Lisbon’s Steepest Ride Finds New Life in LEGO

Lisbon is a city that doesn’t do flat. Streets climb, bend, and tilt until you’re gasping for breath or reaching for your camera. Among its most photogenic helpers is the Ascensor da Bica, a bright yellow funicular that has become a cultural postcard as much as a mode of transport. Now, thanks to one dedicated builder, it exists in another medium: LEGO® bricks.

Building a Hill Inside a Box

The real Bica Funicular isn’t just about the tram. It’s about the incline, the kind that makes you question your shoe choice. Builder Peter_Designs understood this and decided his LEGO version had to honor that geography. The result? A model built at a 20.5-degree angle, making it as much a feat of engineering as the real steel-and-cable machine.

Almost 3,000 Pieces of Lisbon

The numbers tell their own story. Out of 2,997 LEGO® pieces, 773 shape the tram itself. The rest recreate the steep street, the pavement, and the facades that frame the ride. It’s not just pretty; it’s functional. The car holds 23 minifigures across three compartments, so your tiny LEGO city-dwellers can ride in style, just like the locals.

A Love Letter in Bricks

Peter_Designs didn’t just build a set. He built a memory. “The day I visited Lisbon I fell in love,” he writes. The yellow trams stood out, but the Bica Funicular captured his imagination most. For him, the build is both tribute and invitation, a chance for anyone, anywhere, to drop Lisbon into their LEGO collection.

From Idea to Reality

The set now lives on LEGO® Ideas, the fan-driven platform where projects rise or fall depending on support. If it hits 10,000 votes, the company will review it for potential release. At 4,924 supporters so far, the journey is uphill, appropriately enough for the Bica.

This isn’t just about one tram. It’s about giving a slice of Portugal a chance to live on the shelves of LEGO fans worldwide. So, if you think your minifigures deserve a ride with a view, you know what to do: head to LEGO Ideas and cast your vote.