Train from Lisbon to Porto

[Kelmarchman]

I will be flying into Lisbon but starting the Camino in Porto. What is the fastest/easiest way to travel to Porto?

 

[Former member 91017]

Train is a nice and easy way, but it can require several hours of stop-over that you might not want. Look into commuter flights as your second option for speed and ease. If you had intended a few hours or more on layover, make sure you order a meal on the train; it will be brought directly to your seat and saves hassle on travel day.
That said, Portugal has been having some COV and strike distruptions over the last year or so that have made me cautious about booking/committing too far in advance.
Train site: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

 

[John Sikora]

'ss they say, check rome2rio.com.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Train is a nice and easy way, but it can require several hours of stop-over that you might not want. Look into commuter flights as your second option for speed and ease. If you had intended a few hours or more on layover, make sure you order a meal on the train; it will be brought directly to your seat and saves hassle on travel day.
That said, Portugal has been having some COV and strike distruptions over the last year or so that have made me cautious about booking/committing too far in advance.
Train site: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

Surprised to hear you can order a meal on the train. Have taken many trains in Portugal, all levels--local, intercity (medium-speed), and AlfaPendicular (not "high-speed" but direct with few stops.) All have had food cars, essentially café/bars with sandwiches etc. Have never seen a seat-delivered meal. Is this new?

 

[Anniesantiago]

If you've never been to Lisbon, it's worth a few days' visit.
So much to see there and in Fatima, Obidos, Sintra (worth a full day's visit).
Just sayin'

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I will be flying into Lisbon but starting the Camino in Porto. What is the fastest/easiest way to travel to Porto?

For a taste of the country and the countryside before you start walking, the train is definitely "it." As you leave the airport, you can descent into the metro, and just 3 stops on, at Oriente, you can make a direct transfer into the newer, Oriente train station.

Lisbon Metro Red Line - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Also, just "through" the train station on the old Expo site (Parque das Nações) is a shopping centre whose ground floor has an enormous supermarket with every kind of food you might want to take on the train with you.

 

[Former member 91017]

Surprised to hear you can order a meal on the train. Have taken many trains in Portugal, all levels--local, intercity (medium-speed), and AlfaPendicular (not "high-speed" but direct with few stops.) All have had food cars, essentially café/bars with sandwiches etc. Have never seen a seat-delivered meal. Is this new?

I don’t know if it is new/current (COV?) but I was able to pre-order my supper with my ticket for Lisbon to Coimbra in 2019, November. That train continued onward to Porto. Saved me needing to worry about my evening meal in Coimbra. Was a chicken and rice dish and arrived on a proper ceramic plate.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I don’t know if it is new/current (COV?) but I was able to pre-order my supper with my ticket for Lisbon to Coimbra in 2019, November. That train continued onward to Porto. Saved me needing to worry about my evening meal in Coimbra.

Wow. Must have been first class on the Alfa Pendicular. I've never seen this!

 

[Former member 91017]

Wow. Must have been first class on the Alfa Pendicular. I've never seen this!

As I recall it was just ordinary seating... full mostly of people commuting to home at the end of the workday. Alas, I cannot find my old digital ticket... But I know for sure that I don't do first class anything at the start of a trip... I don't have that kind of budget. I've only ever had one first class train trip on caminos and that was because it was the last seat available for an emergency return to home...

 

[Glenshiro]

I recall ordering a meal in advance on the Porto-Lisbon route, but that may have been in 1st class (not a lot more expensive. )
For up-to-date info, go to the man in seat 61

 

[Amused212]

Train is a nice and easy way, but it can require several hours of stop-over that you might not want. Look into commuter flights as your second option for speed and ease. If you had intended a few hours or more on layover, make sure you order a meal on the train; it will be brought directly to your seat and saves hassle on travel day.
That said, Portugal has been having some COV and strike distruptions over the last year or so that have made me cautious about booking/committing too far in advance.
Train site: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

The train link does not want to let me book a one-way ticket. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Amused212]

Train is a nice and easy way, but it can require several hours of stop-over that you might not want. Look into commuter flights as your second option for speed and ease. If you had intended a few hours or more on layover, make sure you order a meal on the train; it will be brought directly to your seat and saves hassle on travel day.
That said, Portugal has been having some COV and strike distruptions over the last year or so that have made me cautious about booking/committing too far in advance.
Train site: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

The website does not seem allow me to book a one-way train. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Molly Cassidy]

It seems to work for me. I just didn't fill in the return date and pressed search.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

It seems to work for me. I just didn't fill in the return date and pressed search.

Same here. Lots of trains! IC = Intercity; a few more stops and a bit cheaper. AP = Alfa Pendicular; a few minutes faster; a bit more expensive.

Remember that you can get tickets at 50% off, without pre-reserving, if you're over 65. You just show your passport when you buy the ticket, and tell the vendor you're a "reformado."

Lisboa - Oriente > Porto - Sao Bento is what you probably want. That's the downtown station, Porto.

Typical runs for a day, and virtually the same, any day:

Train times result

Timetables and prices search

www.cp.pt

And first class is not much different, though you can get a single seat on one side of the aisle, which you can't in second class. That may be worth it during these times. And I believe they'll expect you to wear a mask while on the train.

Bom caminho!

Edited: Oops! I see the train goes to Porto Campanha, and then you wait 8 minutes, and then transfer to Porto Sao Bento for a 4-minute run. You may, or may not, want to bother!

 

[Cicada]

I will be flying into Lisbon but starting the Camino in Porto. What is the fastest/easiest way to travel to Porto?

The train is very good ! If you happen to be a senior citizen from any country and have some sort of ID you can get quite a substantial discount .

 

[makingtrax]

Train is a nice and easy way, but it can require several hours of stop-over that you might not want. Look into commuter flights as your second option for speed and ease. If you had intended a few hours or more on layover, make sure you order a meal on the train; it will be brought directly to your seat and saves hassle on travel day.
That said, Portugal has been having some COV and strike distruptions over the last year or so that have made me cautious about booking/committing too far in advance.
Train site: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

Train can be as quick as 3 to 4 hours and lovely scenery. Would definitely travel that way. If u fly its takes a day by time u allow for airport transfers and waiting lines and baggage collection etc!

 

[Jscarm]

Wife and I are also flying to Lisbon and walking the Coastal trail out of Porto. Will spend a couple of nights in Lisbon then take the train to Porto. Will walk out of Porto on the 7th of May. Thanks for the heads up about the senior discount, that will help.

 

[Former member 91017]

Train can be as quick as 3 to 4 hours and lovely scenery. Would definitely travel that way. If u fly its takes a day by time u allow for airport transfers and waiting lines and baggage collection etc!

I agree. I didn't mind that I had a 5 or 6-hour layover in Lisbon to get the train as it allowed me to wander near the harbour at the train and to get some supplies at the grocery etc. have lunch in a little square...
But if a person is flying in, can stay at the airport and nab a quick flight it *could* work in their favour on a given day.
Train is definitely my preferred mode when it is available though.

 

[Compass Chris]

Get the bus. Takes from 3h15min. Cost under 23 euro. Book at flixbus. Buses are modern and comfortable.

 

[Suzanne H]

Agreed that bus service in Portugal is exceptional and I'd consider busing that route in the future.

In the before times, I also took the train from Lisbon to Portugal. It was a morning train ride, and it was PACKED full which made the ride slightly uncomfortable after a long international flight (redeye with no sleep...). First class tickets were sold out, as well. The transfer to the metro was seamless.

 

[Don Kim]

I will be flying into Lisbon but starting the Camino in Porto. What is the fastest/easiest way to travel to Porto?

Depend on how much time you have before the camino from Porto, I would suggest 2 days' sightseeing in Lisbon, take a train to Porto and another 2 days' walking tour in Porto before launching. This itinerary was for me in 2018 Spring time. Vigorous walking in those two cities were a good practice for the camino as well as memorable sightseeing. The only bad experience that I had was money (dollars and euros) was pickpocketed out of my back pack around Belem Tower in a beautiful sunny afternoon.

 

[Kelmarchman]

Train can be as quick as 3 to 4 hours and lovely scenery. Would definitely travel that way. If u fly its takes a day by time u allow for airport transfers and waiting lines and baggage collection etc!

Did you buy your train ticket in advance? If so how?

 

[Cicada]

Did you buy your train ticket in advance? If so how?

Just head to the railway station the day before you intend to leave!

 

[peregrina2000]

I would not spend my precious time visiting Lisbon by taking a trip to the train station, unless you happen to be in the area anyway. You can buy the tickets online.

CP - Comboios de Portugal

At CP - Comboios de Portugal, you can check train times and discounts and buy tickets online. Further details.

www.cp.pt

 

[Cicada]

I would not spend my precious time visiting Lisbon by taking a trip to the train station, unless you happen to be in the area anyway. You can buy the tickets online.

CP - Comboios de Portugal

At CP - Comboios de Portugal, you can check train times and discounts and buy tickets online. Further details.

www.cp.pt

Yes I agree it's a wonderful city to explore! I was just going by a past experience. We stayed in the Alfama district only a 10 minute walk to the railway station which is quite close to the river. I'm not sure if when buying tickets online that you can take advantage of the very generous discount available to seniors. I think we paid €25 each back in 2018. There are 17 trains a day to Porto so you should not have a problem getting seats!