7.2.20 April 2026

Still no sign of the final report into the accident on the Elevador da Glória, and so we start with the alternatives to using funiculars.

Don’t slog up those hills just because the funiculars have been suspended.

Minibus 51E gives an alternative to the Santa Justa lift, and an alternative to the Glória funicular;

Bairrobus 19B gives an alternative to the Lavra funicular;

Bairrobus 22B gives an alternative to the Bica funicular.

Gare Oriente

MUSEUM REMINDER 1 The Tile Museum is still closed for repairs. Expect re-opening around June. No word of confirmation yet.

BELÉM REMINDER Torre de Belém still closed for repairs. Re-opening date uncertain. Yes, much of the scaffolding has been taken away, but it’s still closed.

WEATHER: good news at last. There has been a warm spell, and though that is due to end, temperatures should remain mild. More sunny days to come, but be prepared when the rain makes a visit. Cos it can be heavy.

Jardim Sá da Bandeira - the green space on the west side of the Time Out Market - is having its pathways upgraded and resurfaced. So some of them will be unavailable, until, well, the work finishes.

Gare Oriente and Accessibility: once again, we arrive in the world of broken lifts and escalators, and at a location that sees a lot of visitors to The Great City pass through.

Oriente has two up escalators, and two down escalators, between ground level and the station concourse level. Usually one of each is working, plus one of the two cylindrical-shaped lifts. HOWEVER last weekend they were all broken, and this weekend the lift at the east side has been put back into service, and that’s all. If you’re travelling through Oriente, and have luggage in tow, be warned. Lifts from station concourse level to platform level are mainly broken, so use the escalators, which at the side of the station used by long distance trains are usually working.

If you need an accessible station, it may be best to consider travelling to and from Santa Apolónia. Oriente looks eye-catching, with its Calatrava roof, but, as ever, the detail lets it down.

Metro accessibility: it’s improving, but the lift from the Airport station arrival platform to the concourse, which was broken last August, is still broken.

New Metro News: opening of the line from Cais do Sodré to Rato, via new stations at Santos and Estrela, is scheduled for March 2027.

Maybe time for Lisbon’s Mayor Carlos Moedas to lean on Infraestruturas de Portugal, and Metropolitano de Lisboa.

Craft beer news: opening hours at Aguarela Bar and Kitchen in Sapadores have been reduced. I will update their entry in the guide as soon as I’ve visited and got the right information.

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