Elevador do Lavra

The oldest of Lisbon's surviving street funiculars, opened in 1884, this short line climbs a steep residential slope on the eastern edge of the Avenida da Liberdade. Less touristed than its counterparts, it keeps a quiet, local character, its two yellow cars rattling past small gardens and old apartment blocks. Initially driven by a water-balance system before electrification, it is protected as a national monument. From the upper station a short walk leads to a viewpoint and the botanical garden nearby.