Portugal is full of beautiful beaches, amazing surfing, and delicious food. It also has a great train network within the country which makes it quite affordable and easy to get between some of the most beautiful places to visit in Portugal.
With the high-speed train from Lisbon to Porto (called the Alfa Pendular), you can get between the two cities in 2 hours and 45 minutes.
When it comes to travelling around Portugal, the train is the most comfortable and scenic way to see the country and get between two places.
The train from Lisbon to Porto is actually quicker and cheaper than taking a car when you add together the cost of renting the car, buying fuel, and paying for the toll roads.
Of course, you can’t make stops along the way like you could if you rent a car but if your main goal is just to get from Lisbon to Porto then the train is the best option! So what do you need to know?
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Booking your train ticket from Lisbon to Porto
If you already know the dates you’re travelling between Lisbon and Porto, you can easily buy your train ticket in advance on Omio. We always use this app when booking trains and buses in other countries and have yet to have a bad experience with them.
The nice thing about the trains from Lisbon to Porto and back is that run quite often so it’s easy to find a departure that fits your schedule.
Note that some trains take 2 hours and 49 minutes while some take 3 hours and 13 minutes. We’ll explain a bit more about this later in the post but the main difference is the price.
You can see the difference between the prices from Lisbon to Porto and the main difference is that the faster trains are usually €6 more expensive.
To book your ticket you can either purchase it in advance here or from a ticket office at the train station. You do need to buy it in advance because in Portugal they do not sell tickets on the train.
Book your train from Lisbon to Porto in advance here.
Lisbon to Porto train route
The Alfa Pendular high-speed train is the main train that connects the cities (in order) Faro, Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto, and Braga.
All high-speed trains from Lisbon to Porto will make a stop in Coimbra where most of the time you’ll be able to stay on the same train without changing. The odd time you have to switch trains in Coimbra to Porto but it’s quite rare.
The route is the same going back from Porto to Lisbon. You’ll make a quick stop in Coimbra before continuing the journey back to Lisbon.
Keep in mind that the high-speed train does get quite busy and it’s good to book your ticket in advance. Especially during the summer months…
If you want to guarantee a seat it’s best to book before it gets full.
Lisbon train station – Santa Apolónia
Santa Apolonia is the main train station in Lisbon and it’s the station you will leave from when going to Porto. It’s the same one you’ll leave from if you also do a day trip to Sintra!
Santa Apolónia is the main hub for getting around Portugal. It’s also one of the metro line stops.
No matter where you’re staying in the city you should easily be able to get to Santa Apolónia by metro. From there you can take the high-speed train to Porto.
You’ll be able to find everything from train timetables to the ticket office for booking train tickets at Santa Apolonia.
As we mentioned before, to be safe it’s definitely better to book in advance to make sure you get a seat.
If you really want you can even prebook specific seats for a small extra surcharge to make sure you get a window seat or seats together with friends and family.
Porto train station – Campanhã
Porto has two main train stations. The one you will arrive at from Lisbon is the Campanhã train station (national railway station) which is located on the east side of Porto.
Similar to Lisbon, there is also a metro that runs from Campanhã that takes you directly to the city center of Porto if that’s where you’re going.
If or when you make the trip back to Lisbon you will come back to Campanhã Train Station and take the high-speed train back through Coimbra to Lisbon.
Questions related to taking the train from Lisbon to Porto
How expensive is the train from Lisbon to Porto?
The train from Lisbon to Porto costs between 26-32€ ($26-32) depending on the time of day you travel. Sometimes the high-speed train is 26€ and sometimes the slower train is 32€. It depends on the day and time but the price for the train between the two cities should always be between 26-32€.
How long does it take to get from Lisbon to Porto by train?
The high-speed train from Lisbon to Porto takes roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes whereas the slow train takes 3 hours and 15 minutes.
There isn’t really a big difference between them, the only difference will be the price which is usually a few dollars difference and then, of course, the time it takes.
Is the train ride from Lisbon to Porto scenic?
Yes, the train ride from Lisbon to Porto is scenic and it’s one of the reasons we recommend travelling through Portugal by train.
You get to see some beautiful parts of Portugal you wouldn’t if you were just driving on the highway in your car.
One of the highlights of this train trip is that you will pass through the city of Coimbra which used to be Portugal’s capital city way back in the 1100s.
On top of that, you’ll get to experience and see some of Portugal’s most beautiful countryside including the Silver Coast, vineyards, and farms!
Is it better to drive or take the train from Lisbon to Porto?
If you’re going to Porto on a day trip, then taking the train is by far the better option in our opinion. It’s comfy, affordable, runs often, and very scenic.
When we do day trips to cities, we love taking public transportation instead of driving.
This way we can relax on the train (or bus) and save our energy for the actual exploring part. Then when we take the train back, we can get some sleep or spend time going through all of the photos and videos we took that day.
On the other hand, if you want to see some more places in Portugal like Sintra, Ericeira, and Nazare, just to name a few highlights, then driving is good because you can stop at some of these wonderful places.
If you’re in for a really fun trip, then we can highly recommend exploring the west coast of Portugal by van! This is what we did when we travelled around Portugal for a few months last year!
To answer this question it totally depends on the purpose of your trip. As a day trip from Lisbon to Porto, the train is by far the best option!
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Campervan Rental in Portugal
Do I need to book the Lisbon to Porto train in advance?
Yes, you need to pre-book your train ticket from Lisbon to Porto in advance. It’s not that the train will book out and you can’t get a seat.
But in Portugal, you can’t buy your train ticket on the train. The ticket checker is just there to see if you purchased a ticket. If not, you will get fined.
Make sure to either purchase one in advance online (you can buy your train ticket here) or be at least 15-20 minutes early to your train so you can buy it in advance from the ticket office.
Are trains in Portugal good?
Portugal doesn’t have the shiniest or newest trains but they are reliable and get you from place to place.
It may seem a little slow compared to some other Western European countries but for the most part, the Portuguese trains are quite cozy and the routes are quite scenic.
The nice thing about Portugal is that it’s not that big of a country and you can actually take trains almost everywhere in the country which is quite nice for people who enjoy taking public transport.
What is the fastest train in Portugal?
The Alfa Pendular Train which travels between Faro-Lisboa-Coimbra-Porto-Braga is the fastest train in the country. Alfa Pendular trains are the fastest way to get around Portugal and go up to speeds of 220 km/h.
The main route for the Alfa Pendular is between Lisbon and Porto and takes roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Can you go from Lisbon to Porto as a day trip?
Yes, even though we recommend spending at least a few days in Porto you can still easily go from Lisbon to Porto as a day trip.
With the convenience of the train system in Portugal, you can get between the two cities in just under 3 hours.
The trains run quite often so that you can leave Lisbon early in the morning and then leave Porto late in the evening and have a complete day exploring Porto!
You may also like…
- 1-Day in Lisbon: The Best of Lisbon in 24 Hours
- 5 of the Best Viewpoints in Lisbon
- 3 Amazing Day Trips from Lisbon You Can’t Miss
- The Most Awesome 2-Week West Coast Portugal Road Trip
- 8 Cities on Portugal’s Silver Coast You’re Going to Love
Recap of taking the train from Lisbon to Porto
Now you know about train travel in Portugal and how fast the Alfa Pendular train can go.
We love to travel by train because it’s such a relaxing way to get around a country. You don’t get stuck in any traffic jams and usually within Portugal, train tickets are quite affordable too.
Enjoy your trip from Lisbon to Porto. It’s absolutely beautiful and if you enjoy riding the train around Portugal you can also ride the Alfa Pendular (the speed train) to other parts of the country as well.
The train system in Portugal is great and it’s absolutely worth taking advantage of!
If you have any questions about travelling by train in Portugal and the train from Lisbon to Porto, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
You can DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadvnetures or leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as we can!
Have an amazing time exploring Portugal!
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Thank you for the great post. I appreciate the detail about the trains and the photo of the app to use. It was helpful to see the photo because it shows which station and which train (oriente). Obrigada
Hey Lynn,
You’re welcome I hope it all worked out and you had an awesome time in Obidos!
-Dom
Hello….we will be travelling from Lisbon to Porto by train…thanks to your blog above giving details!
1. Our question now is where can we book a city tour IN Porto once we arrive by train.
2. Can we purchase a return train ticket when we purchase our ticket to Porto?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sandra
Hey Sandra,
Thank you, it’s always nice hearing positive feedback about our posts and how they help people out!
1) Most of the tour companies are located in the centre of the city near the Bolhao district of the city. You can also click on the tour links on our page where it will bring you to what tours are offered in Porto. Once you find a tour you like you can find the operator and company name and then find that specific office in the city center and book the tour through them.
2) Yes you can definitely purchase a return ticket if you know exactly when you want to come back.
Let me know if I can help with anything else.
Best,
-Jo
Hi Sandra.
We will be traveling to Portugal in April. If we book the Lisbon to Porto train, can we get off in Coimbra for 2-3 hours and then hop on the next train to Porto?
Thanks!
John
Hi John,
Thank you for your comment! I think you can easily stop by Coimbra on your way from Lisbon to Porto. However, I don’t know if you can buy one combined ticket. What I would do is buy one ticket from Lisbon to Coimbra and then a second ticket from Coimbra to Porto 🙂
Best,
Josefine
Hello! Thank You for the information about train travel in Portugal. I will be reserving seats for 3 adults in early May. Please advise the best side to reserve train seats for scenic viewing from Lisbon to Porto and from Porto to Lisbon. We will be on the Interciddades train and will try to reserve window seats. Thank You so much. Boa Tarde, Donna Jones
Hey Donna,
You’re welcome! Awesome May will be fairly warm so you should expect some good weather for your trip. Honestly most seats are quite similar on the Interciddades train (2×2 with a table between the seats).
Window seats will definitely be nice to enjoy the countryside and the views between the two cities!
Best,
Dom
hello
we are travelling from Lisbon to Porto in July, can you tell me what is the train station name and location in Lisbon. Also was wondering, is there a baggage area since we will have suitcases to bring on our trip. What is the fee for the baggage.
thank you
Hello,
The train station that you will leave from in Lisbon is Santa Apolonia right in downtown Lisbon! The exact location is (Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1, 1100-105 Lisboa, Portugal) you can copy and paste that into google maps and it should come up!
Checking baggage is free of charge so you will not have to pay to carry baggage with you aboard the train!
All the best and enjoy your trip to between Lisbon and Porto.
Best,
Dom
Hi, myself and my daughter are flying to Lisbon from Toronto (arriving at 11 a.m.) and heading straight to Porto. I am guessing it’s a taxi to Santa Apollonia station. I was thinking of booking our train tickets in advance BUT what if our flight is late and we miss the train? But then I worry that if I don’t book ahead then we might not get seats on any train. What do you think is our best option? My husband thinks I should just wait until I get to the station and buy tickets there for the next available train.
Hi Fiona and Lamb,
How exciting that you’re going to Portugal! We would do the same as your husband is suggesting. The train runs around 15 times a day so (unless you’re really unlucky) you should be fine getting a seat on the train. But, of course, do what you feel the most comfortable with.
Also, you can try downloading the app Bolt to get you from the airport to the train station. It works just like Uber.
Safe travels 🙂
Best,
Dom & Jo
PS Thank you in advance.
Hi, we will be traveling from Portugal for our honeymoon and will be taking the train from Porto to Lisbon.
Where should purchase train tickets?
Is the train ride a direct ride from Porto to Lisbon?
What train station will I be leaving from in Porto to Lisbon and what train station will I be arriving to in Lisbon?
Hey Besly,
You can purchase the train tickets online now through the link on the blog. It will bring you directly to the site where you can purchase the tickets. Yes the train goes direct from Porto to Lisbon. It may stop on the way but you will just stay on the train. From Porto you’ll leave from Campanha Train Station on the east side of Porto and you will end up at Santa Apolonia Train Station downtown Lisbon.
-Dom
Hi Jo & Dom,
Thanks for this great website. Lots of helpful information presented in a clear, concise format.
We are going to Portugal for a few weeks. We were going to take a roadtrip but we decided it presented too many challenges (we are not young). So, instead we are going to take the train form Lisbon to Porto and do a number of day trips from each city. We have two questions.
We will have two large suitcases and backpacks. Will it be hard to handle the luggage on the train? Are their convenient places to store it?
Second, will we be able to depart the train near the center of Porto, where we will be staying? If not, how will we get there (with our luggage)? Thanks again for making our travels easier.
Hey Eric!
Thanks so much for the feedback! Stuff like this makes our day and we love hearing that we made your planning slightly easier. The train from Lisbon to Porto and back is a great idea and the scenery along the way is wonderful. You can definitely store your stuff on the train. Depending how full the train is it can be challenging at times but hopefully it will be fine!
Unfortunately the train station outside of the center of the city is the one you take back to Lisbon! With that much luggage we recommend just taking an Uber or a Bolt to the train station out of convenience.
-Dom
Hi Besly,
Thank you for the great information. We will be staying at Rua do Campo, Turcifal and then going to Porto in September. Since we’ll already be north of Lisbon, is it possible/cheaper to Uber to a train station nearby and continue onto Porto or do we need to return back to Lisbon and catch a direct train to Porto? Do you book tickets on Omio or Rail Ninja? Thank you! KB
Hey Karen,
The easiest way is to take the metro from where you are staying directly to downtown Lisbon and then taking the train directly there. Yes you can book the train through Omio! I believe the link on this post will take you directly there where you can book!
-Dom
Hello, thanks for the writeup. You already answered this but I keep getting conflicting information. I’m trying to do a round trip train ride from Porto to Lisbon. The route is Porto – Sao Bento to Porto – Campanha then Porto – Campanha to Lisboa – Santa Apolonia. When I get to Campanha, do I switch train? Or do I stay in the original train that I took from Sao Bento. Coming back from Lisbon would be the same, do I switch train when I arrive at Campanha?
Also, is there a ticket validation process or something prior to entering the train? Or do I just buy the ticket and sit in the train
Hello,
Yes you will just stay on the same train! There should be ticket inspectors on board who will scan the tickets. It’s best to buy the tickets online prior to boarding the train. Once you’re on the train you can just show them the email of you purchasing the train ticket.
-Dom
Does Alfa Pendular (Lisboa – Oporto) have first class seats, and if so, what is the difference cf. standard class? In your opinion is it worth paying the extra for 2 elderly travellers.
Hey Peter,
Personally if you don’t mind paying a little extra money the first class is quite comfortable and nice. It was also be a lot more quiet and all around enjoyable.
-Dom
I have been trying for 3 days to book a ticket on Omio. Works great until I get to the payment page. And then there is just a circle going round and round. How do I buy a ticket? We’re trying to go from Lisbon to Porto return March 4th until the 9th.
Hey Marsha, that is odd! I’m not sure what the error is but if it isn’t working, maybe try downloading the app on your phone instead! I just booked a ticket yesterday (in a different location) and just tested Omio to see if it worked from Lisbon to Porto and all the way until the payment page I am not seeing any issues.
Here’s a link to the app: https://www.omio.com/apps
You can also try on Intercidades’ website: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/how-to-travel/intercidades
Hope this helps!
Best,
Jo