10 Best Lisbon Tram Photo Spots You Must visit as a Traveler

Lisbon and its trams feel like a famous couple. You cannot think of one without the other.

Most people picture the city with its yellow trams climbing steep hills.

As a traveller, I was fascinated too. I listed what I thought were the best Lisbon tram photo spots based on online suggestions.

As a casual travel photographer, I mostly shoot on my iPhone, and sometimes a DSLR.

I thought I could just walk to a spot, frame a tram, and get that classic Lisbon shot.

That was not always the case.

During my 4 days in Lisbon in late October, I often ended up at crowded viewpoints.

The angles felt awkward. Some spots only worked with perfect timing or pro-level skills.

Some of my best tram photos came as a surprise. A few while walking through Alfama. Others during a tuk tuk ride.

If you are looking for Lisbon tram photo spots that actually work, this guide will help.

You do not need perfect timing, expensive gear, or endless patience.

I tested these spots across Alfama, Baixa, Graça, Belém, and Estrela. Here is what I am sharing:

My favourite Lisbon tram photo spots I’d go back to

Best Lisbon tram photo spots (streets and locations)

1. Fora Artisan Bakery, Alfama – tram framed from a café doorway

This is easily one of the coolest places in Lisbon to watch and photograph trams, right opposite São Vicente Church. What makes it special is that you are not on the street, but sitting inside the café.

The front table is barely 3 metres from the track. The doorway frames the tram as it passes, almost like it is playing peek-a-boo while you sip your coffee.

Placing the phone camera lower than eye level felt tricky at first. I took a few bad shots, but once I stepped behind the chair and lowered the angle, it finally worked.

We came here after the Thursday flea market, and it quickly became one of my favourite tram-watching spots. 

Relaxed, lively, and right next to the action. I also liked the food. Not Portuguese, but fresh and perfect for a break while watching tram. 

Location: Fora Artisan Pastry

Best time: Late afternoon for softer light inside

Works best with: Phone, easier for framing and reflections

Tip: Sit at the front table near the entrance. It is always in demand, we waited about 10 minutes.

2. Calçada de São Vicente, Alfama – classic narrow downhill tram scene

Calçada de São Vicente (calçada means cobbled sidewalk) is the best spot to capture a tram on a cobbled street in Lisbon & my favourite too. Plus for sure, you will pass through this street as it connects beautifully with some of Lisbon’s most famous miradouros, especially around Alfama and Graça.

It felt like the Lisbon scene I had imagined — a slightly dark street where the tram moves through with very little space on either side.

This was the one place I was most careful. The downhill slope, faster trams, and slippery cobbled street made it easy to misstep.

It is the same street as Fora Artisan Bakery, but feels completely different as you are on the street. Walk downhill for about 5 minutes and it becomes narrower, with the tram much closer.

The street slopes down, and the tram passes very close to the buildings, with balconies above and clothes hanging out to dry. It feels lived-in, not staged.The street is about 400 metres long, so I have pinned the exact spot to get this view.

Location: Calçada de São Vicente, Alfama (use the map link for the exact standing point)

Best time: Late afternoon for softer light, avoid early morning due to low light

Works best with: DSLR, better in low light

Tip: Stand close to the wall and fix your position early. Space is tight, and the cobbled ground makes it hard to move quickly, so stay alert.

3. Rua das Escolas Gerais, Alfama – tight turning tram shot

A few metres ahead of Calçada de São Vicente, Rua das Escolas Gerais is another narrow street, yet it feels completely different. It gives you one of those charming Lisbon tram views because of what rises behind the tram.

I found this while walking through Alfama, following the track towards Santa Luzia in search of local vegetarian lunch.

Near Tejolense Atlético Clube, the tram rolls through the narrow street with the towers of São Vicente Church behind it.

Pastel buildings, hanging wires, and old façades make the scene feel layered and full of character.

What I liked most was how unexpected it felt. You are in an ordinary narrow street, then a grand church suddenly appears above the rooftops like a postcard.

As the track widens in parts ahead, you may catch two trams crossing in a broader alley with more light.

Location: Near Tejolense Atlético Clube

Best time: Late afternoon for better lighting as the alley is dark always

Works best with: DSLR for particular location near Tejolense club, but phone is enough once you move ahead.

Tip: Stand slightly ahead of the bend and stay ready, as the tram enters quickly

4. Largo da Sé, Alfama – tram with cathedral backdrop

This is one of the most recommended tram photo spots in Lisbon, right in front of Sé Cathedral, where the tram aligns with the arches as it passes.

I could see why this is considered one of the most reliable spots. The long road and Gothic arches create a dramatic, almost cinematic setting.

This was one of the few spots I had planned in advance. As the tram moves along the slight bend, it lines up as if it is passing through the archway into the church. 

For a second, it almost feels like the tram is entering the cathedral itself.

Location: Largo da Sé, Alfama (stand next to Church of Saint Anthony, opposite Sé Cathedral)

Best time: Early morning for fewer people or sunset for warmer light

Works best with: Phone, easier in a busy open space

Tip: Stand near the Church of Saint Anthony, facing Sé Cathedral. It gets busy with trams, tuk tuks, and cars, so be alert and wait for a clear moment

5. Rua da Graça – relaxed tram photography on a quieter street

Graça sits above Alfama, so Rua da Graça feels more open, flatter, and calmer. It is also a colourful stretch where tram 28 passes.

The tram runs on a slightly wider street, lined with buildings in different tiles, from old azulejo to more modern ones. Small shops, cafés, and balconies with iron railings add to the charm.

There was enough space to step back and frame the tram properly. I did not expect much here. Without narrow streets, my first shots felt flat. Only when I stood opposite the restaurant did the angle come together.

Location: Rua da Graça (opposite Restaurante 1º Janeiro)

Best time: Early afternoon for the best light

Works best with: Phone, easier on an open street

Tip: Stand slightly ahead of the tram’s path, not directly in front. This lets you capture the front, side, and the row of tiled buildings in one frame

6. Rua da Alfândega, Baixa – tram with Rua Augusta arch framing

Rua da Alfândega is a grand and striking spot to watch and capture Lisbon’s trams,. The open square, the scale of the buildings, and the Rua Augusta Arch make the whole scene feel picture-perfect.

For me, Alfândega is one of the best spots to capture Tram 28 with one of Lisbon’s most iconic landmarks.

We were just walking around Praça do Comércio when the trams caught my attention. 

This is where the red tram starts, and you also see newer yellow trams passing through. The red vintage tram 28 stops here for a while, so we even had time to pose in front of it.

It had just drizzled when we visited, and the wet ground added reflections that made the scene feel even more striking.

Location: Rua da Alfândega, Baixa (Praça do Comércio tram stop)

Best time: Morning for fewer people, works well all day

Works best with: Phone, easier in an open space

Tip: Stand slightly off-centre and keep the arch in your frame. If the ground is wet, step back and use reflections to add depth

7. Rua da Conceição, Baixa – straight tram view with layered streets

Conceicao street is, for me, the best place to watch and frame trams moving in a straight line.

The layered buildings on both sides and the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene at the end of the shaded street make the whole scene feel like a painting.

It was an accidental find while we were walking around Baixa looking for ice cream at Gelato Therapy and trying different pastéis de nata.

What stood out here was the layering. The tram, pedestrians, traffic lights, and buildings all fall into one frame without feeling chaotic.

I first tried standing in the middle of the road, but it felt too plain. With just the tram in focus, the street lost its character.

Once I moved slightly to the side, the full scene came together.

Even with a wider road, the buildings create shade, which gives the scene a softer and more muted feel.

Location: Conceicao street tram stop

Best time: Late afternoon for softer light across the plaza

Works best with: Phone in good light, easy in an open space

Tip: Stand slightly to the side. It is an active road, so this helps you be safe while keeping the frame clean

8. Rua da Bica, Chiado – steep downhill tram view towards the river

Rua da Bica feels like the exact place to capture the charm of Lisbon’s tram routes, with the steep hill and river in one frame.

The steep street pulls your frame straight towards the water, adding strong depth.

It is actually a funicular, a single carriage pulled by a cable up and down a steep street.

When we visited, it was not operating due to the Glória accident in September 2025, but the carriage was still on the tracks, so the full scene was still there.

We stopped here during our 4hr tuk tuk tour, and what stood out most was the steep slope.

It feels as if the street drops straight towards the river, with buildings tight on both sides and the tracks naturally pulling your eye downhill.

Even without movement, it still feels charming.This is also one of the most crowded tram spots in Lisbon, which slightly takes away from the experience.

Location: Rua da Bica, Lisbon (top of the funicular street)

Best time: Early morning for fewer people, or late afternoon for softer light

Works best with: Phone or DSLR, the slope adds natural depth

Tip: Shoot from the top to capture the full downhill view with the river in the background

9. Basílica da Estrela, Estrela – tram with white cathedral backdrop

This is one of the lesser-known tram spots in Lisbon, away from busy areas like Alfama or Baixa.

The white façade and domes of the cathedral immediately stand out. With the tram passing in front, the whole scene feels calm but layered.

I first noticed a tram from the cathedral terrace, where the view opens up to the domes and towers.

Watching it move below made me wonder if I could see it from the street with the cathedral behind it.

I asked our tuk tuk guide, and once I crossed the road, it all made sense.

From here, you see the tram pass along a gentle curve in front of the church. It is not the cleanest scene.

The tram cables cut through the frame, but somehow it made the scene feel more real than perfect.

Location: Praca da Estrela

Best time: Late afternoon for softer light on the façade

Works best with: Phone or DSLR

Tip: Stand across the road and use the curve to align the tram with the cathedral. Be ready, as traffic can interrupt your frame

10. Praça do Império, Belém – tram with Jerónimos Monastery backdrop

This is one of the most overlooked tram spots in Lisbon, even though it sits right in front of Jerónimos Monastery.

Standing in front of the crowded monastery with our tuk tuk guide Thomas, I was almost lost in the scene.

The tram moving across the façade broke the stillness of the building.

What stands out is the scale. The monastery stretches across the frame with detailed arches, carvings, and towers. For a moment, the tram feels small against it, and that is what makes the scene stand out.

Compared to Alfama or Baixa, this area feels far more open, with the tram becoming part of a larger view, not the main focus.

Location: Praca do Imporio & Belem street junction

Best time: Late afternoon for softer light on the façade

Works best with: Phone or DSLR, good for wider framing

Tip: Step back and include as much of the monastery as possible. Let the tram pass through your frame

Chiado & Bairro Alto streets

Streets like Rua do Alecrim & Rua da Prata in Chiado are perfect when professional photographers take the frame.

But for casual photographers, these busy streets which are crowded isn’t easy.

And some streets in Baitto Alto lacks that Lisbon classic depth. It is only Bica funicular’s top in Chiado is worth framing.

Better alternative: Head to Baixa’s square for more charming experience- despite being crowded, it feels better there

Quick tips for photographing Lisbon trams