Lisbon’s Iconic Trams & Funiculars: How to Ride & Save Money

If you are visiting Lisbon in 2026, you have probably already read that Tram 28 is a must-do experience. What you may not have read is that during peak tourist season — roughly April through October — the queues at Martim Moniz stretch past the timetable board and the carriages fill to the point where you are pressed against strangers for the entire 40-minute ride. Pickpockets are active, the heat inside the old wooden cars is real, and if you pay on board with cash you will spend more than double what a Viva Viagem card would cost you. This guide cuts through all of that. It tells you exactly how the tram and funicular network works, what it genuinely costs in 2026, and how to get the most out of these historic rides without being overcharged or overwhelmed.

The Tram Network Explained: Which Route Does What

Carris, the municipal transport authority, operates Lisbon’s trams. There are five tram routes running in 2026, and they are not all the same experience.

Tram 28 (Elétrico 28)

This is the famous one. The route runs from Martim Moniz in the east, through Alfama, down into Baixa and Chiado, up through Bairro Alto, and terminates at Campo Ourique (Prazeres) in the west. The full journey takes 40 to 50 minutes in normal conditions, often longer in summer traffic. The carriages are original vintage stock — narrow, wooden-slatted seats, a satisfying mechanical clatter on the rails, and a genuinely steep climb through the old Moorish quarter. It is the real deal. It is also legitimately crowded from about 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM between April and October.

Tram 15E

This is the modern, accessible tram you actually want if your goal is getting to Belém. It runs from Praça da Figueira along the riverside to Belém and continues to Algés. If you are heading to the Jerónimos Monastery or the Tower of Belém, this is your tram. The carriages are low-floor, air-conditioned, and wide enough that you can move. It takes the same Viva Viagem card as every other route.

Trams 12E, 24E, and 25E

These shorter routes still pass through historic parts of the city and run vintage carriages similar to the 28. They carry far fewer tourists because they are not listed in every guidebook. Tram 12E loops around Alfama. Tram 24E connects Campolide and Cais do Sodré. Tram 25E runs from Praça da Figueira toward Campo de Ourique. If you want the sensory experience of a creaking vintage tram working its way up a cobbled hill — the smell of hot brakes, the bell ringing at intersections, the lurch as it takes a tight corner — these routes deliver it without the Tram 28 scrum.

Lisbon’s Three Funiculars and the Santa Justa Elevator

Lisbon has three working funiculars, known locally as ascensores, plus the Elevador de Santa Justa. All are managed by Carris and accept the Viva Viagem card.

Ascensor da Bica

Runs from Rua de São Paulo near Cais do Sodré up to Bairro Alto. The street it climbs is lined with azulejo tiles and street art, and the view from the top car looking back down toward the Tagus is genuinely impressive. It is short — the ride takes under two minutes — but it is the most visually striking of the three.

Ascensor da Glória

Connects Praça dos Restauradores to the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint (miradouro) in Bairro Alto. If you are going up to that viewpoint anyway, this is the sensible route. The climb is steep and the carriage is small.

Ascensor do Lavra

The oldest funicular in Lisbon, running since 1884. It connects Avenida da Liberdade to Campo Mártires da Pátria near the Intendente neighbourhood. It is the least visited of the three, which means you can usually board without waiting. Locals actually use it.

Elevador de Santa Justa

This is a vertical lift, not a funicular, and it sits in a different category. It connects Baixa at street level to the Chiado neighbourhood above. The engineering is extraordinary — a Gothic iron tower designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel — but as a transport link it is almost redundant since the streets around it achieve the same connection on foot in about five minutes. The queue to ride it as a tourist attraction is often 30 minutes long. It is integrated into the Carris network and your Viva Viagem card works here, but go in expecting a viewing platform, not a useful commute.

The Viva Viagem Card: How to Buy It, Load It, and Use It

The Viva Viagem card is the single most important piece of kit for getting around Lisbon cheaply. Every visitor who plans to use public transport more than twice should have one.

Where to buy it: Metro station vending machines and ticket offices, Carris kiosks, and some newspaper kiosks (quiosques) around the city. The machines have an English-language option.

Card cost in 2026: €0.50. This is a one-time charge for the physical card itself.

How to load it — two main options:

• Zapping (pay-as-you-go): You load a monetary balance — €5, €10, or €20 — and each journey deducts a flat fare of €1.40. This works on all Metro lines, all Carris buses, all trams, all funiculars, and the Tagus ferries to Cacilhas.
• 24-hour passes: Better value if you are planning to move around a lot in one day. The standard Carris/Metro 24-hour pass is €6.80. A version that includes the Transtejo ferry to Cacilhas costs €9.90. If you are day-tripping to Sintra or Cascais by urban train, the expanded pass including CP urban lines costs €10.80.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to any Metro station vending machine and select English.
2. Choose “Viva Viagem card” and pay €0.50.
3. On the same machine, select “Zapping” or your preferred 24-hour pass.
4. Load the amount or purchase the pass.
5. At the start of each journey, tap the card on the yellow reader — at Metro turnstiles, on the validator inside trams and buses, or at ferry gates.
6. Keep the card. It is reusable and you can top it up throughout your trip.

Single Tickets vs. Passes: An Honest Cost Comparison

You can buy a single ticket on board a tram or bus. In 2026 that costs €3.10 per journey, paid to the driver in cash. This is more than twice the Zapping fare of €1.40. There is no other way to put it — paying on board is a significant financial penalty for the convenience of not having a card.

Single tickets are not available on the Metro or the funiculars. For those, you need a card.

Here is how the maths works for a typical day of sightseeing:

• Tram 28 one way + funicular + Metro + return tram = 4 journeys × €1.40 = €5.60 with Zapping
• The same journeys paying cash on board (where possible) = significantly more, with Metro and funiculars unavailable by cash
• A 24-hour Carris/Metro pass at €6.80 covers unlimited journeys — worth it if you take more than four or five trips in a day

If you are spending three or more days in Lisbon, buy a Lisboa Card separately through the official tourism office. It includes unlimited public transport and free entry to many museums, and for three days it frequently works out cheaper than buying daily transport passes alone. That said, for a short visit of one or two days focused on the trams and historic districts, the Viva Viagem Zapping mode is usually sufficient.

Riding Tram 28 Without the Misery: Timing, Crowds, and Safety

The crowds on Tram 28 are not a myth. In July and August, the wait at Martim Moniz can exceed 45 minutes, and the carriage will be packed tightly enough that you cannot see out the windows you came for. There is a straightforward solution: ride before 9:00 AM or after 7:00 PM.

Early morning on a weekday in summer, the tram moves through an almost empty Alfama as shopkeepers are opening up, the light is flat and golden, and the only sound inside the carriage is the squeal of the rails on tight corners. That is the version of this ride that justifies all the attention it gets.

On the safety side: Tram 28 has a documented pickpocket problem during peak season. Keep your phone in a front pocket or a zippered bag. Do not wear a backpack on your back — move it to your front in crowded carriages. Be particularly alert at the stops where passengers board in large groups, such as Alfama and Chiado. This is not a reason to avoid the tram. It is a reason to be sensible about where you keep your belongings for 40 minutes.

If the 28 queue looks unmanageable, board at an intermediate stop further along the route rather than at the main Martim Moniz terminus — some passengers disembark before the end, freeing space.

2026 Updates to Lisbon’s Tram and Funicular Network

Since 2024, Carris has continued to examine options for managing overcrowding on Tram 28. As of 2026, the primary strategy remains increasing the frequency of modern trams on parallel routes — particularly Tram 15E — to reduce pressure on the 28 by drawing visitors toward Belém rather than concentrating them all on the historic loop. A dedicated premium tourist service on the Tram 28 corridor at a higher fare point has been discussed but not confirmed for 2026.

Annual fare adjustments of approximately 2 to 5% have continued since 2024. The figures quoted in this article — €1.40 Zapping fare, €6.80 for a 24-hour pass — reflect 2026 projections based on that pattern. Verify current fares at www.carris.pt or at any Metro station before loading your card.

Digital integration of the Viva Viagem card onto smartphones remains a work in progress. As of 2026, the physical card is still the standard tool for tourists. The Metro Lisboa website at www.metrolisboa.pt maintains updated information on card loading options.

Common Mistakes That Cost You Money or Ruin Your Journey

• Paying cash on board the tram: At €3.10 per trip versus €1.40 with a Viva Viagem card, three tram rides paid in cash cost you more than the price of a 24-hour pass. Buy the card first.
• Forgetting each person needs their own card: A Viva Viagem card is individual. One card cannot cover two people on the same journey. Budget €0.50 per person for the card itself.
• Riding the Santa Justa Elevator expecting a quick transport fix: The queue is long, the functional transport value is low. Go for the architecture and the rooftop view, not to save time getting to Chiado.
• Joining the Tram 28 queue at 11:00 AM in August: The wait, the heat, and the packed carriage will likely leave you feeling like it was not worth it. Adjust your timing.
• Not validating properly on buses and trams: On the Metro, turnstiles enforce validation. On trams and buses, the system is trust-based with random inspector checks. Fines for unvalidated travel are issued and are not worth the risk.
• Assuming the funiculars run late: All three funiculars have reduced hours compared to the Metro and buses. Check current schedules on www.carris.pt before planning an evening journey that depends on one.

2026 Budget Reality: What It Actually Costs to Ride

All prices below are 2026 projections based on current Carris and Metro Lisboa fare trends. Confirm at www.carris.pt before your trip.

Budget Tier

• Viva Viagem card (one-time): €0.50
• Single Zapping journey (tram, funicular, metro, bus, ferry): €1.40
• Five Zapping journeys: €7.00 — covers a full day of moderate sightseeing

Mid-Range Tier (Day Pass Options)

• 24-hour Carris/Metro pass: €6.80
• 24-hour Carris/Metro + Tagus ferry (Transtejo/Cacilhas): €9.90
• 24-hour Carris/Metro + CP urban trains (Sintra/Cascais): €10.80

Comfortable Tier (Single Ticket On Board)

• Single cash ticket on tram or bus (driver): €3.10
• This tier is not recommended. It exists as an emergency option only.

For context: a family of four making four journeys each in a single day would spend €22.40 in Zapping mode, or €27.20 on four 24-hour passes. The same family paying cash on board trams — where possible — would pay significantly more and still be unable to access the Metro or funiculars without a card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a contactless bank card or Apple Pay instead of a Viva Viagem card on Lisbon trams?

As of 2026, contactless bank cards and mobile payment methods are not accepted directly on Lisbon trams, funiculars, or Metro turnstiles in the same way they are in London or Amsterdam. You need a physical Viva Viagem card loaded with credit or a pass. Buy one at any Metro station on arrival.

How much does it cost to ride Tram 28 in 2026?

With a Viva Viagem card in Zapping mode, one journey costs €1.40. Paying cash to the driver on board costs €3.10. There is no special tourist surcharge for Tram 28 itself — the higher on-board price applies to all Carris routes, not just the 28.

Is it safe to leave valuables in my bag on Tram 28?

Pickpocketing is a known problem on crowded Tram 28 carriages, particularly between April and October. Keep phones and wallets in front pockets or zippered compartments. Move backpacks to your front. Riding early morning or evening reduces both crowding and the associated risk considerably.

Do the Viva Viagem card and Andante card (Porto) work interchangeably?

No. The Viva Viagem card works on Carris trams, Metro Lisboa, Carris buses, and Tagus ferries within the Lisbon network. The Andante card works on Metro do Porto and STCP buses in Porto. They are separate systems. If you are visiting both cities, you need both cards.

Are the funiculars worth riding if I am not going to the viewpoints?

The Ascensor da Bica and Ascensor da Glória are short rides with a practical purpose — they climb very steep hills quickly. If you are already heading to the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint or toward Bairro Alto from Cais do Sodré, riding them makes complete sense at €1.40. As standalone tourist experiences, they are best combined with a destination at the top rather than ridden purely for the ride.

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📷 Featured image by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash.