Tram 28 (Eléctrico 28)

Tram 28E is not a tourist attraction with a ticket office. It is a regular Carris public line, used by residents, that happens to climb through the most photogenic streets in Lisbon. That shapes everything about riding it on a port day. The line runs from Martim Moniz up through Graça, down past the Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia viewpoints to the Sé, then through the Baixa, Chiado and Estrela to Campo de Ourique (Prazeres). End to end it takes about an hour. From the ship, the nearest stop is Sé, by the cathedral, about 13 minutes' walk uphill from the terminal. Westbound trams reach Sé after climbing through Graça and Alfama, so they often arrive full and may not have room for more passengers. To get a seat, walk about 23 minutes to the Martim Moniz terminus. There the queue is the problem: from mid-morning to late afternoon it can take longer than the ride itself. Before about 09:30 it is usually much shorter. Fares (Carris, 2026): buying on board costs €3.30 for a single ride, valid only on that tram. You can pay the driver in cash or tap a contactless bank card or MB Way at the validator. It is cheaper to buy a Navegante occasional card (€0.50) at a metro station and load either a Carris/Metro single journey (€1.90, unlimited Carris rides for 60 minutes) or a 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket (€7.25). The Lisboa Card also covers Carris trams. Pickpockets work this line, especially in the crush at boarding and on crowded standing trips. Keep phones and wallets in front pockets or a zipped bag. With limited time, a practical plan is to ride from Martim Moniz to Sé or Chiado (about 25 to 40 minutes), then walk down to the river. Skip it entirely if you arrive at a stop to find a long queue: the view from the Portas do Sol viewpoint is a short walk from Sé. Carris sometimes shortens or diverts the route for roadworks or events, so check carris.pt for service alerts on the day.