If you’re looking to visit both Lisbon and Porto during your trip to Portugal, the good news is that it’s easy to travel between the two cities by train. Not only that, but it’s a pretty budget-friendly way of traveling around Portugal in general (we often choose to take the train because we travel with our cat, and it’s simple, cheap, and quicker than going through airport security).
However, Lisbon is a lot bigger than most people think, and there are several train stations to depart from and types of trains to choose from. So, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you get from Lisbon to Porto by train, including what stations to depart from, what you can expect during your journey, and what your other travel options are.
Taking the Train From Lisbon to Porto: What to Know
Lisbon and Porto are two of the most popular cities in Portugal. If you’re planning to travel between them, you have a few different options. The most popular option is to take the train.
Train travel in Portugal, as in other parts of Europe, is fast, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive (it’s one of our favorite parts of living in Portugal). Plus, it’s a great way to see the Portuguese countryside. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re planning to take the train from Lisbon to Porto.
First, you’ll obviously need to purchase a ticket. You can do this online or at the train station. If you’re planning to travel during peak times (e.g., on a weekend or holiday), it’s best to purchase your ticket in advance (we’ll walk you through this below). However, you can also arrive at one of Lisbon’s train stations and purchase your ticket at a counter there.
Additionally, keep in mind that there are two types of trains: regional and intercity. Regional trains are slower but usually less expensive. Intercity trains are faster but more expensive. Again, we’ll walk you through these below, but it’s nice to know you have options depending on your travel budget and time constraints.
Lastly, enjoy your journey! Train travel is a great way to see Portugal’s stunning landscape.
How Long Is the Train Ride From Lisbon to Porto?
The average travel time from Lisbon to Porto by train is about 3 hours. However, depending on the train you take and what time of day you leave, the trip could take around 2 hours and 49 minutes or up to over 3 hours and 15 minutes.
There are 28 trains that depart from Lisbon to Porto each day, with the earliest departing at 6:39 am and the last departing at 10:09 pm (these times are for 2024, so be sure to check current train times on the Comboios Portugal website for accurate times).
What to Know: With an average time of about three hours, the train ride from Lisbon to Porto is just long enough to watch a movie or get some work done. Seats are comfortable and have tables that fold out like on an airplane.
In general, Alfa Pendular (AP) trains will be the quickest, and the trains are also the nicest and newest. If you purchase a train ticket from Lisbon to Porto and your ticket is for an Intercidades (IC), Regional (R), or Urban (U) train, then you can expect your trip to take longer. This is because these trains often make more stops.
How do you know if you’re taking an Alfa Pendular train or not? When you go to purchase your tickets online, you can see in the lefthand column what type of train it is.
You’ll notice below that when you go to purchase tickets from Lisbon to Porto, you can see that most trains leaving from the Oriente station are AP or CI trains, which stand for Alfa Pendular and Intercidades (it should be IC, but this will list as CI sometimes if you switch your language to English).
Lisbon’s Train Stations: Where to Leave From When Traveling to Porto
Trains from Lisbon to Porto leave from the following train stations in Lisbon:
- Santa Apolonia
- Oriente
- Sete Rios
- Cais do Sodré
- Rossio
- Entrecampos
However, it’s worth noting that the shortest journey you can take from Lisbon to Porto is through Lisbon’s Oriente train station. Trains leaving from other train stations in Lisbon head to Lisbon’s Oriente train station regardless.
Sometimes, this means changing trains at the Oriente station, while other times, you simply have to make the stop there. This means that, in the end, it’s often much easier to book a ticket leaving from the Oriente station. We do this and take the metro or a Bolt to the station. It ends up being slightly less of a hassle for us, even though we live right next to Sete Rios.
Ready to head to the train station? Below you’ll find information about where to locate each train station in Lisbon. Click on the directions to open them in Google Maps.
Lisbon Santa Apolonia Train Station
Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1, 1100-105 Lisboa
Lisbon Oriente Train Station
Av. Dom João II, 1900-233 Lisboa
Lisbon Cais do Sodré Train Station
Praça do Duque de Terceira, 1200, Lisboa
Lisbon Rossio Train Station
R. 1º de Dezembro 125, 1249-970 Lisboa
Lisbon Entrecampos Train Station
Rua Dr. Eduardo Neves, 1050-077, Lisboa
How to Buy Portugal Train Tickets Online in Advance
Traveling to Cascais? You’ll use the Cais do Sodré train station in Lisbon (pictured above). While it’s easy to purchase tickets at the counter at this train station, we don’t recommend doing this when taking the train from Lisbon to Porto via Rossio Station, as tickets for this (more popular) trip tend to sell out quickly.
To book your train tickets in advance online, you’ll need to create an account on the Comboios de Portugal website. Creating an account is quick and simple. Once you have your account set up, you’ll follow these steps to purchase your train tickets online:
- Feel free to switch the language from Portuguese to English. You can do this at the top right, or you can install a Google Translate Chrome plugin that will translate websites for you (this comes in handy if you frequently need to translate Portuguese sites as you learn the language!).
- On the homepage, locate the “Buy Tickets” green box at the top of the page. Or, click here to go straight to that page.
- Enter your starting destination. This will be “Lisboa” followed by whichever station you wish to travel from. Note that even if you set the language to English, it will only pull up the list of Lisbon train stations if you put “Lisboa,” not “Lisbon.”
- Enter your final destination. This will be “Porto” in this case.
- Enter your travel dates. If you only need a one-way ticket, then leave the return date blank.
- If you’d only like to travel on an Alfa Pendular train, then you can check that box, and you’ll only be shown trains that are Alfa Pendular trains.
- Click Search!
You will see a list of trains available for your travel dates. To select the trip you want to book tickets for, click the row and then scroll down. You’ll have to accept the terms and conditions, and then you can click “Continue.”
If you’re not logged in, then the system will prompt you to log in. Then, you will have to enter your passenger details.
Finally, you will confirm the price and then select your seats. You will then enter your email information so that they can email you your tickets.
All that’s left to do is pay online. Currently, you can pay with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card. Or, you can checkout using PayPal or MB Way (if you already have a bank account in Portugal).
How to Get From Lisbon to Porto: Other Travel Options
Interested in learning about how to get from Lisbon to Porto but don’t want to take the train? No worries. You’ve got plenty of other options.
Lisbon to Porto by Plane
The quickest way to get to Porto from Lisbon is to fly. Planes leave Lisbon nearly every hour starting at about 6 am.
The cheapest airline to travel with is usually TAP Portugal. You can expect to pay anywhere between about €70 to €80 depending on the time of year and how far in advance you purchase your ticket.
Q: How long is the flight from Lisbon to Porto?
A: When you book, it says an hour, but it’s often about 50 to 55 minutes. It’s never taken us a full hour to get from one city to the other, and the check-in and security lines at both airports typically move pretty fast.
However, keep in mind that traveling to Porto from Lisbon by plane requires you to spend time getting to the airport, going through security, boarding your plane, and deboarding in Porto. Sometimes, it’s less of a hassle to just travel by train or car.
Lisbon to Porto by Bus
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to travel from Lisbon to Porto, then the bust is going to be your best bet. Depending on the company you travel with, you can find one-way bust tickets from Lisbon to Porto for about €10.
The trip is only slightly longer than traveling by train, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours in total. Plus, traveling from Lisbon to Porto by bus is a great way to see the scenery of Portugal. The bus ride is comfortable, with plenty of legroom.
The bus will stop in Coimbra and Aveiro before arriving in Porto. After arriving in Porto, you can explore the city and visit its many attractions. Ultimately, if you are looking for a convenient and affordable way to travel from Lisbon to Porto, then traveling by bus is the perfect option for you.
Lisbon to Porto by Car
Lisbon to Porto by car is a popular way to travel between the two cities. The drive takes about four hours, and there are a few different routes that can be taken. The most direct route is via the A1 motorway, which goes through the cities of Coimbra and Leiria. This route is the shortest at just under three hours but can be quite congested during peak travel times.
An alternative route is via the A8 and A17 motorways, which take a more scenic route along the coast. This route is a bit longer, but it is less likely to be congested. Whichever route you choose, Lisbon to Porto by car is a great way to see Portugal’s beautiful countryside.
What to Remember: Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay to rent a car, and you’ll also have to pay for the tolls, which can add a lot to the cost of travel. Currently, for example, the toll when taking the A1 from Lisbon to Porto is €22.
FAQs About Traveling From Lisbon to Porto by Train
How long is the train ride from Lisbon to Porto?
It depends on which type of train you choose. The quickest option is the Alfa Pendular, whizzing between Lisbon and Porto in just under three hours, while the direct Intercity train takes only 15 minutes longer. Regional trains make more (and longer) stops, which can extend your journey to up to five hours.
How far is Lisbon from Porto?
Porto is about 315 km north of Lisbon, or just over 320 km if you’re in a car and take the A17 and A8.
Is the train ride from Lisbon to Porto scenic?
The train ride from Lisbon to Porto is one of the most scenic rides in all of Portugal. The train crosses over the picturesque Douro River Valley, with its terraced vineyards and quaint villages. If you’re interested in relaxing as you take in the sights, then the train ride is an excellent way to see some of Portugal’s most beautiful scenery.
Can you get to Porto from Lisbon by train?
Yes! It’s one of the best ways to travel from Lisbon to Porto. There are dozens of trains that depart daily from Lisbon to Porto.
Are there other travel options from Lisbon to Porto?
Yes, you can also travel from Lisbon to Porto by plane, bus, or car. However, traveling by train is the perfect mix between budget-friendly and stress-free.
How much does the train from Lisbon to Porto cost?
A train ticket from Lisbon to Porto starts at about €30-35 one-way. However, it’s best to check updated pricing on the Comboios de Portugal website to be sure, as the price of a train ticket depends on which train you take.
