Children dream of a new toy car, teenagers – of the first car. The older people get, the more comfortable cars they buy. Unless we are talking about the сitizens and guests of Lisbon. For them, the most popular transport is an ordinary city tram, and the most desirable one – the tram 28. What is so secret and mysterious about this tram that travelers literally line up for a bright yellow trolley? Magic has absolutely nothing to do with it, although there is something fairytale on its route as it passes through the main attractions of the Lisbon historic center.

For more than a century, colorful old tram-cars with wooden seats have followed the famous route along narrow winding streets, almost touching the walls of city buildings. In the past, housewives even had to close window shutters so that trams could pass unhindered. Today, passengers still have to pull the rope to inform the driver about the stop just like it was before.

The legendary route starts from Martim Moniz Square, the central square of the Portuguese Chinatown, which offers fabulous views of the Castle of St. George. The tram goes through the ancient Mouraria Moorish quarter with its delightful Mudejar-style houses and hospitable taverns entertaining visitors with sad fados. Then, it comes to the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, Alfama. It passes the snow-white Church of St. Engracia and goes to the main attraction of the city, the Castle of St. George. From the tram, travelers can see the medieval citadel on a high hill in all its splendor. The route also includes the main shrine of Lisbon, the cathedral with tall towers in the Romanesque style. After that, the tram takes passengers to the busiest tourist neighborhood of Baixa with the Pombaline buildings, to the central city square of Commerce with a bronze equestrian statue of King Joseph I (Jose), and to a masterpiece of industrial architecture, the Santa Justa Lift. The famous tram 28 route ends near the charming Basilica da Estrela. Be sure to visit it to see the tomb of Queen Mary I (Maria) and listen to the wonderful sounds of the 18th-century organs.