2 Weeks in Portugal by Train (No Car Needed)

You don’t need a car to see Portugal. Comfortable trains link Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve, with buses and boats filling the gaps. Here’s our two-week Portugal itinerary by train and public transport, from north to south.

Quick answer: Porto (4 nights) with the Douro by train, Coimbra or Aveiro (1 night), Lisbon (5 nights) with Sintra and Cascais, then the train to the Algarve (4 nights) in Lagos or Tavira. Book Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains early for promo fares, and fly into Porto and home from Faro.

Why go by train

Portugal’s main line runs down the coast from Porto to Lisbon and on to the Algarve, so the country’s big three regions sit on one route. Trains are cheap compared with northern Europe, you skip motorway tolls and city parking, and the scenic Douro line is one of the best train rides in Europe. Most moves on this route take three hours or less.

The trains you’ll use

• Alfa Pendular: the fastest trains, linking Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon and Faro. Seats are reserved.
• Intercidades: slightly slower long-distance trains on the same main routes, also with reserved seats and usually a little cheaper.
• Regional and urban trains: for the Douro, Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, Sintra and Cascais. No reservations: buy your ticket and get on.

Days 1–4: Porto and the Douro

• Days 1–2: Porto’s highlights: the Ribeira riverside, São Bento station’s tiles and the port cellars across the river in Gaia. See 3 days in Porto.
• Day 3: the scenic train to Pinhão in the Douro (about 2.5 hours from São Bento), a river cruise and a tasting. Sit on the right-hand side heading upriver for the best views. See the Douro without a tour.
• Day 4: Braga and Guimarães by urban train, each about an hour from São Bento. Pick one if you want a slower day. See Braga and Guimarães.

Douro trains are regional, so seats can’t be reserved. In summer, board early at São Bento to get a seat on the river side. On summer weekends (6 June to 18 October in 2026, plus some Wednesdays), a historic train pulled by a diesel locomotive runs from Régua to Tua and back, stopping at Pinhão. Tickets cost about €60 for adults. See Pinhão.

Day 5: Coimbra or Aveiro

Break the journey south in the old university town of Coimbra or the canal town of Aveiro. Coimbra is about an hour from Porto on the fast train, and Aveiro is on the same line. In Coimbra, fast trains stop at Coimbra-B, outside the centre. Coimbra-A station in town closed in January 2025. Since 10 September 2026, the Metrobus has run from Coimbra-B to the centre and Praça da República, or you can take a taxi. See Coimbra and Aveiro.

In Coimbra, book a time slot for the university’s Joanina Library, then walk down through the old town to the river. In Aveiro, take a short boat trip on the canals and the local bus to the striped houses of Costa Nova. See the Coimbra University guide.

Days 6–10: Lisbon and around

• Days 6–7: Lisbon: Alfama, the castle, Belém and a ride on tram 28. Belém Tower reopened on 27 May 2026 with timed entry, so book a slot. See 2 days in Lisbon.
• Day 8: Sintra by train from Rossio, about 40 minutes. Go early to beat the queues at the palaces. See Lisbon to Sintra.
• Day 9: Cascais by train along the coast from Cais do Sodré, about 40 minutes, with stops for beaches on the way. See Cascais.
• Day 10: Óbidos by express bus from Campo Grande (about an hour), or Fátima. See Óbidos.

Use the Navegante card for metro, trams and the Sintra and Cascais trains. See day trips from Lisbon by train for more ideas.

Don’t try the train to Óbidos: there have been no trains on the Oeste line since storm Kristin in January 2026, and reopening is planned in stages from late 2026. For Fátima, the bus from Lisbon is far handier than the train, as Fátima station is a long way from the town. If you prefer a train day, Évora is about 1.5 hours away by Intercidades. See Évora from Lisbon. On the Cascais line, 2026 works mean replacement buses between Caxias and Cascais in the evenings.

Days 11–14: The Algarve

• Day 11: train from Lisbon to Faro (about 3 hours), then on to Lagos or Tavira on the Algarve line. For Lagos, most travellers change at Tunes. The whole Algarve line has run electric trains since July 2026, with more direct links between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António.
• Days 12–13: boat trips to Benagil and Ponta da Piedade, beaches and Sagres by bus. In Tavira, take the little ferry to Ilha de Tavira for the beach. See Algarve boat trips.
• Day 14: fly home from Faro. Buses and taxis link Faro station and the airport.

At Benagil, you can no longer swim to the cave or land on its beach. Since August 2024, you can only see it from a boat, or by kayak with a licensed guide.

Lagos or Tavira?

• Lagos: dramatic cliffs, boat trips, lively bars and easy buses to Sagres.
• Tavira: a quieter, prettier town with island beaches and good train links along the coast.

Train tips

• Book on cp.pt or the CP app up to 60 days ahead. Promo fares on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades are limited, so the earlier the better.
• Flash sales: CP runs occasional campaigns with big discounts on Alfa Pendular seats, usually for tickets bought at least 10 days ahead. Discounted tickets are hard to change or refund.
• Stations: Porto Campanhã and Lisbon Santa Apolónia or Oriente for fast trains. Algarve trains leave from Oriente, not Santa Apolónia.
• Classes: Turística (standard) is comfortable enough. Conforto (first) costs more but is quieter.
• Luggage: there’s space at the ends of each carriage and above the seats. Travel light if you can.
• Strikes happen, so check the day before.
• See the Portugal train guide.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are ideal: warm, with fewer crowds and lower hotel prices. In July and August, book trains and the Douro accommodation well ahead, and expect busy Algarve beaches.

FAQ

Do you need to book trains in Portugal in advance?

For Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, yes, as seats are reserved and early tickets are cheaper. Regional and urban trains, such as those to Sintra, Cascais and the Douro, don’t take reservations.

Can you do this route from south to north?

Yes. Fly into Faro and home from Porto, and run the days in reverse.

How do you get from Lisbon to Lagos by train?

Take an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades train from Lisbon towards Faro and change at Tunes for the regional train to Lagos.

Prefer to drive?

See our two-week Portugal road trip.

See also: 2 weeks in Portugal by car.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.