Porto Day Trip from Lisbon: Is It Worth It?

Can you visit Porto as a day trip from Lisbon? Yes. Fast trains take about three hours each way, so it’s a long but rewarding day. Here’s how to plan it, what to see, and why you might want to stay overnight instead.

Quick answer: take an early Alfa Pendular train from Lisbon (Santa Apolónia or Oriente) to Porto Campanhã (about 3 hours), then a short connection to São Bento. Spend 7 to 8 hours seeing Ribeira, the Dom Luís I Bridge, a port cellar and the Clérigos Tower, and take an evening train back. Organised day tours also run from Lisbon. See Porto day trips from Lisbon.

Why go

Porto feels quite different from Lisbon. It’s smaller, greyer in stone, steeper, and more down to earth, with port wine lodges lining the river and tiled churches on every hill. If your trip is based in Lisbon and you can’t fit in a night up north, a day trip still gives you a real taste of the city.

Getting there

• Train: the fastest and most comfortable option. Book Alfa Pendular tickets early for the best fares. See Lisbon to Porto by train.
• Which train: the Alfa Pendular takes just under three hours. The Intercidades takes a little longer and is often cheaper. Both usually stop at Lisbon Oriente, Coimbra-B and Porto Campanhã. Book on the CP website or app.
• Into the centre: from Campanhã, take a CP urban train to São Bento, which takes about five minutes, or the metro. Your long-distance ticket may cover the urban train connection, so check when you book.
• Bus: Rede Expressos and FlixBus run between the two cities. It’s usually cheaper but slower than the train, at about 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes.
• Tour: includes transport and a guide, and some stop in Coimbra or Óbidos on the way.
• Flight: short, but with airport transfers it isn’t much faster than the train.
• Driving: about three hours on the A1 toll motorway, but parking in central Porto is difficult and the day becomes very tiring. The train is better.

Stations and connections

In Lisbon, Santa Apolónia is the first stop and is on the blue metro line. Oriente, the next stop, is on the red line and is the easier choice if you are staying near the airport or Parque das Nações. In Porto, the trains from Lisbon stop at Campanhã, east of the centre, not at São Bento. Urban trains run frequently between the two, and the metro from Campanhã reaches Bolhão and Trindade in the Baixa in a few minutes. Rede Expressos buses from Lisbon use the Campanhã bus terminal, next to the station. See Porto public transport.

Porto in a day

Follow our Porto in one day plan: São Bento station, the cathedral, Ribeira, across the bridge to Gaia for a port tasting, then up to the Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello. See São Bento and the Dom Luís I Bridge.

A sample timetable

• Early morning: leave Lisbon on one of the first trains of the day.
• Late morning: arrive at São Bento and look at the tile panels in the entrance hall. Walk up to the cathedral terrace for your first view over the rooftops.
• Lunch: walk down through the old streets to Ribeira and eat by the river, or try a francesinha, Porto’s famous sandwich.
• Early afternoon: cross the lower deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge to Gaia for a port cellar visit. See the best port cellars in Gaia.
• Late afternoon: walk back over the top deck for the view, then head to the Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello.
• Evening: take the urban train or metro back to Campanhã for your return train.

The climb from the Gaia riverside back up to the top deck is steep. The Gaia cable car does it in a few minutes for a small fare. On the Porto side, the Guindais funicular has been suspended since July 2026, so allow time to walk up from Ribeira.

What to skip on a day trip

With only seven or eight hours, leave out the sights that need a separate trip: the beaches at Foz and Matosinhos, the Serralves museum and the Douro Valley. Pick one paid sight, either Lello or the Clérigos Tower, if the queues are long. The Clérigos Tower usually costs about €10, depending on the ticket.

Is it worth it?

• Yes, if you only have a few days in Portugal and really want to see Porto.
• The catch: you’ll spend about six hours on trains, and you’ll miss Porto in the evening, when the riverside is at its best.
• Better: stay at least one night, or travel one way and continue your trip from Porto. See where to stay in Porto.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months for a long walking day. Summer is busy, and train fares and Lello slots sell out faster. In winter, days are short, so you’ll be heading back in the dark, but the city is quieter. If you can, avoid the night of 23 June unless you plan to stay for the São João festival, when trains and the city are packed.

Tips

• Book timed tickets for Livraria Lello in advance. The ticket price can be put towards a book.
• Book a return seat: evening trains back to Lisbon can sell out on Fridays and Sundays.
• Comfortable shoes: Porto is very hilly.
• Allow a buffer: leave at least 30 minutes to get from the centre back to Campanhã.
• Stop in Coimbra on the way back if you stay longer. See the Coimbra day trip. Fast trains stop at Coimbra-B, outside the centre. Coimbra-A closed in January 2025, so take the bus link or the Metrobus into town.

FAQ

How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?

The Alfa Pendular takes just under three hours from Lisbon to Porto Campanhã. The Intercidades takes a little longer.

Is a day trip from Lisbon to Porto worth it?

It’s worth it if it’s your only chance to see Porto, but you’ll spend about six hours on trains. One night in Porto makes the trip far more relaxed.

Which Porto station do trains from Lisbon use?

Porto Campanhã. From there, a short urban train ride takes you to São Bento in the centre.

Can you fly from Lisbon to Porto for the day?

Yes, but once you add airport transfers and security, it’s rarely faster than the train, and the train drops you closer to the centre.

More: Porto vs Lisbon and the best day trips from Lisbon.

See also: Lisbon to Porto by bus.

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