Elevadores, Lisbon

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It functions both as a lift and as viewdeck, but more than its functionality, the Elevador de Santa Justa is better known for its beautiful and unique structure. Located at the historic center, it towers above the old buildings and can be easily seen. It connects through a bridge, the lower streets of the Baixa area (the shopping streets) with the Largo do Carmo in the upper area, or about 30 meters above. The bridge on top is adjacent to the dramatic ruins of the Convento do Carmo, left as it was after being destroyed by the great Lisbon earthquake in 1755.

The structure was built by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, an apprentice of Eiffel, in 1882 to help ease access in the hilly and steeper parts of Lisbon. It was originally powered by steam, and in 1907 converted to electric power.

At the top, one gets an unbeatable view of historic Lisbon, the Castelo Sao Jorge, and the wide expanse of the Tagus delta just beyond. There is a ticket to use the lift -- if you have a Metro pass with credit, then it is worth the equivalent of one trip by Metro, otherwise it costs a bit more to buy the ticket on board. At the top floor is a kiosk which sells the usual snacks and souvenirs. It gets quickly full there as the area is small, but the stunning views it affords especially on a sunny day more than makes up for the tight space.

As a "seven hills" city, Lisbon has some steep areas. By the end of the 19th century, several lifts were made. Some of them disappeared, but four were kept and modernized, still being useful to make the visits descending, and some of them even transformed in national monuments.

That's what happened with Santa Justa elevator and Lavra, this one sharing with Bica the circumstance of staying a little "out of the beatten path", thus not so useful for tourists as the other two.

Gloria elevator starts right in central Restauradores square, and it is very useful to go up to "Bairro Alto"

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Built following Eifell's style by another french engineer, this elevator is still in use, allowing a quick and convenient ascension to Carmo's level.

Most people limit themselves to admire the construction, but, since you need to go uphill, it's a good idea to use it. However, if you want to save the time lost in the long lines, you may use the trick I describe in my Local Secrets tip

Santa Justa lift was designed by Raul Ponsard, engineer born in Porto in 1902. Lift was converted to electrical operation in 1907 and in 2002 the elevator with the three cable railways of Lavra, Gloria and Bica were classified as National Monuments. This iron lift is 45 meters tall. The top storey is reached by helicoidal staircases and has a terrace that has views of Lisbon Castle, Rossio Square, Baixa. There are 2 wooden lift cages for maximum 20 passengers.

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An image of Lisbon will not be complete without its beloved funiculars, iconic symbols of the city. These striking ochre-coloured means of transport is as much a character of the city as its many narrow, steep steps and no visit to Lisbon will be complete without a ride in one of them.

Operational since 1892, this funicular connects Rua do São Paolo and Largo do Calhariz, and was built (as with the other funiculars in the downtown area) to facilitate transport of people and goods in Lisbon's steeply sloping terrain. This one has a length of 283 meters with an incline of 16 degrees. Together with the other funiculars, it was declared a national monument in 2002.

For visitors, the easier access to the Elevador is from its higher end, which is just a short distance from the Chiado area, a few short blocks behind the Largo do Camoes. Ticket for a one-way trip is the same as for the bus or metro, and 7-Colinas card can be used for it, provided it has enough credit otherwise buying the ticket on board will cost more. A two-way ticket costs 3 euros.

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This funicular was the last to be built in Lisbon and was opened on 28 June, 1892. It climbs the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo for 245 metres connecting the Calçada do Combro/Rua do Loreto and the Rua de S. Paulo. The lower station of this funicular railroad is almost hidden behind a facade on the Rua de S. Paulo with the inscription "Ascensor da Bica". It was electrified in 1927 and classified as a national monument in 2002.

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I believe every major city should have something that little bit on the quirky side and, with that in mind, Lisbon offers the visitor this. Located in downtown Baixa, this elevator was designed by a follower of French engineer Gustav Eiffel and connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square).

It was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, an engineer born in Porto to French parents. Construction began in 1900 and was finished in 1902; originally powered by steam, it was converted to electrical operation in 1907. The iron lift is 45 metres tall and is decorated in neo-gothic style, with a different pattern on each storey. The top storey is reached by helicoidal staircases and has a terrace that offers views of Lisbon Castle, Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. One tip, don't bother going right to the top as the views from where the lift stops are just as go plus you don't have to pay.

This is one of those most-do-things whilst in Lisbon like so many major tourist destinations have (like riding on open-top buses etc). Tram (or "Eléctrico" in Portuguese) Line 28 is one of only three traditional tram lines that still operate in Lisbon. These trams, which until the late-1980's ran all through-out Lisbon, were manufactured between 1936 and 1947. Tram 28 winds its way through the "Old Town" of Lisbon beginning in Graça then down to Alfama and to Baixa then up through Chiado to Bairro Alto and then down to Campo Ourique, taking you by many of Lisbon's most famous and interesting sites including monuments, churches and gardens. The trip is hilly, noisy and hectic but it affords many beautiful glimpses of the city. And, although the tram can sometimes be overrun with tourists, you will definitely get a flavour of the locals, as many "Lisboetas" commute daily on these historical trams. Tickets cost €1.45 per journey and can be purchased on-board at a vending machine (note that these machines do not accept notes, and are sometime even out of change, so make sure you have the correct change!)