Tram 28 is one of the more touristy things to do when visiting Lisbon, the old 1930s-style trams have become a symbol of the city, and the route between Martim Moniz and Campo Ourique connects some of the city's most iconic neighbourhoods, like Alfama, Baixa, and Chiado.
I rode the tram in both directions, the route is 7 km long and takes under an hour, obviously, this can be dependent on traffic.
The trams are old and can get very full at the best of times, let alone peak service and rush hour, as tourists and commuters both use the service, so do plan ahead. When I ended up getting on the tram at Martim Moniz, there was a very long line and it took the fourth tram (they were all lined up one after another) to actually get on service, for my return journey, it became so uncomfortable due to the number of people standing and the constant stopping for traffic. (The trams can run on the same roads as the cars, so you're competing with road traffic as well as pedestrians and traffic lights).
PRO TIP: Purchase a 24-hour transport pass from a Metro station, this allows you 24 hours of travel hopping on and off Lisbon's transport system, which means you can also use your ticket for Tram 28, which you use for the subway. If you don't have the ticket, you'll have to pay 3 euros cash on board for a one-way journey. If you're planning to travel in both directions, be prepared to disembark the tram and wait as all passengers must get off at the terminus station, and it's to the back of the queue if you want to reboard.
The journey was pretty cool, it allowed me to see sights around the city. As you passed through Lisbon's hills and narrow streets, it allowed you to see a narrative of the city that you wouldn't get on the trams or the subway, you could see the tram being photographed by passers-by throughout the route.
4* - A great way to see so much of Lisbon in little time, and it works out excellent value with the 24-hour public transportation ticket, although do avoid using the service at peak times, as it just gets so busy and so uncomfortable, and I ended up having to depart the tram earlier than I would have liked on my return journey just to get some fresh air.
On a personal milestone, this marks review number #4200 for me and is a nice way to mark the occasion. read more