By train from Lisbon to Porto

[Anneshie]

Hello,

We are walking from Porto to Santiago starting May 12, 2012. I did not know that there are
about 4 different routes to Santiago, we are leaning towards taking the coastal route, but will decide when we get there, and whether the wind is blowing or not.

My questions is about traveling from Lisbon to Porto. I want to do it by train, but don't feel
like booking ahead, as I want to sight see in Lisbon, and don't know my exact dates/times for Porto.

Must it be done before the time, or can I just hop on a train once I am done seeing Lisbon?
And; apparently there are more than one train service going from Lisbon to Porto, I guess I can
just ask at the check in desk?

Thanks all

Anne

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi Anne,

You should be able to just turn up and purchase before travelling. I certainly was able to when travelling from Porto to Valenca. The current cost between Lisbon and Porto is EUR 24 or EUR 30 depending on the speed of the service. There may be some discount for buying in advance on the web but then you may have to specify the train.

The current weekday timetable is shown below and the Portugese Rail website is http://www.cp.pt



Regards
Mig

 

[peregrina2000]

Wow, Miguel, I am always in awe of people who can copy and past things from the web into a posting. The only thing I would add for Anne is that the times you have shown are the departure time for the Lisbon-Oriente train station. That station is further inland along the Tejo, north of Lisbon by about 10 kms. If you are actually visiting Lisbon and want to take the train, you will go to the Santa Apolonia train station, which is also on the river but essentially in downtown. The trains leave a few minutes earlier from Santa Apolonia, I think it's only about 7 minutes to Oriente.

I have done that trip a few times and never had a problem getting on a train to Porto from Lisbon at the last mintue.

The only thing I'm not 100% sure about is whether ALL trains start in Santa Apolonia or whether some originate in Oriente. But you can be sure there are plenty of trains going to Porto from the downtown station.

Buen camino! Laurie

 

[miguel_gp]

Oops . Laurie you are completely correct. All trains appear to originate at the downtown station roughly 10 mins before. Updated timetable below.

Thanks for spotting the oversight.

Mig

 

[Anneshie]

Thanks so much, I feel much better now, knowing I don't have to book anything. And thanks for the time table.
Much appreciated

Anne

 

[miguel_gp]

No problem but make sure that you check on the cp.pt website nearer to your date of departure as timetable currently only goes to mid-March.

Buen Camino
Mig

 

[ouroboros]

Which Station in Porto is the best one to go to to find pilgrim accomodations and a pilgrim office to get our credencials officially stamped?
Thanks!

Looking forward to walking the Camino Portugese in May of this year!

 

[peregrina2000]

Which Station in Porto is the best one to go to to find pilgrim accomodations and a pilgrim office to get our credencials officially stamped?
Thanks!

Looking forward to walking the Camino Portugese in May of this year!

Hi, ouroboros,
There is no pilgrim office in Porto. And I believe there is only one train station (it is a beauty by the way, with gorgeous historical scenes done in blue and white tiles). I suppose the most "official" stamp you can get in Porto is at the cathedral, but you can get stamps (carimbo, in Portuguese) from many bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.

A very up to date list of albergues is on the Via Lusitana website:

http://www.vialusitana.org/caminho-portugues/albergues/

There are, as of just last year, I believe, now several pilgrim-specific places in Porto, here's a link to one of them: http://www.albergueperegrinosporto.pt

Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[JCLima]

There are two train stations in Porto:
- São Bento, the beautiful one and the one you should go to if you're looking for accommodation, restaurants, cathedral, etc
- Campanhã, "outside" the city where, sometimes, you might need to change trains, depending on where you are going to / coming from

If I'm not mistaken (and I might be) Lisbon does not have direct trains to Porto - São Bento
You go from Lisbon to Porto - Campanhã and then you take another train to Porto - São Bento (4 min ride)

 

[peregrina2000]

There are two train stations in Porto:
- São Bento, the beautiful one and the one you should go to if you're looking for accommodation, restaurants, cathedral, etc
- Campanhã, "outside" the city where, sometimes, you might need to change trains, depending on where you are going to / coming from

If I'm not mistaken (and I might be) Lisbon does not have direct trains to Porto - São Bento
You go from Lisbon to Porto - Campanhã and then you take another train to Porto - São Bento (4 min ride)

Thanks for the accurate information, JCLima. I am virtually certain I took a train from the tiled train station to Lisbon. Where is Campanha?

 

[JCLima]

I am virtually certain I took a train from the tiled train station to Lisbon.

It is possible As I said, I may be mistaken especially because I've never done that trip myself.

I've always been under the impression that you have to do, at least, one train change to do Lisboa -> São Bento. It's just one of those things I think I know but maybe (and apparently) I don't. ahaha

Where is Campanha?

Campanhã is the first stop for every train leaving São Bento (see the attachment)
In the image, you can see the rail goes from São Bento to Campanhã and then goes up, or down, depending on the direction you need to go.

 

[jsalt]

Hi, I usually take the bus between Porto and Lisbon, but the one time I took the train I had to get it at Campanha.
Jill

 

[ouroboros]

Thanks so much for all your help!
Perhaps the bus would be a good option from Lisbon to Porto.
I was told to look for RENEX bus company.

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Thanks so much for all your help!
Perhaps the bus would be a good option from Lisbon to Porto.
I was told to look for RENEX bus company.

The train journey from Lisbon is wonderful and the view as you first glimpse Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia when crossing over the Douro river on the high bridge is a sight you will never forget - unless it's foggy that day.

 

[ouroboros]

The train journey from Lisbon is wonderful and the view as you first glimpse Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia when crossing over the Douro river on the high bridge is a sight you will never forget - unless it's foggy that day.

It is settled then! Must take the train!

 

[peregrina2000]

I agree that the views across the Douro on the high bridge are stunning. In fact, they are so good that it would be a shame to have those three minutes on the train be your only enjoyment of them. Whether you take the train or bus into Porto, you can easily get back across the upper level of the Dom Luis bridge, either on the tram (lots of stops in central Porto, including one at the Sao Bento train station) or walking. Bring a picnic to the Parque do Morro at the high edge of Vila Nova de Gaia (the town on the south side of the Douro River), and then walk down the little streets to the river's edge where you can visit some of the Port lodges.

The train journey from Lisbon is wonderful and the view as you first glimpse Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia when crossing over the Douro river on the high bridge is a sight you will never forget - unless it's foggy that day.

What I'm not sure of is whether the train goes across the upper level -- SEB, can you clarify? I thought that the only traffic on the upper level is pedestrian and tram. And I also recently learned that trains from Lisbon only stop at Campanha, not Sao Bento, and from there you have to hope on a local train into the center. Confusing!

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Yes, peregrina 2000, I had to change trains at Campanha for Sao Bento station. I have tried to check whether it is the Dom Luis bridge that the train to Sao Bento goes over but cannot confirm this. by the time I arrived in Porto I had been travelling for so many hours, including the Madrid night train to Lisbon, which, unless you can have a compartment to yourself, I could not recommend. I ended up leaving my shared compartment because of inconsiderate fellow travellers and going to the reclining seats coach - a night from hell!
Also, when you arrive at sao bento it is worth getting a card there for travel on the metro system in Porto, I didn't know this and repeatedly tried and failed to use the ticket machines at a metro station before being advised to go to the main station. Bom Caminho!

 

[JCLima]

What I'm not sure of is whether the train goes across the upper level -- SEB, can you clarify? I thought that the only traffic on the upper level is pedestrian and tram.

Trains have their own bridge: São João.
They do not cross D. Luís bridge.

(...) I have tried to check whether it is the Dom Luis bridge that the train to Sao Bento goes over but cannot confirm this. (...)

All trains leaving São Bento go through Campanhã and then, if they are heading south, they cross Douro through São João bridge.

 

[peregrina2000]

Trains have their own bridge: São João.
They do not cross D. Luís bridge.

All trains leaving São Bento go through Campanhã and then, if they are heading south, they cross Douro through São João bridge.

Thanks, JC Lima, I think you are the one who cleared up my mistake about the trains leaving from Sao Bento. I am sure I left from Sao Bento, but what I must have forgotten was that I had to take the tram from Sao Bento to Campanha and then changed onto the train to Lisbon there.