The Lisbon red tram is a great alternative to the always crowded tram 28.
The red Electrico follows the same route as its yellow cousin on the famous Line 28. But this tram is touristic, its ticket is more expensive and the passengers are all seated.
All this makes the difference in appreciating the capital’s roller coaster ride, the hilly ride, the streets so narrow that you can touch the walls and shake hands with passers-by. They very often have to stick to the wall to let the tram pass.
But it is one of the curiosities of the capital.
The carris – the rails – allow a circuit. Boarding is done in Plaza del Comercio (Terreiro do Paço/Praça do Comercio). The red tram passes through Martim Moniz, Graça, Portas do sol, Sé (cathedral), Conceição, Chiado (Camoens), Estrela and finishes its stroll in the Place du Commerce.
The red tram, Hills Tramcar Tour circuit, has the particularity of being a “hop on-hop off”, or “climb-down”, which allows you to use the service for 24 hours.
You can get off at the Portas do Sol stop, a popular lookout, then visit São Jorge Castle and finally get back on the tram at the same stop, or at Graça for example.
So it’s a good way to visit the capital without getting too tired. The red tram is equipped with audio guides available in 12 languages.
The red tram operates from October to May, from 9.30 am to 5 pm (every 3o minutes) and from June to September from 9.30 am to 7 pm (every 25 minutes).
The ticket costs €18.00, but the trip is very comfortable – nothing to do against the jolts, the charm of the old tram -, the guaranteed seating and the possibility to enjoy 24 hours of transport.