One of the most widely known icons of Lisbon and most sought-after attraction is without a doubt the “famous” Tram 28. Visitors come to the city eager to ride it, and the two main reasons are:
Nonetheless, despite not widely publicized, there's a bunch of major drawbacks that all travellers should know and consider in advance. Here you have a small list:
Keep reading for a detailed explanation. In the end of the article you'll find some great hints to get the best of Tram 28.
Practically all day long, starting from early morning, you'll encounter a very long line of people waiting to board Tram 28. Sometimes, people stand in line for more than two hours, mostly at the first stop, in Martim Moniz Square, where the tram arrives empty. However, it's nearly pointless to try boarding at other stops along the route, as the tram becomes so packed that it's nearly impossible to board elsewhere.
The trams have 20 seats and allow another 38 travelers to stand. From the 20 seats available, only half are by the window. Once the tram is full, you'll be packed inside like sardines. For this reason, if you're not fortunate enough to grab a seat, especially by the window, your trip will be uncomfortable, and you'll see little more than other passengers pressed against you. So, good luck.
First of all, the ride takes at least 60 minutes to complete the entire journey, if the traffic is smooth, which it rarely is. The real issue is that after waiting a long time to board, you won't want to disembark unless you're willing to repeat the arduous boarding process. So, you'll quickly pass by a few interesting spots. Second, despite passing by some spots, it misses many others, covering less than 10% of what matters in Lisbon. Third, and most importantly, you won't understand what you're seeing, as nothing and no one provides explanations. For this purpose, there is another tram (painted green or red) for tourists who truly want to discover and learn about the city.
Aboard the 'famous' Tram 28, you risk traveling along with some passengers who are not there to enjoy the city but are ready to steal your belongings without victims even noticing until hours later. They are the infamous pickpockets, a plague that, unfortunately, is everywhere; Lisbon is no exception. Inside this jam-packed little tram, they have 'their own party'. Each year, millions of euros worth of personal belongings are reported stolen from passengers. So, beware!
As a form of local public transportation, people need it for their daily commutes. Since it can take hours to board, when possible, people who need to go to work or return home simply can't wait and find themselves restricted. Many of these are elderly individuals who don't have other alternatives. So it makes quite understandable that Lisboners in general get mad and complain against the take-over of Tram 28 by the tourists for leisure purposes. Let’s contribute a bit for sustainable tourism and think about the impact we cause on the cities we visit, shall we?
Yes, it is true that "riding the Tram 28" is one of the most written suggestions all over Lisbon book guides and blogs, but... maybe it's not as cool as you might think... just maybe. Make your own informed judgement.
Nevertheless, if you still want to to do it, read this post linked here, in which we recommend you a few simple tricks to make your ride on Tram 28 way easier.
Safe and happy travelling.