Tram & funicular | The Lisbon Connection

November 29, 2019May 9, 2021

Tram 28 Lisbon Martim Moniz: long lines, best stops & pickpockets

Popular and legendary tram 28, (eléctrico 28) is a tourist attraction in itself. It goes all around town and you can hop on and hop off. Long lines during the day (from 17:00-18:00 is a good idea!)

Tram electrico 28 Alfama Lisbon

Tram (‘eléctrico 28’), Alfama. Starting point: square Praça Martim Moniz

STOPS

It passes the Saint George’s (São Jorge) castle , one of the main historical touristic sites of Lisbon, the famous viewpoint (miradouro) Portas do Sol (Gates to the sun) and the legendary fleamarket ‘Feira da Ladra’ in Alfama, Graça, Mouraria, Bairro Alto, (Lisbon’s bohemien haunt of artists and writers, and posssibly one of the best spots in Europe for a night out). Last stop: Cemetery ‘Prazeres’ (Cemetery of ‘Pleasures’), really worth a visit!

Largo do Portas do Sol Lisbon tram 28

Tram 28, Largo Portas do Sol

Famous viewpoint & tourist attraction, on the background Museum of Decorative Arts, really worth a visit!

Starting point tram 28, 2018

Square Praça Martim Moniz & long lines of people waiting….

Pickpockets, take care!

Tram 28 is very popular with tourists & prime pickpocket territory! Take care! Leave your bag in the hotel/apartment, just take some money with you in your pocket !

Open air elevator square Martim Moniz near starting point tram 28

Open air elevator connecting Martim Moniz square to the streets around St George Castle

Hop on hop off

Buy the 24-hour ticket that will allow you to hop on and off whenever you want on all trams, buses, and subway lines.

Cost: around 4 euros.

Alternative idea: oficial sightseeing RED TRAM TOUR

How to avoid long lines TRAM 28 & official sightseeing Red Tram Tour Lisbon

The number of tourists has been increased since a few years, which means tram 28 route is mostly fully packed.

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The RED TRAM is the official sightseeing tram, which covers the same neighborhoods, a ticket is more expensive, but you’re always guaranteed to have a seat.

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Starting point & tickets : square Praça do Comércio

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GREEN Tram Lisbon Praca do Figueira April2016 2

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ALTERNATIVE GREEN TRAM & STOPS

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Starting point & tickets Praça da Figueira Lisbon

The antique GREEN trams are older than the trams on tram 28

The tram departs from Praça da Figueira and passes Lisbon’s oldest Cathedral Sé de Lisboa, famous viewpoint Portas do Sol, near the Castle (Castelo) of Saint George, through the streets of historical areas Alfama and Graça

There ‘s English and Portuguese tour commentary without the need for headsets.

Square Martim Moniz Lisbon Starting point tram 28

Starting point tram 28, square Praça Martim Moniz

All stops vintage tram 28

Alfama tram 28

Alfama. Tram 28 is increasingly as popular with pickpockets as it is with tourists.

More info about tram 28, stops and useful tips: Seeing Lisbon through tram 28

Video tram 28 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YiHO5jZYY4

Christmas time in Lisbon tram 28 happy new year

Tram 28, Lisbon and Christmas, Praça da Figueira

The average intervals between each one is 15 minutes and the entire trip takes between 40 minutes and one hour (at a maximum speed of 50km per hour). All stops vintage tram 28

Tram 28 Alfama near flea market Feira da Ladra

Tram 28, near Lisbon’s legendary flea market ‘Feira da Ladra’

Lisbon Tram 12, free ride Mouraria

Besides: a free ride, tram 12 Mouraria

Lisbon tram 28 February 2010

Tram 28 , Lisbon

March 5, 2017June 25, 2021

Lisbon’s unique Lavra funicular, steep slope & statue dr. Sousa Martins

The Lavra funicular was the first street funicular in the world. It opened on 19 April 1884 and carried 3000 people, free of charge, on that day alone! Originally water-powered, it was converted to electricity in 1915.

Lisbon funicular Lavra1 Rua de Sao Jose

YouTube Lavra funicular Lisbon

It runs from the Rua de São José (near Largo da Anunciada) to Travessa do Forno do Torel. To reach the bottom of the funicular, turn right off the Avenida da Liberdade, or, from Rossio Square, it’s a 10 minute-walk through Rua das Portas de Santo Antão.

Lisbon Lavra funicular Rua de São José6

Waiting for the driver……

Lisbon has three working street funiculars: Lavra, Gloria and Bica, which allow its citizens and visitors to move to and from its hilly districts more easily. All are operated by Carris, (including timetables and funicular’s history) the Lisbon city transport undertaking.

Lisbon Lavra funicular Travessa do Forno do Torel

For me, it is still a miracle!

When you turn left off the funicular, after passing Rua do Instituto Bacteriológico, there’s a lovely park, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, located on one of the 7 hills of Lisbon, the view from here is really wonderful!

Monument dr Martin Sousa

Here you will be surprised by the spontaneous religious fervour of Portuguese people who have honoured the statue of doctor Sousa Martins in front of the Faculty of Medicine. Yet since the memorial was erected in 1904, it has become the focal point for a religious devotion. People who come here believe that by praying to him and asking for his intervention, they will be cured. More….

Lisbon Lavra funicular driver

Lavra funicular hours of operation: 07:00-22:45, every day except Sunday, when the opening time is 09:00. One way ticket: cheap.

December 15, 2016April 27, 2021

Village Underground Lisbon: creative community & Polly Robbins

How about a delicious dinner in a dubble-decker retro bus beneath the 25th April Bridge? A great experience, but Village Underground in Lisbon offers much more! It’s a coworking center for creative- and event industries located at the Santo Amaro station in Alcântara, next to the Carris vintage trams & buses Museum.

Village Underground Lisbon in summertime

Lisbon: the hippest place to be

For years, Lisbon was somewhat off the beaten track for young travellers, or millennials seeking a new home. The Portuguese capital crumbled romantically while London, Paris, Barcelona and more recently Berlin enjoyed the cultural status. Yet in the last 10 years the city has seen an explosion in culture, tourism and entrepreneurialism, and is now surpassing its European rivals as the hippest place to be!

The Village Underground in Lisbon & Polly Robbins, November 2016

Who are you and how have you found yourself at Village Underground?

Polly Robbins: “I come from London. I love London, but the pace of life is crazy and I felt like spending some time in another European capital. Lisbon particularly attracted me because I’m interested in urban cultural development. I studied sociology, looking at how art movements develop in cities, and for the last 3 years I’ve been running a business in London that takes over empty spaces and makes them into venues for culture”.

Village Underground Lisbon

Ex-pats & tourists in Lisbon

Polly Robbins: ‘I heard about Village Underground Lisbon from a contact who knows the London branch. So I contacted Mariana (Director VU), got some funding from the EU Erasmus Young Entrepreneurs scheme, and here I am. At Village Underground I am developing marketing and communications, specifically for the ex-pat and tourists in Lisbon. I’m also developing ways for the co-working community to share their skills and feel more part of a community”.

Village Underground Lisbon

So what is Village Underground?

Polly:” It’s a project that began in London in 2009 when a group of friends had a crazy idea to hoist to some decommissioned tube train carriages onto the roof of a building and create a co-working space in Shoreditch. Mariana Duarte Silva, who is the Director of Village Underground Lisbon, was working in London when she came across the space and took a desk to set up her own music agency. She fell in love with it and brought the concept back to Lisbon, where the doors opened in 2012″.

Village Underground Lisbon & one of the retro dubble-decker buses

Creative community

Polly: “Village Underground Lisboa sits at the end of the municipal tram yard, beneath the iconic Ponte 25 de Abril. It consists of 14 shipping containers which act as a co-working space for the creative industries. There are about 35 people working here, in web design, graphic design, video making, branding, theatre and music”.

Village Underground Lisbon & one of the dubble-decker retro buses, November 2016

Cafe/restaurant & events from January 2017

“There are 2 converted retro buses, one is a café, open to the public every lunchtime and for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. And in addition, there’s a warehouse space used for events and exhibitions, a recording studio, a large space outside used for events and a skate ramp.

There is a great range of events going on at Village Underground, from parties with electronic and live music, to markets, to exhibitions and performance. Starting January 2017 these will be hosted every Friday and Saturday”.

Village Underground Lisbon & delicious dinner in a dubble-decker retro bus 🙂

Tasty food & affordable prices

Our dinner: tapas; Peixe (fish): Moqueca de camarão com arroz selvagem (shrimp Moqueca with wild rice); Chili com carne com basmati de coentros (Cili con carne, basmati rice with coriander): wine , water, sobremesa (dessert). Bill: 77 euro (3 persons). A vegetarian dish is also available.

Village Underground Lisbon & a group of visitors

Why should people visit Village Underground?

Polly: “It’s a really interesting space to be in physically, particularly if you like to be surrounded by cool architecture, street art and disused trams and buses! The café serves incredibly tasty food and the team working there is lovely. The people who gravitate towards Village Underground are an amazing bunch – I’ve been warmly welcomed! They come from all walks of life and you don’t have to be chatting too long before you discover that they’re involved in all sorts of weird and wonderful projects”

Village Underground Lisbon & delicious lunch in a dubble-decker retro bus

Muito obrigada! Great food & great service 🙂 🙂

Mafalda Rodrigues, Tania Pines & Mafalda Pais

Village Underground Lisbon & delicious lunch in a dubble-decker retro bus

Vegetarian dish, sandwich with salmon, sweet potatoes, 2 glasses of wine, small bottle of water & coffee: 18 euro

Village Underground Lisbon

Rua 1º DE MAIO, 103

MUSEU DA CARRIS | SANTO AMARO TRAIN STATION

LISBON Wonderful WEBSITE FACEBOOK

Both the interior and the terrace have free Wi-Fi. There is free parking. The only entrance to the Cafeteria is the main gate of the Carris Museum, located at Rua Primeiro de Maio, 103.

Cafetaria, info and reservations. Facebook

July 19, 2016April 15, 2021

Historical red tramcar tour ‘7 hills’ Lisbon & Hop on Hop Off

Although public transport (tram 28) is much cheaper, this historical red tramcar tour allows you to know the most picturesque neighborhoods of Lisbon in a friendly and comfortable way, while listening to the commentary available in several languages or melancholic melody of fado music.

Lisbon red tourist tram 7 hills Praca do Comercio

Historical red tramcar tour &Praça do Comércio Lisbon

Tickets

Red tram tour, leaving from one of the most beautiful squares in the world: Praça do Comércio where you can buy a ticket. From around € 17-20 p.p. Child (4-9) around € 10

Online tickets

You will pass the narrow and steep streets of the city’s traditional quarters. You will see chatting people on doorsteps and feel the village atmosphere of Alfama and Mouraria and reveal a sharp contrast to the elegant, noble buildings of Chiado and Lapa. You will certainly fall in love with Lisbon and sooner or later you will come back……

Lisbon historical Red tram tour driver Paulo Dias starting point Praca do Comercio

Red tram driver Paulo Dias historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

HOP ON HOP OFF

“You can take advantage of the ‘Hop On Hop Off” system. This allows tourists to get off at each stop (20 min.), visit the surrounding area, and then get back on the tram or wait for the next one.

Tickets & prices

The ‘ 7 Colinas‘ (hills) route (about 1 1/2 hour, ) departs every 30 minutes, from 10:00-20:00 (from June-Sept), from 10:20-17:40 (Oct-May).

Lisbon historical red tram tour tourists

Historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

“The ‘Carristur’ company has faithfully restored the interior of the trams dating from the thirthies and fourties, preserving their charm and original character.

Lisbon church Mouraria

Historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

Little church in Mouraria. More about this old neighborhood, home of fado music…..

This ‘ 7 Colinas’ (hills) route goes through the oldest and most traditional districts, giving its passengers a real taste of the city. Mouraria, Alfama, Chiado, Sao Bento and Estrela are just some of the districts that can be seen in the tram.

Lisbon historical red tram tour Alfama near flea market Feira da Ladra

Historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

Alfama. This street is close to the legendary Feira da Ladra (‘thieves market’) and the castle of São Jorge (Castle of Saint George)

Lisbon historical Red tram tour Pessoa statue girl

Historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

Chiado, Rua Garrett. Famous cafe ‘A Brasileira’ with the statue in bronze of the poet Fernando Pessoa, mobbed by lots of tourists, all day long! And of course you will pass the Bica funicular

Lisbon historical Red tram tour Rua de Sao Paulo Rua Boa Vista stairs

Historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

Rua Sao Paulo/Rua da Boa Vista

Lisbon Red tram historical tour tourists see other tourists

As a tourist you will see a lot of other tourists waiting for tram 28

TRAM 28 (eletrico) is very popular . The number of tourist has been increased (2016), which means that tram 28 route is mostly fully packed.

Lisbon Red tram tour sightseeing little streets Pastelaria

Historical red tramcar tour Lisbon

March 7, 2016May 21, 2018

Bica funicular Lisbon: top tourist spot, June street partys & cool river Tagus cafés

The famous Bica funicular opened on 28 June, 1892, the only stepped street funicular in the city. It climbs the Rua da Bica for 245 metres from the Rua S. Paulo.

Bica funicular Lisbon & partytime in June

Partying in the small street around the famous Bica funicular, near Bairro Alto , one of the best spots in Europe for a night out. In June, the month of the Festas dos Santos Populares (Feast Days of the Popular Saints), the Lisbon nights are filled with lively festivities that take over the city’s historical center.

On the eve of Saint Anthony day, June 12th, Lisbon turns into one big party! … More….

Lisbon Bica funicular3

The most photographed street in Lisbon and Bica funicular Rua Loreto.

Lisbon has three working street funiculars: Lavra, Gloria and Bica, which allow its citizens and visitors to move to and from its hilly districts more easily. All are operated by Carris, (including timetables and funicular’s history) the Lisbon city transport undertaking.

Lisbon Adamastor December 08

Viewpoint ‘Adamastor’

Five minutes walk from here is a beautiful viewpoint over the River Tagus: ‘Adamastor’, a popular gathering place in Lisbon, which is officially called the ‘Miradouro de Santa Catarina’ .

Lisbon Cafe Nooibai terrace

Cafe Noobai

Just below the small Adamastor square, you will find the fantastic terraces of cafe/ bar Cafe Noobai , certainly one of the favourite places of many Lisbon locals and visitors of the city!

January 17, 2013May 16, 2021

Unique Glória funicular Lisbon to Bairro Alto & viewpoint São Pedro de Alcântara

The unique funicular Elevador da Glória, makes the connection between Restauradores and bohemian, nightlife and shopping area Bairro Alto on a 265 metres journey (up or down the hill) to viewpoint Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara with magnificent views on the Castelo de São Jorge.

Funicular Electrico Avenida da Liberdade Restauradores naar Bairro Alto

The Glória funicular was opened in 1885 and in February 2002 it was classified as a national monument. It was the second of its kind in Lisbon, thanks to the initiative of the New Lisbon Mechanical Lift Company (Nova Companhia dos Ascensores Mecânicos de Lisboa – N.C.A.M.L.). The first of its lifts was the Lavra, opened the year before, and Bica.

Funicular Gloria Maria Grencho2

Maria Givencho likes her job. The funicular’s operating hours are 07:00-00: 55 every day.

The story of the Glória funicular can be traced back to 1875, when the Lisbon City Council gave the rights to two individuals to set up a form of transport on sloping terrain in the Calçada da Glória. The construction projects, however, were never approved and time slipped by. Finally the funicular opened to the public on 24 October 1885, with the pomp and circumstance typical of the time – a host of guests, fireworks, music and much cheering and hooraying. More…

Funicular Gloria from Bairro Alto naar Restauradores2

The Glória funicular, Calçada da Glória, near Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara, close to one of the many entrances to area Bairro Alto. When you go out of the funicular you will find on the right side the viewpoint Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

Bairro Alto Lisbon Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

Viewpoint and WiFi spot Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

This wonderful belvedere will give you a unique insight into the city. It is rather quiet during the day, but it completely changes at night when young people seek fun and action in the Bairro Alto.

Lisbon Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

Viewpoint Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara with magnificent views on the Castelo de São Jorge. and the Graça area. The view from this small garden is (for me) the best in the city.

Lisbon Instituto do vinho do porto Bairro Alto

Just a stone’s throw away lies Instituto do Vinho do Porto, at Rua de Sao Pedro de Alcântara nos. 39-49, where a range of port wines may be tasted and purchased (open from 12:00 – 24:00).

When I came in, the service was very slow…… You can order by the glass or bottle.

Lisbon Bairro Alto Instituto do Vinho do Porto4

Instituto do Vinho do Porto

On the ground floor of the former Palace Palácio Ludovice. 1749 is the year in which this elegeant building was completed by his architect and owner Johann Friedrich Ludwig (1673-1752).

Lisbon Bairro Alto Insituto do Porto Port wine

Instituto do Vinho do Porto

April 8, 2010May 8, 2016

Lisbon’s famous funiculars: Bica, Gloria, Lavra, spectacular viewpoints & ‘Art in movement’

The funiculars Bica, Gloria and Lavra in Lisbon taking you up to spectacular viewpoints (miradouros).

Bica funicular silver tourist information

The (normally yellow) and famous tourist attraction funicular in Bica (YouTube)

Artist Alexandre Farto covered the outside of the funicular with mirror-acrylic, called it ‘Espectro’ (Spectre) and pays tribute to the neighbourhood that is reflected in the lift during the journey, as if it were a film…. (From January – June 2010). Amazing!

Bica funicular silver March 2010 3 street

Bica funicular Lisbon

This project ‘Art in movement’ (“Arte em Movimento”) is part of a Cultural Program for the promotion of Public Art, which CARRIS (bus & tram services including timetables) intends to carry out in some vehicles of its public service fleet. In 2010, the chosen vehicles were one lift (the Santa Justa) and the 3 funiculars, all of them are national monuments since 2002.

Bica funicular March 2010 hanging laundry

Street view Bica funicular

Typical Portuguese: hanging laundry, drying in the wind.

Bica funicular silver March 2010 2 street

View from Bica funicular

It climbs the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo for 245 metres from the Rua Sao Paulo.

Bica funicular March 2010 restaurant cafe

Largo de Santo Antoninho, right next to Bica’s funicular downhill starting point.

April 2, 2009May 17, 2021

Lisbon: Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, hospital São José & funeral cars

Campo dos Mártires da Pátria is really worth a visit! You can walk up the rather steepy hill at the end of Rua de São José or take the funicular of Lavra, the first transportation to overcome a hill in Lisbon, 120 years ago.

Campo dos Mártires da Pátria 1 Park view Castelo

Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, view on castle of São Jorge .

Students are taking a break in the park. Here you find the memorial statue of Dr. Sousa Martins, erected in 1904, outside the main Faculty of Medicine, historic City Campus of the University of Lisbon, home to several faculties including Law and Medicine.

In the nearby lovely park (Jardim da Cordoaria) is a small cafe “O Coreto’. This place is located on one of the 7 hills of Lisbon, the view from here is really wonderful.

Monument dr Martin Sousa13 Jardim da Cordoaria cafe “O Coreto’

The nearby lovely large tree-lined park (Jardim da Cordoaria) and small cafe “O Coreto’ (the Kiosk).

You can walk down the hill, not too steepy, to the center’s Rossio Square with many restaurants and shopping zones. A few pictures from my walk starting at Rua Manuel Bento de Sousa:

Walking around hospital São José car coffins

Hospital São José, near the Faculty of Medicine.

Waiting for a dead body

It is said that funeral cars are waiting here in line, like a taxi queue, to be the first one to pick up a dead body… anyway, when I was passing by I saw a truck delivering new coffins…..

Lisbon Hospital entrance São José Rua do Sao Lazaro

Hospital São José , ortopedia entrance at Rua de Sao Lazaro.

Lisbon Hospital São José1

Walk until Travessa do Hospital and go right.

Hospital São José is an immense building, strechting out toward Praça Martim Moniz.

walking from Hospital São José2 view Castelo Sao Jorge

View on Castle São Jorge

Walking around Hospital São José4 rainbow

View from the hospital’s parking lot

Hospital São José19 beautiful

Beautiful entrance at Rua José a Serrano. The name of the hospital São José is paying hommage to King Joseph I.

Lisbon Rua da Arco da Graca1

Rua do Arco da Graça. On the left side of this street, a lot of new apartments are being built.

Lisbon Rossio Square

Rossio Square beautiful and very popular tourist attraction.