Lisbon to Porto by Train: 2026 Prices, Times and Tickets

Lisbon to Porto is the trip almost everyone makes on a first visit to Portugal, and the train is the easiest way to do it: about three hours, centre to centre, with no airport queues. Here’s how to choose your train, book it, find the right station and arrive in the right part of Porto.

Quick answer: take the Alfa Pendular (about 2h50–3h, standard fare €35.70) if you want the fastest and most comfortable ride, or the Intercidades (about 3h15–3h30, standard fare €28.05) to save a bit. Book on the CP website or app, ideally a few weeks ahead for promo fares.

Alfa Pendular vs Intercidades

	Alfa Pendular (AP)	Intercidades (IC)
Journey time	About 2h50–3h	About 3h15–3h30
Standard fare (2026)	€35.70 (Turística class)	€28.05 (2nd class)
Comfort	Newer, quieter, power sockets, café	Older but comfortable
Stops	Fewer, including Coimbra-B, Aveiro and Gaia	More towns along the way
Best for	Speed and comfort	Saving money

Fares from January 2026, standard one-way. Promo fares are often much cheaper if you book early, and there are discounts for children, young people aged 25 and under, and over-65s. Both trains also have a first class for a bit more, with wider seats: on the Alfa Pendular it’s called Conforto, and the full fare is €49.90 in 2026. Times vary by train, so check the exact journey time when you book.

Promo fares and flash sales

CP’s Promo fares take up to 65% off AP and IC tickets on a limited number of seats per train. You need to book at least five days ahead, and the cheapest seats go first on popular days. Promo tickets usually can’t be refunded.

A few times a year CP also runs flash sales with up to 80% off. In 2026, Lisbon to Porto on the Alfa Pendular was offered from €7.50 in Turística, first for travel in early May and again for 8 to 28 October. These sales usually need booking at least 10 days ahead and are sold only on cp.pt, the CP app and ticket machines. Watch CP’s website if your dates are flexible.

Where the trains leave from in Lisbon

Most Lisbon to Porto trains start at Santa Apolónia (by the river, near Alfama) and stop at Oriente (Parque das Nações, next to the metro red line). Board at whichever is closer. Oriente is handy if you’re coming from the airport, just a few metro stops away. Santa Apolónia is on the blue metro line and is easier from Baixa and Alfama.

Where you arrive in Porto

Trains arrive at Porto Campanhã, about 2km east of the historic centre. Don’t stop there:

• Hop on a local train to São Bento, the beautiful tiled station in the centre. It’s a 4-minute ride and included in your ticket if you booked to Porto, as long as you take it within about an hour of arriving. Trains run often, and any train heading for São Bento will do.
• Or take the metro from Campanhã to Trindade and the centre.
• Or grab an Uber, Bolt or taxi, especially with heavy bags. See Uber vs Bolt vs taxi.

If you’re staying south of the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, near the port cellars, the AP and IC also stop at Vila Nova de Gaia station a few minutes before Campanhã. It’s not right by the river, though, so check the distance to your hotel.

What the journey is like

Leaving Lisbon, the line follows the wide Tagus estuary, then runs north through farmland and small towns. Near Espinho it runs close to the sea, and at the very end it crosses high over the Douro into Porto, so have your camera ready on the left.

Breaking the journey

The line runs through some of Portugal’s best stops, so it’s easy to split the trip.

• Coimbra: fast trains stop at Coimbra-B, outside the centre. Coimbra-A station closed in January 2025, so take the bus link or the Metrobus into town. See Coimbra.
• Aveiro: the station is a short walk from the canals. CP lists no luggage lockers at Aveiro station, so leave bags at your hotel or use a storage app. See Aveiro.
• Tickets: buy two separate tickets (Lisbon to Coimbra, then Coimbra to Porto). It usually costs only a little more.

How to book

• Online: the official CP website or the CP app. You’ll get an e-ticket with a QR code to show the conductor.
• When: tickets go on sale 60 days ahead and can be bought online until shortly before departure. Book early for the cheapest promo fares, especially on Fridays, Sundays and in summer.
• At the station: ticket offices and machines sell tickets on the day, but popular trains do sell out.
• Seats are reserved on both AP and IC. Your carriage (carruagem) and seat (lugar) are on the ticket.

Tips from our groups

• Pick your side. Heading north, sit on the right for views of the Tagus as you leave Lisbon, or on the left for the sea near Espinho and the Douro as you reach Porto.
• Arrive 10–15 minutes early. Platforms are announced late and trains don’t wait.
• Luggage goes in racks at the end of the carriage or overhead. There are no weight limits, but you carry it yourself.
• Bring snacks. The AP has a café carriage; the IC may only have a trolley, if anything.
• Strikes: CP strikes happen a few times a year. Check the news the day before, and if your train is cancelled, CP usually refunds or rebooks you.

Train vs bus vs car vs flying

• Bus (Rede Expressos or FlixBus): about 3h15 to 3h45, often cheaper, and leaves from different stations. See Lisbon to Porto by bus.
• Car: about 3 hours on the A1, which has tolls (€25.05 each way for a car in 2026). Good if you’re stopping at Coimbra, Aveiro or Óbidos on the way. See our car rental guide.
• Flying: rarely worth it once you add airport time.

When you get to Porto

• See getting around Porto (Andante card tips) and our Douro Valley wine tours.
• Questions about Porto? Ask the members of Porto Travel Tips.
• Find somewhere to stay in Porto.

FAQ

How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?

About 2h50 to 3h on the Alfa Pendular and about 3h15 to 3h30 on the Intercidades, depending on the stops. Trains run every hour or two through the day.

How far ahead should I book?

Tickets go on sale 60 days ahead. Promo fares need booking at least five days ahead and sell out on busy days, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Is first class worth it?

Conforto on the Alfa Pendular gives you wider seats and more space for about €14 more at full fare. With promo fares the gap can be small, so compare both classes when you book.

Does my ticket cover the train to São Bento?

Yes. A ticket to Porto includes the local train from Campanhã to São Bento within about an hour of arriving.

See also: Porto as a day trip from Lisbon, 5 days in Portugal and Interrail and rail passes in Portugal.

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