7.2.5 April 2025

Easter (Páscoa) is almost upon us.

Which, for Getting Around, means a few early morning and rush hour buses, trams and Metro services may not be running during the holiday period. If the route has a separate section for “Dias Úteis - Férias Escolares”, this will be the one used for weekdays. There should be no change to weekend services.

A Tuk-Tuk at the LX Factory

Good Friday and Easter Sunday are national holidays, but Easter Monday is not - it’s a normal working day. The Friday after the Easter weekend, 25th April, is Freedom Day; there may be road closures, and locations relevant to the Carnation Revolution will be busy. The first of May is Labour Day.

But the big news for getting around the city this month is the latest restrictions on the Tuk-Tuk infestation. The number of streets from which these, and similar vehicles, are banned has risen to 337. Most of the new restrictions cover the Old Downtown, the area around the Castle, and locations like Nossa Senhora do Monte.

In addition, the ability of Tuk-Tuks to park up more or less anywhere has been curtailed, and the number of parking places open to them restricted. It’s still possible to book one online and agree pick-up locations with your pilot, should you really, really want to ride in one of them.

Tuk-Tuks outside the Cathedral

The new rules may be behind the significant number of posts on social media platforms like Facebook, where Tuk-Tuk pilots tell prospective customers how many years’ experience they have as guides, how many happy punters are willing to endorse them, and with contact details helpfully provided.

As a reminder, you pays your money, and you takes your chance.

The bad news is that the new restrictions have not stopped the practice of aggressive touting, especially in locations like Martim Moniz, where Tuk-Tuk pilots who are not at the time gainfully employed make a nuisance of themselves by harassing folks queuing for the 28 tram. You want a tour?

Talking of the 28 tram, the resurfacing works in the Calçada da Estrela have been completed, but the 28 is still turning back at Camões. More news whenever Carris have decided to restore the service to Prazeres.

Feeder bus for Tram 15 passing Corpo Santo

The 15 is still turning back at Cais do Sodré while the latest Hole In The Rua Da Prata is dealt with. There is a shuttle bus from Praça da Figueira (showing 15E on its destination board) which also picks up in Praça do Comércio, running through to Alcântara. Best place to change to the tram is Cais do Sodré. Carris calls this feeder service a Naveta.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos - looks like the closure will last through Easter. Any news on reopening will be posted when it happens!

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