# Porto to Lisbon Train — From the Douro to the Tagus The 336 km Linha do Norte carries Portugal's Alfa Pendular high-speed train from Porto's granite riverfront down to Lisbon's Tagus estuary in as little as 2 hours 42 minutes, connecting two of Portugal's largest cities past two of the country's most photographed azulejo-tiled stations along the way. **Quick facts:** 336 km Porto–Lisbon by rail · 2h42–3h15 train journey · Departures roughly every 1–2 hours · Operated by CP (Comboios de Portugal) ## The Porto to Lisbon Train Journey Every Porto to Lisbon train runs the length of the Linha do Norte, Portugal's original north–south rail corridor and part of the wider Portuguese railways network, opened in stages during the 1860s and 70s and still one of Western Europe's most useful stretches of track. Leaving Porto, the line crosses the Douro and heads south past Aveiro's canal-side lagoon, the university city of Coimbra, and the charming villages and open farmland around Santarém, before dropping into the Tagus valley for the run into Lisbon. It's a genuinely scenic 336 km train ride connecting two of Portugal's largest cities, not just a fast way to close the distance. - The high-speed Alfa Pendular covers that distance in as little as 2 hours 42 minutes, with average journey time across both train services running up to about 3h15. - Comboios de Portugal operates the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades train service on this line, keeping a fairly steady timetable across the day. - The route runs from Porto Campanhã straight through to Lisboa Santa Apolónia via Lisboa Oriente Station — booking a little in advance keeps your pick of seats on both ends. ### Following the Lisbon Route, Stop by Stop **Route:** Porto Campanhã → Aveiro → Coimbra-B → Santarém → Lisboa Oriente Station → Lisboa Santa Apolónia ## Starting the Journey in Porto Porto sits on granite bluffs above the Douro, and the city's identity is tied up in that river as much as the ocean it feeds into. Across the water in Vila Nova de Gaia, port wine has aged in riverside cellars for centuries — the drink that gave the city, and the train ride, its name. It's worth building an extra morning into your trip before boarding, whether that means the Ribeira waterfront, the Dom Luís I bridge, or just a coffee near São Bento's tiled entrance hall. - Porto Campanhã is the long-distance terminus — plan to be there, not São Bento, unless you factor in the connecting local train. - São Bento's entrance hall is lined with roughly 20,000 historic azulejo tiles — worth a stop even if you're not catching a train there. - Vila Nova de Gaia's port wine cellars sit a short walk across the Dom Luís I bridge from the Ribeira riverfront. - Porto's granite-built center is compact enough to see much of on foot before an afternoon departure. ## Alfa Pendular Train vs Intercidades CP runs two train types on this line — AP (Alfa Pendular) and IC (Intercidades) — both with a comfortable ride and modern amenities; the difference is speed, stops, and price. | Service | Journey time | Stops | Onboard | |---|---|---|---| | Alfa Pendular | As fast as 2h42, usually 2h45–2h55 | Fewest — Aveiro, Coimbra-B, a handful of others | Tilting EMU (up to 220 km/h), café-bar, power sockets, Wi-Fi | | Intercidades | Around 3h to 3h15 | More frequent stops along the Linha do Norte | Standard EMU, café-bar, power sockets — lower fares | - Alfa Pendular tilts into curves using gyroscopes in the head cars, which is how it holds up to 220 km/h — one of Portugal's fastest and most popular trains on the Porto Lisbon corridor. - The current fleet was refurbished in 2017; both services now offer air conditioning, power outlets, free Wi-Fi, and spacious seating. - Both trains sell 1st and 2nd class tickets — 2nd class covers most of the train and is where the cheapest tickets are. ## Porto and Lisbon Train Stations Guide **Porto Campanhã Station & Porto São Bento Station** — Porto Campanhã is the departure station for long-distance Porto to Lisbon services, right next to the Campanhã bus station, one of Portugal's busiest intercity bus hubs. Porto São Bento, the beaux-arts station lined with roughly 20,000 azulejo tiles, isn't served directly by Lisbon-bound trains — reach Campanhã first by a quick connecting local train, usually covered by the same ticket. - Porto Campanhã: Largo da Estação, 4300-173 Porto - Porto São Bento: Praça Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto **Lisboa Oriente Station & Lisboa Santa Apolónia Station** — Trains from Porto call first at Lisboa Oriente Station (officially Gare do Oriente), built for Expo '98 inside the modern Parque das Nações district, connecting to Lisbon's metro Red Line and airport bus routes. A few minutes later they reach their final destination at Lisboa Santa Apolónia, Lisbon's oldest railway terminal (opened 1865), right on the edge of Lisbon's city centre and a short tram ride from Alfama. - Lisboa Oriente Station: Av. Dom João II, 1990-233 Lisboa - Santa Apolónia: Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1, 1100-105 Lisboa One clarification worth making: Lisbon's Rossio station handles the suburban commuter line out to Sintra, not Porto-bound Alfa Pendular or Intercidades services — a different, shorter-distance train than the one covered on this page. ### Public Transport at Porto and Lisbon Stations Getting to and from either end doesn't require a car: in Porto, the metro's E (violet) line stops at Campanhã and continues into São Bento in about ten minutes, with buses and taxis outside both stations; in Lisbon, Lisboa Oriente Station sits on the metro Red Line and Santa Apolónia connects by tram, bus, and taxi. ## Train, Plane, or Car From Porto to Lisbon? Over a 336 km distance connecting these two cities — among Portugal's largest and most visited — train, plane, car, and bus land in a similar time bracket door-to-door for the same trip, but not with the same amount of hassle. - **By train (2h42–3h15 door-to-door):** Board a city-center station → Ride 2h42–3h15 with Wi-Fi and power → Arrive a city-center station. - **By plane (~3–4h door-to-door):** Get to the airport → Check-in and security → About an hour in the air → Baggage and transfer into town. - **By car (~2h50 door-to-door):** Drive the A1, about 2h50 → Motorway tolls → Find city-center parking. - **By bus (~3h15 door-to-door):** Board at a bus station → Ride about 3h15, average journey time → Arrive at a bus station. ## Luggage Allowance CP keeps luggage rules simple on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades — one bag free, sized to actually fit on board. - One bag free, as long as it fits in the racks or under your seat without blocking the aisle. - Max size 85 × 55 × 35 cm per item. - Extra bags count as excess luggage, with Intercidades charging around €6.50 per item. - Overhead racks for small bags, larger racks near the doors for suitcases. ## Tips for Booking Your Ticket - **Book train tickets early for cheap fares:** CP's cheapest tickets sell out first around peak hours, Friday afternoons, and Portuguese holidays. Booking a week or more ahead usually gets the lowest price, for a one-way fare or a return ticket alike, with no hidden booking fees. - **First class vs second class:** wider seats and a bit more quiet for a modest fare bump; seat reservation is mandatory and included on both travel classes either way. - **First Train to Last Train — Porto to Lisbon Train Times:** most days run from around 6:30am to 10pm, roughly every one to two hours. - **Rail Pass or Single Tickets?** There's no dedicated domestic rail pass for this line, but a Eurail or Interrail pass may be worth pricing out if you're crossing multiple countries in Western Europe — otherwise single tickets are usually simpler. ## Accessibility CP's Integrated Mobility Service (SIM) covers boarding, the journey, and getting off: 1. Request SIM assistance at least 6 hours before departure, or by 8pm the day before for early-morning trains. 2. Staff meets you at the platform at both Porto and Lisbon. 3. Board via the built-in wheelchair lift on Alfa Pendular trains. 4. Reserved wheelchair spaces and accessible seating are available on board. ## FAQ **How long does the train journey from Porto to Lisbon take?** Over the 336 km Porto–Lisbon distance connecting two of Portugal's major cities: approximately 2 hours 42 minutes on the fastest Alfa Pendular, up to 3h15 on Intercidades. Driving via the A1 takes about 2h50, and the average bus journey runs close to 3h15. **Which train station do I depart from in Porto, and where do I arrive in Lisbon?** Depart Porto Campanhã, next to Portugal's Campanhã bus station and connected to the Porto metro; for Portugal's São Bento station, take the connecting local train from Campanhã first. The train calls at Lisboa Oriente Station before its final destination at Lisboa Santa Apolónia. **How Often Do Trains to Lisbon Run?** Comboios de Portugal's Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains depart roughly every one to two hours, first train around 6:30am, last train near 10pm — about 15 to 19 direct departures a day. Counting the wider Linha do Norte corridor, including shorter regional segments, trains from Porto to Lisbon run 38 times daily. **How much do Porto to Lisbon train tickets cost?** Second-class fares start from around $32 for off-peak Intercidades, with Alfa Pendular fares running roughly $46–76, tickets to Lisbon costing more during peak hours and around holidays. Promo tickets can cut that by more than half booked 5–60 days ahead. **What Are the Ticket Prices for the Porto to Lisbon Train?** Prices start from around $32 for the cheapest fare, with most Intercidades tickets running $40–60 and Alfa Pendular fares roughly $46–76 in second class. The fastest journey takes 2h42, though slower or connecting options can take up to about 4h42. **Are there promo fares or a rail pass for this route?** Yes to promo fares (5–60 days ahead); no dedicated domestic rail pass, though Eurail/Interrail can help across multiple countries. **What can I see during the train ride from Porto to Lisbon?** Aveiro's tiled station, the university city of Coimbra, and Santarém's charming villages and farmland before the Tagus comes into view. **Can I visit Lisbon as a day trip from Porto?** Yes — as little as 2h42 each way leaves a full day in Lisbon. **Are there direct trains from Porto to Lisbon?** Yes, both Alfa Pendular and Intercidades run direct services with no transfer. On the return leg, trains from Lisbon depart just as often, mirroring the same schedule back to Porto. **Are There Multiple Train Companies on the Porto to Lisbon Route?** No — unlike some European corridors served by several competing train companies, this route has a single train operator, Comboios de Portugal (CP), running both Alfa Pendular and Intercidades. **Where do I book train tickets for this route?** Unlike corridors served by multiple train companies, this route has a single train operator, CP, so tickets typically arrive as an e-ticket regardless of service. Search above to compare both with no extra booking fees. **Do I need a seat reservation?** Yes — mandatory on all long-distance trains in Portugal, included automatically with every ticket. **What amenities does the Alfa Pendular train offer?** As one of Portugal's fast trains: free wifi, power outlets, air conditioning, and comfortable seats in both travel classes, plus a café-bar. **Is the train faster than driving or taking the bus from Porto to Lisbon?** Usually yes — on the Lisbon Porto corridor, the train is close to driving time (2h50), shorter than the average bus journey (3h15), and it drops you in the city center at both ends. **Is there a suburban train I should know about, like Rossio station?** Yes — Portugal's Rossio station handles Lisbon's suburban Sintra line, a separate, shorter-distance train from the Porto to Lisbon service. --- Book tickets: https://highspeedtrains.com