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Is Lisbon's Tram 28 Worth the Queue?
Worth it if you ride early and accept it as public transport. Skip it if you would have to queue a long time for a crowded standing ride.
Lisbon's Tram 28 is scenic, historic, and often miserable. The same tight wooden tram that looks romantic in photos can feel like a slow, packed pickpocket corridor in high season.
Tram 28 is best when it feels like a lucky city ride, not a mandatory attraction. The Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique route still cuts through photogenic areas like Graca, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, and Estrela, but the queue can ruin the charm. Walking Alfama gives you more control and less crowd stress.
The Scenic Stretch
Carris lists route 28E between Martim Moniz and Campo de Ourique (Prazeres), with stops through Graca, Portas do Sol, Se, Chiado, Estrela, and other central neighborhoods. That is why the route became famous: it threads steep old streets visitors already want to see.
The most memorable part is around Graca and Alfama, where the tram squeezes past tiled buildings, viewpoints, churches, and tight corners. If you only care about the atmosphere, you do not need to ride the full route.
The Queue Problem
The famous boarding point at Martim Moniz can attract long lines, especially in busy months. Once aboard, the tram may be packed enough that the romance turns into elbows, bags, and blocked windows.
Pickpocket warnings are not travel-blog hysteria. Crowded tourist trams in Lisbon, especially the famous ones, are common targets, so keep valuables zipped away and avoid standing near doors with a loose phone or wallet.
How To Make It Better
Ride early in the morning if you want the classic experience with the least pain. A loaded transit card is usually smarter than paying the driver, because boarding is smoother and the onboard fare is worse value.
Do not confuse Tram 28 with Tram 15E. Tram 15E is the newer, higher-capacity route toward Belem, useful for transport but not the same vintage hill-climbing experience.
Worth it for
- Early risers — If you board early, you have a better chance of getting a seat and seeing the city instead of someone's backpack.
- Transit romantics — The vintage tram, steep streets, and tight turns are genuinely charming when the ride is not overloaded.
- First Lisbon trip — It can be a memorable introduction to the city's hills and neighborhoods, as long as you keep expectations realistic.
Skip it if
- Long queue — If the line is already big, walking Alfama will probably be more rewarding.
- High-season midday — A packed tram in summer can feel more like crowd management than sightseeing.
- Loose valuables — If you are carrying open bags or using your phone carelessly, this is not the place to relax.
Better alternative
Photo: Arne Müseler (CC BY-SA 3.0 de), via Wikimedia Commons Alfama
Walking Alfama is the better alternative for most visitors. You still get the lanes, viewpoints, tiled facades, and old Lisbon atmosphere, but you can stop when you want and avoid the tram queue.
Alfama guidePractical notes
Use an official Carris route page or current transit app before riding, because works and temporary service changes have affected 28E in recent years.
Sources checked include Carris route and service pages, Visit Lisboa, Visit Portugal, and current Lisbon transit guidance.
Is Lisbon's Tram 28 Worth the Queue?: FAQs
The core route runs between Martim Moniz and Campo de Ourique (Prazeres), passing through historic central areas including Graca, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, and Estrela.
Early morning is the safest bet for lower crowds. Midday in peak season is when the ride is most likely to disappoint.
It is not dangerous in a dramatic sense, but pickpockets target crowded tourist trams. Keep valuables secure and stay alert during boarding and exiting.
Last reviewed: June 8, 2026
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