Tram 28 Ride

Take a look at that yellow tram rattling through these narrow streets. It might look like a museum piece, but Tram 28, known locally as Eléctrico 28, has been carrying passengers through this city since 1914. This is public transport that doubles as a time machine. The vintage carriages you see were built in the 1930s. These Remodelado trams still feature their original polished wood interiors, brass dials, and iconic yellow paintwork.

They remain in service for a remarkable reason: modern trams simply cannot navigate the impossibly tight corners and steep gradients that climb over 13 percent in some sections. The narrow gauge tracks wind through streets where the tram barely fits between ancient buildings. The 7 kilometer route connects Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique, weaving through the historic neighborhoods of Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, and Estrela. Electric trams first arrived here in 1901, replacing the horse drawn carriages that had served since 1873.

When the city upgraded its transport system in the 1990s, these historic trams received modern brakes and electrical systems rather than being scrapped, earning them the name Remodelado, which means "remodeled." The line now transports around 4.5 million passengers annually through some of the city's most characterful districts.