Officially inaugurated on the 28th of July 1882, Lisbon’s striking Bica Funicular is one of the attractions you shouldn’t miss when visiting Portugal.
This majestic and much-loved form of vintage public transportation shares the same hill (São Roque) with the Glória Funicular and the Santa Justa Elevator, the latter designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, architect of the iconic tower in Paris.
Arguably the most photogenic of all the capital’s head-spinning funiculars, the Elevador da Bica (as it is known locally) connects the Cais do Sodré district of central Lisbon (located at the bottom of the hill) with the fashionable Chiado area at the top.
Offering passengers unparalleled views of the Tagus River down below, a ride on the Bica Funicular is a must for visitors looking to soak up some of the city’s unique history and culture on the western perimeter of the downtown Baixa district,
In the early years of its operation, the funicular was driven by a water-powered tramway-cab system which was replaced by steam in 1896 and later electrified in 1914, the same year an accident struck the funicular when one of the cars went out of control and subsequently crashed into the lower station, putting it out of action until 1923.
More than a century later, the Bica Funicular (indicated on the Google map below) continues to run on an electric motor that moves the cable to which both cars are firmly attached so that they counter-balance each other to lighten the motor’s load, with a transit point for the two cars situated at the midway point.
What to do in Lisbon
From the bottom, Lisbon’s Elevador da Bica travels 245 metres (804 feet) as it rises from Rua de São Paulo along an 11.8% incline up Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo.
It conveniently connects its constant stream of passengers with some of the most popular parts of the city, such as the ancient Bairro Alto district which somehow survived the 1755 earthquake mostly intact.
A fascinating place to visit, particularly on foot, this compact, labyrinthine district of narrow cobbled streets lined by preserved 18th-century buildings with traditional wrought-iron balconies bursts into life at night as dozens of bars, clubs, restaurants and fado houses cater for the masses until the early hours of the morning.
At the top of the Bairro Alto lies Pavilhão Chinês, one of the most emblematic bars in Lisbon due to its atmospheric lighting and unique collection of miniature soldiers, cars, aeroplanes and many other curios gathered over many decades.
Once you’ve arrived at the top of the Bica Funicular, a short walk to the right along Rua do Loreto takes you through to Largo do Chiado (a magnificent square with a bustling ambience) after which you’ll find Carmo Church (at the top of Santa Justa Elevator), whose roof came crashing down on its congregation on the 1st of November 1755, the date of the great earthquake.
The world-famous number 28 tram also trundles through this part of the city, another monumental feature of Lisbon’s extensive public transport network which follows a route that encompasses numerous attractions, most notably Sé Cathedral and the centuries-old district of Graça, home to one the best miradouros (viewpoints) in the city.
Need more sightseeing ideas for your next visit? Listen to the Portugal Travel Show, the podcast for people planning a trip to sunny Portugal…
