Lisbon’s Funiculars

Lisbon’s Funiculars

The “lifts or elevators” in Lisbon are basically funiculars that help locals and tourist climb the steep and long slopes that are so characteristic in Lisbon a comfortable and convenient way.

The capital of Portugal has three funiculars, all of which were designed by the Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard. He is also responsible for the design of the Santa Justa Lift.

The three lifts are called: Elevador do Lavra, Elevador da Glória, and Elevador da Bica. The price of a ticket to the Lisbon lifts is the same for each of them. When bought on board it costs  2.90 (US$ 3.20), however, with the 7 Colinas card it costs 1.45 (US$ 1.60).

Elevador do Lavra

The Lavra Lift was inaugurated in 1884 and is the city’s oldest cable car. It connects the streets Câmara Pestana and Largo da Anunciada, which runs perpendicular to Avenida da Liberdade.

Elevador da Glória

The best-known and most popular of the three cable cars is the Elevador da Glória. It connects Restauradores Square with Rua San Pedro de Alcántara in Bairro Alto.

At the top part of the Funicular, in Bairro Alto, you’ll enjoy some magnificent views over Lisbon from the San Pedro de Alcántara viewpoint. The best in the city in our opinion. 

The Elevador da Glória was opened to the public on 24 October 1885.

Elevador da Bica

The Bica Funicular runs through Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo to get to the Bairro Alto. It connects Rua de São Paulo with Calçada do Combro and was inaugurated on 28 June 1892, seven years after the Glória Funicular. It is the second most popular "elevator" after Elevador da Glória.