram 28 Fares and Passes

The figures below are the 2026 fares listed on Carris’s occasional tickets page. Check the current prices on that page before you buy.

The on-board fare rose from €3.20 in 2025, according to Carris’s 2025 fare notice. The increase took effect on January 1, 2026. The price difference alone makes prepayment the better choice for most riders. A single ride bought in advance costs €1.90, and paying on board costs €3.30.

The 24-hour pass makes the most sense for a day of sightseeing with several rides. Several single tickets at €1.90 add up quickly, so the €7.25 day pass can cost less on a day with many rides. A day pass covers unlimited rides across Carris and Metro, which helps if you plan to use the metro for part of the day. Confirm with Carris that the 24-hour pass covers on-board tram boarding before you rely on it for Tram 28.

You can buy the Zapping card and the 24-hour pass at metro stations, which spares you from buying a fare on the tram. Lisbon Portugal Tourism recommends this approach for first-time riders. Do not plan on the validator accepting bank cards.

The Lisboa Card is a visitor product, and Lisbon Tourism lists Tram 28 among its benefits. Check the card’s price and included transport on its official page before you decide whether it saves money for your trip.

Riders up to age 23, seniors and former military veterans can travel free on city transport. Confirm your eligibility with Carris before you count on free rides.

Tram 28 Hours and Frequency

Confirm the timetable on the Carris website before you travel, since the times below are approximate. The first departure falls at about 5:40 a.m. on weekdays and about 6:45 a.m. on Sundays and holidays from Martim Moniz. Last trams leave around 11:00 p.m. Daytime service runs every 10 to 15 minutes, and the early and late runs carry fewer trams.

Because the daytime gap between trams is 10 to 15 minutes, you do not need a precise departure time in the middle of the day. You do need one if you plan an early or late ride, when the gaps stretch and the last run comes sooner than many visitors expect.

When Tram 28 Gets Crowded

Crowding is the biggest practical problem on this line, and it peaks in the summer. Lisbon Tourism names 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as the worst period in summer and recommends riding before 9:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. The tram can already be full by 10:00 a.m. from June through September. The same official page says large cruise-ship arrival days send many day-trippers to the tram.

Queues at Martim Moniz vary widely. Lisbon Tourism gives 20 to 60 minutes for summer afternoons, and waits can run past an hour. Plan extra time whenever you ride at the busy hours.

An early ride gives you a better chance of a seat and a shorter wait, but it means starting your day early. A late-afternoon ride in summer may leave you standing in a full tram, so consider a different route or a different time if you need to sit.

Quieter Alternatives to Tram 28

The most recommended alternative is Tram 12E. Lisbon Tourism’s trams guide describes it as a smaller loop through Alfama and Mouraria that runs with the same vintage carriages and draws fewer riders. Check the route map on the Carris website before you plan a ride around specific stops.

Tram 24E connects Praça Luís de Camões with Campolide. Lisbon Portugal Tourism notes that it often offers a seat, which makes it a useful option when the 28 is full. Tram 15E, which runs from Praça da Figueira to Belém, is modern and air-conditioned, and it suits a trip that includes the Belém waterfront.

You can also ride part of Tram 28 instead of the full line. Boarding at the Prazeres terminus in Campo de Ourique gives you the first pick of seats on the run, and fewer passengers wait at that end of the line. For a short scenic ride, the stretch from the Sé cathedral down to the Portas do Sol viewpoint takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and you can get off at Portas do Sol and walk the rest of the way down to the river. This stretch is the most photogenic part of the line.

If a queue at Martim Moniz runs past 30 minutes, walk to the next stop or switch to another tram, the metro or a bus. Tram 24 and the metro are the simplest backup options.

Pickpocketing on Tram 28

Pickpocketing is widely reported on Tram 28, particularly in the crowded runs through Alfama, Baixa and Chiado. Lisbon Tourism’s guidance is to keep bags in front of you, avoid back pockets, and keep phones and cameras out of sight when you are not using them. Report any theft to the nearest PSP police station, the national police force.

The places where theft is reported differ between sources. Martim Moniz, the Sé and Praça Luís de Camões appear most often, and the Portas do Sol stretch appears in some reports. Treat the risk as a reported concern, not a measured rate. Keep your valuables close on every ride, including the early and quiet ones.

Key Takeaways

• Pay before boarding: A prepaid single ticket costs €1.90, against €3.30 paid to the crew, and a €7.25 day pass can cost less than buying several single tickets one at a time.
• Ride early or late: Lisbon Tourism names 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in summer as the worst window, and it advises riding before 9:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.
• Board at the terminus for a seat: If you board at Largo dos Prazeres, you get a seat from the start of the run.
• Try Tram 12E for a quieter loop: It runs through Alfama and Mouraria with fewer riders, so check the Carris route map before you plan around its stops.
• Keep bags in front: Pickpocketing is widely reported on the line, so keep phones and wallets out of back pockets and close to your body.