# Lisbon to Porto Train — Two Rivers, One Blue-Tiled Line The 336 km Linha do Norte links Lisbon's Tagus riverfront to Porto's Douro in under 3 hours on Portugal's high-speed Alfa Pendular train — passing the same azulejo tile artistry that covers the stations at both ends of the ride. **Quick facts:** 336 km Lisbon–Porto by rail · Under 3 hours on the fastest Alfa Pendular · Departures roughly every 1–2 hours · Operated by CP (Comboios de Portugal) ## About the Lisbon to Porto Train Route Trains run the length of the Linha do Norte, Portugal's original north–south rail corridor, opened in stages during the 1860s and 70s and still the backbone of the country's rail network. The Lisbon to Porto train ride climbs gently out of the Tagus valley, crosses the central farmland around Santarém, passing charming villages and open Portuguese countryside, skirts the university city of Coimbra, then drops toward the Atlantic at Aveiro before tracing the Douro River into Porto, with the water in view for the final stretch. Stretches of Atlantic coastline and rolling hills fill the windows in between, turning the ride into a genuinely scenic journey rather than just a fast way to cover the 336 km railroad distance between the two cities. This Porto train journey is also an easy one to plan around: the high-speed train covers that railroad distance in as little as 2h35 and rarely more than 3 hours, and most people find train travel here more relaxed than juggling flights or a long drive. The Tagus and Douro riverfronts bookend the trip, and CP — running one of Portugal's high-speed trains on this line — keeps a fairly steady timetable of Alfa Pendular and Intercidades departures across the day, so checking train times for the next trains the morning of is usually enough. Whichever seat or class you book, the route itself runs from Santa Apolónia (or Oriente) straight through to Porto's São Bento via Campanhã, and booking a little in advance keeps your options open on both ends between Lisbon and Porto. ## Alfa Pendular Train vs Intercidades CP — Comboios de Portugal, Portugal's national railway company — runs two train types on this line: AP (Alfa Pendular) and IC (Intercidades). | Service | Journey time | Stops | Onboard | |---|---|---|---| | Alfa Pendular | As fast as 2h35, usually 2h45–3h | Fewest — Coimbra-B, Aveiro, a handful of others | Tilting EMU (up to 220 km/h), café-bar, power sockets, Wi-Fi | | Intercidades | Around 3h to 3h15 | More frequent stops along the Linha do Norte | Standard EMU, café-bar, power sockets — lower fares | Alfa Pendular is a tilting train — it leans into curves using gyroscopes in the head cars, which is how it holds up to 220 km/h on a line built long before Portugal had true high-speed rail. The current fleet was refurbished in 2017, and onboard amenities on both services now include air conditioning, power outlets, free Wi-Fi, and spacious seating. Both services sell 1st and 2nd class tickets — 2nd class covers most of the train and is where the cheapest fares are. ## Lisbon and Porto Train Stations Guide **Lisboa Santa Apolónia Station & Gare do Oriente** — Lisboa Santa Apolónia is the historic terminus for northbound trains, a short tram ride from Alfama and the riverfront in central Lisbon. Opened in 1865, it's Lisbon's oldest railway terminal, in a central location near the water. Lisboa Oriente — officially Gare do Oriente, built for Expo '98 in 1998 — is inside the modern Parque das Nações district, called a few minutes later on the same services, and connects more directly to Lisbon's metro network via a short metro ride on the Red Line, plus Lisbon airport bus routes, with bus and taxi ranks right outside. Most trains — Alfa Pendular and Intercidades alike — stop at both. - Santa Apolónia: Av. Infante Dom Henrique 1, 1100-105 Lisboa - Gare do Oriente: Av. Dom João II, 1990-233 Lisboa **Porto Campanhã Station & Porto São Bento Station** — Porto Campanhã is the main arrival point for trains from Lisbon and the real terminus for long-distance services, and it sits next to the city's main intercity bus station for onward connections. Porto São Bento, the beaux-arts station in Porto's historic center lined with roughly 20,000 azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history, is reached by a quick connecting local train from Campanhã (usually covered by the same ticket), not directly from Lisbon. Both Porto stations connect to the city's metro network and have taxi ranks outside. - Porto Campanhã: Largo da Estação, 4300-173 Porto - Porto São Bento: Praça Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto ## Train, Plane, or Car Between Lisbon and Porto? Over a 336 km distance connecting Portugal's two major cities, the three options land in a similar time bracket door-to-door for the same trip — but not with the same amount of hassle, and once airport transfers are counted in, flying's travel time compares poorly with stepping straight off the train in a city center. - **By train (recommended), ~3h door-to-door** — Board a city-center station → ride 2h45–3h with Wi-Fi and power → arrive a city-center station. - **By plane, ~3–4h door-to-door** — Get to the airport → check-in and security → about an hour in the air → baggage and transfer into town. - **By car, ~3h+ door-to-door** — Drive the A1 (roughly 3h) → motorway tolls → find city-center parking. ## Luggage Allowance on the Lisbon to Porto Train CP keeps luggage rules simple on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades — one bag free, sized to actually fit on board. - **One bag free** — as long as it fits in the racks or under your seat without blocking the aisle. - **Max size 85 × 55 × 35 cm** per item — roughly the size of a standard checked suitcase. - **Extra bags cost extra** — additional items count as excess luggage, with Intercidades charging around €6.50 per item. - **Storage on board** — overhead racks for small bags, larger racks near the doors for suitcases, and space by your seat for anything smaller. Nobody weighs or measures bags at the platform in practice, but sticking to the limit keeps you clear of the racks — and the charge. ## Tips for Booking Your Lisbon to Porto Train Ticket **Book Train Tickets Early for Cheap Fares** — CP's cheapest Alfa Pendular seats sell out first, especially Friday afternoons and around Portuguese holidays. Booking a week or more ahead usually gets the lowest second-class price. Tickets purchased online arrive as an e-ticket — keep it handy on your phone, since conductors check it on board. **First class vs second class** — First class on Alfa Pendular adds wider seats and a bit more quiet for a modest fare bump. Seat reservation is included either way, on both Alfa Pendular and Intercidades — no separate fee. **First train to last train** — Most days run from around 6:30am to 10pm, roughly every one to two hours, with discounted tickets for young people, seniors, and families booking together. Arrive early too — platforms aren't posted until close to departure. Ready to book? Compare Alfa Pendular and Intercidades fares at https://highspeedtrains.com ## Accessibility on the Lisbon to Porto Train CP's Integrated Mobility Service (SIM) covers boarding, the journey, and getting off — arranged ahead of time. 1. **Request SIM assistance** — Submit CP's SIM request form or call ahead, at least 6 hours before departure, or by 8pm the day before for early-morning trains. 2. **Staff meets you at the station** — Once CP confirms the request, someone is ready at the platform at both Lisbon and Porto to help. 3. **Board via wheelchair lift** — Alfa Pendular trains carry a lifting mechanism built in, so boarding happens straight from the platform. 4. **Reserved space on board** — Alfa Pendular has two adapted wheelchair spaces, and both services offer accessible seating in second class. ## FAQ **How long is the train journey from Lisbon to Porto?** The fastest Alfa Pendular trains cover the 336 km between Lisboa-Santa Apolónia and Porto-Campanhã in as little as 2 hours 35 minutes, though most Alfa Pendular trips run closer to 2h45–3h. Intercidades trains stop more often and typically take a bit over 3 hours. **Which train station do I need in Lisbon and Porto?** In Lisbon, most Alfa Pendular and Intercidades services depart from Lisboa Santa Apolónia Station and call at Lisbon's Oriente Station a few minutes later, so either works depending on where you're staying. In Porto, long-distance trains terminate at Porto Campanhã — right next to Portugal's Campanhã bus station for onward coach connections; for Portugal's São Bento station, take the short connecting local train from Campanhã. **How often do trains run between Lisbon and Porto?** Comboios de Portugal (CP) runs Alfa Pendular and Intercidades services roughly every one to two hours, with most departures from around 6:30am to 10pm, so there's rarely a long wait even without booking ahead. Counted just as direct long-distance departures on this specific route, that works out to roughly 15 to 19 trains a day; across the whole Linha do Norte corridor — where additional regional services along the corridor depart covering shorter stretches too, not just the full Lisbon–Porto run — the total is closer to 38 services a day. If you need to know exactly when a specific service departs, checking CP's live timetable before you travel is the safest bet. **How much does a Lisbon to Porto train ticket cost?** Ticket prices for second-class fares on this route currently start from around $32 for off-peak Intercidades departures, with most Intercidades fares running $40–60 and Alfa Pendular high-speed fares running roughly $46–76 depending on the time of day, while first class costs a bit more again on top of those second-class fares. Prices climb closer to departure and around holidays, so booking ahead usually pays off. **Is the train better than flying or driving between Lisbon and Porto?** For a 336 km hop, the train is usually the easiest option — unlike air travel, there's no airport transfers, no motorway tolls or city-center parking, and the main stations sit inside both city centers. **What's worth seeing along the way?** The line passes Santarém's farmland, the university city of Coimbra, and Aveiro, whose own station is covered in azulejo tile panels of salt pans and moliceiro boats — a preview of the tilework waiting at Porto's São Bento station. **Can I do a Lisbon to Porto train trip as a day trip?** Yes — the fastest Alfa Pendular gets you there in under 3 hours, so an early morning departure and a late-afternoon or evening return leave a full day in Porto. Just check the last return departure time before you commit, since services thin out in the evening. **How fast is the fastest Lisbon to Porto train?** The quickest Alfa Pendular departures cover the roughly 336 km run in as little as 2 hours 35 minutes, though most trips land closer to 2h45–3h once you count all the stops. **Where do I buy Lisbon to Porto train tickets?** Tickets are typically purchased online and sent as an e-ticket — search the box above to compare cheap train tickets across Alfa Pendular and Intercidades and book through our partner. Keep the ticket handy on your phone, since conductors check it on board. **Are there discounted or promo fares for this route?** Yes — CP runs promo fares that can cut the standard second-class price by more than half if you book roughly 5 to 60 days ahead, plus a separate youth discount, senior fare, and family fare booked directly with CP. **Do I need a seat reservation?** No extra step needed — seat reservation is included with every Alfa Pendular and Intercidades ticket, so you'll have an assigned seat as soon as you book. **What amenities does the Alfa Pendular high-speed train offer?** The Alfa Pendular train offers modern amenities across both classes — featuring free Wi-Fi, power outlets, air conditioning, and spacious seating, plus a café-bar. Intercidades trains are simpler but still include power outlets and a café-bar for a comfortable ride at a lower fare. **Is there a direct train from Lisbon to Porto?** Yes — both Alfa Pendular and Intercidades run direct between Lisbon and Porto on the Linha do Norte, with no transfer needed. Alfa Pendular calls at a handful of stops along the way, while Intercidades stops more often, but it's the same through-train the whole way. This porto route runs just as often in reverse too — the same trains that Porto departs each day mirror the schedule back to Lisbon. **Does the Lisbon to Porto train stop anywhere else along the way?** Yes — depending on the service, the train calls at stops like Santarém, Coimbra-B, and Aveiro along the Linha do Norte. Alfa Pendular skips more of these than Intercidades, which is part of why it's faster. --- Book tickets: https://highspeedtrains.com