Lisbon to Porto Train
Portugal's busiest intercity line runs 337 km up the Linha do Norte — from the light of the Tejo to the tiled halls of the Douro — in under three hours, with the fastest Lisbon to Porto train taking about 2h42 and departures running roughly hourly. Here's every time, fare, class, station and booking tip you need to choose between the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades.
The Lisbon to Porto train route
One line, the Linha do Norte, carries both of CP's fast services the full 337 km between Portugal's two biggest cities. Opened in stages from the 1860s and now largely electrified, it is the busiest railway in the country — and the Lisbon to Porto train runs it as a direct, city-to-city journey with no change of train.
Tejo to Douro in under three hours
The Alfa Pendular tilts through the curves of the Linha do Norte at up to 220 km/h, linking Lisbon and Porto in about 2h42 — direct, with no change of train between Santa Apolónia/Oriente and Campanhã. The Intercidades runs the same line in about 3h07, and departures leave roughly hourly from early morning until late evening, so you rarely wait long.
From Santa Apolónia to São Bento's blue tiles
The northbound ride ends where Portugal's railways are at their most beautiful — the azulejo-lined hall of Porto São Bento, four minutes beyond Campanhã.
Book the ride north →Lisbon and Porto train stations
Train travel between Lisbon and Porto is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), with most long-distance trains departing from Lisboa Santa Apolónia or Lisboa Oriente and always arriving on the eastern edge of Porto — check which station your ticket shows before you travel.
Leaving Lisbon
Santa Apolónia is the central riverside terminus, walkable from Alfama and on the blue metro line. Lisbon's oldest station, opened in 1865, it's where many services start. Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 1100-278 Lisboa
Lisboa Oriente (Gare do Oriente), built for Expo '98 in 1998, is 8 km north-east by the Parque das Nações, handiest for the airport and the red metro line — nearly every Lisbon to Porto train calls here a few minutes after Santa Apolónia, so you can join at whichever is closer. Tickets can be bought online or at station ticket offices and machines, and booking early wins the best prices. Address: Av. Dom João II, 1990-233 Lisboa
Arriving in Porto
Porto Campanhã is the long-distance station on the city's east side and the main arrival point for trains from Lisbon, also on the Porto metro. Every Lisbon to Porto train terminates here, and the station has ticket desks, machines, cafés and left-luggage if you need them. Address: Largo da Estação, 4300-171 Porto
For the centre, hop the free suburban shuttle to São Bento — every 5–15 minutes, about 4 minutes, and it drops you inside the famous azulejo-tiled hall by the Ribeira and Clérigos.
Reaching the Lisbon to Porto train — and leaving it
Half of a smooth Lisbon to Porto train trip is the bit before and after the platform. Here's how the two stations connect to airports, metros and the city centres at each end.
From Lisbon Airport (LIS), take the red metro line four stops to Oriente and board there — it's faster than heading into town for Santa Apolónia. Santa Apolónia sits on the blue metro line and a short walk from Alfama and the riverside, so it's the better choice if you're already staying central. Both stations have ticket machines, staffed desks, luggage lockers and cafés, and trains usually open for boarding 15–20 minutes before departure.
Porto Campanhã is a five-minute metro ride or the free rail shuttle from the centre, so most travellers ride straight through to São Bento and step out among the tiles. From Campanhã the metro reaches the Bolhão and Trindade districts, the airport line runs across the city, the Campanhã coach terminal sits next door for onward buses, and taxis and ride-hailing wait outside. If your hotel is in Ribeira or near Clérigos, São Bento is the closer, prettier arrival.
Lisbon to Porto trains: Alfa Pendular vs Intercidades
Comboios de Portugal operates the two main train options on this route. The Alfa Pendular is faster and better equipped, so your train type choice affects speed and onboard comfort; the Intercidades is a little cheaper and stops more often. Both carry a 1st and a 2nd class.
The fast tilting train
- ≈2h42 Lisbon to Porto on this high-speed train, up to 220 km/h
- Onboard amenities include free WiFi and a power socket at every seat
- Café-bar; quieter, fully reserved coaches
- Classes: Conforto (first class) & Turística (2nd), spacious seating on both
from about $34 · up to ~$76 on the day
Check Alfa Pendular faresThe classic intercity
- ≈3h07 Lisbon to Porto, the slightly slower intercity option with a few more stops
- Café-bar; power sockets mainly in 1st class
- Adds Santarém, Entroncamento & Gaia
- Classes: 1ª classe & 2ª classe
from about $33 · up to ~$60 on the day
Check Intercidades fares| Service | Type | Fastest time | From (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Pendular (AP) | High-speed | ≈2h42 | from ~$34 · up to ~$76 |
| Intercidades (IC) | Intercity | ≈3h07 | from ~$33 · up to ~$60 |
Booking the Lisbon to Porto train
Fares are per person and rise as trains fill. A little planning turns a ~$76 day-of fare into a ~$33 advance seat.
Book about 60 days out
Aim to book up to 60 days ahead, when the cheapest fares appear — the Intercidades often from about $33 and the Alfa Pendular from about $34 per person. The lowest fares are limited and sell first, so early booking is the biggest saving on the Lisbon to Porto train: a high-speed seat that is about $34 weeks out can climb toward $76 when bought on the day.
Pick Alfa Pendular for speed, IC for price
The AP is ~20 minutes quicker with WiFi and power at every seat; the Intercidades costs a few dollars less. On the cheapest Promo fares the price gap almost disappears — so grab whichever fast train has a cheap seat left for your time.
Join at Oriente for the airport
Flying into Lisbon? Board at Lisboa Oriente rather than backtracking to Santa Apolónia — it's on the airport metro line and nearly every northbound train stops there, saving you a detour into the centre with your luggage.
Book a return if your dates are set
Fares are priced per leg, so locking in both directions early lands the cheapest seats on the popular Friday-out, Sunday-back pattern before prices climb toward the day-of fare.
Ride through to São Bento
Your Campanhã ticket includes the free 4-minute shuttle onward to São Bento — don't pay for a taxi into the centre when the tiled station is a free four-minute train away, and São Bento itself is worth a look before you leave.
Know the honest limits
The scenery is gentle farmland, not a coastal spectacle, and strikes occasionally hit CP services. Check the day's running before travelling, keep an eye out for announced CP strike dates, and download entertainment for the ride so a quiet stretch of the Linha do Norte flies by.
Lisbon to Porto by train, plane, bus or car
The Lisbon to Porto train wins for most travellers on time, price and comfort combined — but here's the honest comparison so you can choose for your trip.
| Mode | Centre-to-centre time | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Alfa Pendular) | ≈2h42 | $34–$76 | City centre to city centre, WiFi and power, no security queue |
| Train (Intercidades) | ≈3h07 | $33–$60 | A little slower and cheaper |
| Plane | ≈3h30+ door to door | $40–$120 | 55-min flight, but two airport transfers, check-in and security |
| Bus (Rede Expressos / FlixBus) | ≈3h30 | $8–$25 | Cheapest, but slower and no city-centre comfort |
| Car | ≈3h00 | Fuel + tolls ~$60 | Flexible for side-trips, but A1 tolls and Porto parking add up |
Flying looks quick on paper — the hop is under an hour — but once you add the metro to the airport, bag drop, security and the wait, the Lisbon to Porto train is usually faster in practice and drops you in the heart of each city. The bus is a few dollars cheaper than a walk-up train fare, yet an advance Promo train ticket often undercuts it while saving half an hour. Driving only pays off if you're touring the Silver Coast or the Douro afterwards, since central Porto is no place for a car.
Which Lisbon to Porto train ticket to buy, and when
The line is priced dynamically, so the same seat can cost about $33 or $76 depending on how far ahead you book and how full the train is. On highspeedtrains.com every fare is shown per person before you pay.
Promo fares
The cheapest fares — the Intercidades from about $33 and the Alfa Pendular from about $34 per person — are released about 60 days ahead in limited numbers, non-refundable and tied to one train. Grab these the moment your date is fixed; they go first on Friday and Sunday departures. Travelling mid-morning or midday, or checking different dates, improves your chances of a lower price.
Base fares
The flexible walk-up fare, sold right up to departure — expect around $60 on the Intercidades and up to about $76 on a busy Alfa Pendular. Changeable and refundable for a fee, so worth the extra if your plans might shift. This is roughly what you pay if you simply turn up at the station.
Cards & passes
A youth or senior CP card trims fares if you travel often, and Interrail/Eurail passes cover the Lisbon to Porto train with a small reservation fee. For a single return, though, an advance Promo ticket through the search above is usually simpler and cheaper.
Timing matters as much as the fare type. Mid-morning and early-afternoon departures are the quietest and cheapest; the Friday-evening and Sunday-evening trains between Lisbon and Porto fill with weekend travellers and students, and around Easter, August and Christmas whole days can sell out. Book one to four weeks ahead for the best mix of price and choice of departure.
Onboard the Lisbon to Porto train
Both trains are built for a comfortable three-hour ride rather than luxury, and the Alfa Pendular in particular is among the best-equipped intercity trains in the country. Here's what to expect once you're aboard.
WiFi & power
Free WiFi and a socket at every seat on the Alfa Pendular. On Intercidades, sockets sit mainly in 1st class and WiFi isn't guaranteed, so it's worth downloading maps, tickets and something to watch before you board.
Café-bar
Both services carry a café-bar for coffee, pastéis and snacks. There's no full restaurant car, so bring a meal if you want more than a light bite on the ride between Lisbon and Porto.
Seating & classes
Conforto/1st is 1+2 with more room and at-seat comfort; Turística/2nd is a roomy 2+2, with spacious seating on both trains. A seat reservation is included when you book, tied to a specific train, so there is no standing and no scramble for a place — you board knowing exactly where you're sitting.
Luggage
Overhead racks plus end-of-car space for larger cases. There's no checked-baggage service — you carry and stow your own bags — so travel light enough to lift them, especially when changing to the metro or shuttle at Porto Campanhã.
Accessibility
Both trains have wheelchair spaces and accessible WCs; CP's assistance can be pre-booked at the station, and Campanhã and Oriente are step-free. Families travel easily too, with room for buggies and reduced fares for young children.
Bikes
Folded bikes travel free; assembled bikes are limited on these long-distance services, so check space when you book.
Lisbon to Porto train — frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?
The fastest Alfa Pendular covers Lisbon to Porto in about 2 hours 42 minutes over the 337 km Linha do Norte, reaching 220 km/h on the best stretches. The slower Intercidades takes around 3 hours 7 minutes because it calls at more stations. Both run roughly every hour or two through the day.
How much does the Lisbon to Porto train cost?
On highspeedtrains.com, Lisbon to Porto fares are shown per person and change with demand. The Intercidades (Intercity) starts from about $33 (up to around $60 when bought on the day), while the faster Alfa Pendular (high-speed) runs from about $34 up to around $76 at peak. Booking early secures the lowest fares.
What is the difference between Alfa Pendular and Intercidades?
The Alfa Pendular is CP's flagship tilting train: faster (about 2h42), with free WiFi and power at every seat, a café-bar and two classes, Conforto and Turística. The Intercidades is the classic intercity service — a little slower and cheaper, with more stops and power sockets mainly in 1st class. Both run the same Lisbon–Porto line.
Which station does the Lisbon to Porto train arrive at in Porto?
Long-distance trains from Lisbon arrive at Porto Campanhã, the main arrival point on the eastern edge of the city. From there a free connecting urban train runs every 5–15 minutes and takes about 4 minutes to Porto São Bento in the city centre, the station famous for its blue-and-white azulejo tile murals. Campanhã is also on the Porto metro.
Do I need to book Lisbon to Porto train tickets in advance?
Every seat is reserved, so each ticket is tied to a specific train. You can turn up and buy for the next departure, but the cheap Promo fares sell out first and popular trains fill on Friday and Sunday evenings and holidays. Booking one to four weeks ahead usually secures both a seat and a lower fare.
Is there WiFi on the Lisbon to Porto train?
Yes on the Alfa Pendular — free WiFi and a power socket at every seat, plus a café-bar. On the Intercidades, WiFi is not guaranteed and power sockets are mainly in 1st class, so download anything important before boarding.
Does the Lisbon to Porto train stop in Coimbra?
The fast Lisbon to Porto trains run direct, with no change of train between Lisboa Santa Apolónia or Oriente and Porto Campanhã. The Linha do Norte also runs through Coimbra and Aveiro, but the fast through trains are booked as a single direct journey.
Which side of the Lisbon to Porto train has the best views?
The line runs mostly through farmland, pine and eucalyptus, with views of the Portuguese countryside and small villages rather than dramatic scenery. Heading north, the left-hand side gives occasional glimpses of the Atlantic near Aveiro and its lagoon, while the approach into Porto crosses the Douro with city views. It is a comfortable ride rather than a scenic railway.
How often do trains run between Lisbon and Porto?
Between the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, trains run from early morning until late evening, with one to two departures an hour through most of the day. The first train is usually around 6:00 AM, and there are roughly 15 to 19 daily departures from Lisbon to Porto depending on the date, with extra services at peak weekend times — so you're rarely waiting long, though the cheapest seats on the busiest departures still sell out first.
Can I take luggage or a bike on the Lisbon to Porto train?
Luggage travels free with no strict weight limit — you stow your own bags on the overhead racks or the larger shelves at the ends of each coach, so pack what you can lift. Folding bikes travel free in a bag; full-size assembled bikes are restricted on these long-distance services, so check when you book if you're bringing one.
Where does the Lisbon to Porto train leave from in Lisbon?
Most long-distance trains depart from Lisboa Santa Apolónia or Lisboa Oriente, calling at both a few minutes apart. You can board at whichever is more convenient — Oriente is best if you're arriving from the airport on the red metro line, while Santa Apolónia has the more central location if you're already in the historic centre.
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