Getting Around Portugal in 2026: Trains, Buses, Flights and Cars
Which transport to use between Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and the coast, how the tickets work, and what to do when a strike hits your travel day.
Getting around Portugal is easy once you match the transport to the trip: trains between the big cities, coaches where the rails stop, planes for the islands and a rental car for the countryside.
Visitors tend to trip over small things when getting around Portugal: tickets that are tied to one train, a seat you did not know you needed to reserve, a toll device you did not ask for, or a strike on the one day you have a flight. We live and work here, so this guide covers the practical rules in one place, with the official pages to double-check. Last checked: October 2026.
Take the CP train between cities (Alfa Pendular or Intercidades, seat included, tickets on sale up to 60 days ahead). Use coaches such as Rede Expressos and FlixBus where there is no train, planes for Madeira and the Azores, and a rental car only for the countryside and the coast. Inside Lisbon and Porto you rarely need one.
Which transport should you use in Portugal?
Portugal is a long, narrow country, and the best option changes with the route. This is the quick map we give friends when they ask where to start:
Two things shape most decisions. Rail connects the big cities well and is the calmest way to travel between them. Coaches and cars cover everything the trains do not, which is a lot of the country. If you are planning the whole trip, our 7-day Lisbon and Porto itinerary shows how these legs fit together.
Landing soon and want your trip on camera? Tell us your dates and your route, and we will check the light and the logistics with you.
Check availabilityTrains in Portugal: Alfa Pendular and Intercidades
CP (Comboios de Portugal) runs the national network. For visitors, three kinds of train matter.
Alfa Pendular
CP’s top service, running since 1999 at up to 220 km/h. Free Wi-Fi, a power socket at every seat and a cafe-bar carriage. CP lists Lisbon to Porto and Braga to Faro among its routes.
Best for Lisbon to PortoIntercidades
In service since 1988, linking the main cities from the north down to the Algarve, with 1st and 2nd class, free Wi-Fi and a bar carriage. Slower than Alfa Pendular, but it reaches more places.
Best when Alfa does not go thereSuburban trains
Lisbon’s lines to Sintra (from Rossio) and Cascais (from Cais do Sodré) take around 40 minutes and run every 20 to 30 minutes or so. Porto and Coimbra have their own urban trains.
Best for Sintra and CascaisLuggage is simple. CP allows one item of hand luggage free, as long as it fits the rack or the space under your seat, and charges excess luggage on board on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades (CP luggage rules). There is no check-in or gate: your ticket is checked on board.
Stations matter. Lisbon has more than one long-distance station (Santa Apolónia and Oriente), and in Porto the long-distance trains stop at Campanhã, a short urban-train hop from São Bento in the old town. Always check the departure station on your ticket.
How train tickets work, and how long they are valid
Most surprises come from the ticket rules, so here are the ones worth knowing, taken from CP’s online ticket office terms.
- Choose the train and the day. Buy on cp.pt or in the CP app. Sales close 15 minutes before departure, and a seat is included on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades.
- Look at the Promo fares. CP advertises advance tickets with up to 65% off on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades. They sell out, can be changed, but cannot be refunded.
- Carry the ID you used at purchase. Tickets are personal and non-transferable, and staff can ask to see the document on board.
- Need another train? You can change a long-distance ticket online for free until 15 minutes before departure, subject to availability (CP’s rules on changes). Do it before the train leaves, not after.
If you travel with an Interrail pass, Interrail says a seat reservation is required on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, so factor that in. And a ticket for the 14:00 train is not a flexible day pass: if you miss it, you must exchange it, which is possible only before departure.
Buses and coaches: Rede Expressos, FlixBus and Carris Metropolitana
Where the train stops, the coach usually starts. Three names cover most of what a visitor will use.
Rede Expressos
The main domestic coach network, with tickets sold on its website and app, at ticket offices and by phone. Lisbon departures use the Sete Rios and Oriente terminals, so check which one your trip uses.
Best for towns without a trainFlixBus
Runs Lisbon to Porto from Oriente, Sete Rios and Jardim Zoológico, arriving at Porto’s Campanhã terminal. One carry-on up to 7 kg and one checked bag up to 20 kg are included, and the phone ticket is enough.
Best for flexible budgetsCarris Metropolitana
The bus network of the Lisbon region, including routes towards Cascais, Sintra and Ericeira. Contactless bank-card payment has been rolled out line by line since July 2025, so keep a backup way to pay.
Best for the suburbsA few details save trouble. Rede Expressos tickets are emailed and a phone copy is enough, and bikes or pets need their own ticket (Portugalist’s coach guide). Date changes are handled by the company and can be limited, so read its terms before you buy a non-flexible fare. On the coach, expect Lisbon to Porto to take around three hours or a little more, slightly longer than the train.
In Sintra, the tourist buses 434 and 435 run from the train station to Pena Palace and Monserrate (CP’s Sintra page). For the best excursions from the capital, see our guide to day trips from Lisbon.
Flights inside Portugal: when a plane makes sense
TAP lists domestic routes between Lisbon and Porto, Lisbon and Faro, and from Lisbon, Porto and Faro to Funchal in Madeira, plus Lisbon and Porto to the Azores (TAP domestic flights). Other airlines fly some of these routes too, so compare before you book.
- Madeira and the Azores. Planes are the practical option, and the only one for a short trip.
- Lisbon to Porto. The flight itself is short, but airport transfers, security and boarding eat the saving. The train arrives in the city, so it is usually the easier choice.
- Lisbon to the Algarve. Faro is a regular route, but the direct train takes about three hours and drops you in town, so compare door to door.
- Always check hand-luggage rules. Airlines set their own limits, and low-cost carriers can be strict.
Land in Lisbon first? Our Lisbon airport arrival guide covers taxis, metro and the first hour.
Renting a car in Portugal: when it is worth it
You do not need a car in Lisbon or Porto, where parking and narrow streets are a headache. A car does help for Cabo da Roca, the Douro, the Alentejo and a flexible coastal trip. Our guide to renting a car in Lisbon covers pick-up and insurance in detail. These are the points visitors most often miss:
- Tolls are electronic. Rental cars in Portugal are required to carry a Via Verde toll device, and many companies add a daily service fee on top of the tolls (EasyTerra’s toll guide). Ask at pick-up how it is billed.
- Speed limits. 50 km/h in towns, 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 120 km/h on motorways, unless a sign says otherwise (Europcar).
- Documents. Bring your driving licence and a credit card in the driver’s name, and see our Portugal entry requirements checklist for the rest.
- Your own foreign-plated car? Fully electronic tolls must be paid within five days, so register a payment option before you drive (toll guide).
Driving the coast and want a few photos of the trip? We will plan a stop with good light on your route, in Cascais, Sintra or Lisbon.
See session optionsTaxis, Uber and Bolt in Portugal
Uber and Bolt operate in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve (as of October 2026), and they are handy when you have luggage, a late arrival or a hill to climb. Compare both apps before you book, because prices move with demand.
At Lisbon Airport the pick-up point for ride-hailing is separate from the arrivals kerb, so follow the pin in the app rather than the crowd. In the city itself, the metro, trams and ferries are covered in our guide to getting around Lisbon, and for data on your phone while you travel, read how to use mobile data in Portugal.
What to do if there is a strike
Transport strikes happen in Portugal, and when they do they hit trains, the metro and sometimes flights. On 3 June 2026 a general strike stopped Lisbon’s metro for the day and put CP on minimum services, and CP offered a full refund or a free exchange on long-distance tickets (Observador, 30 May 2026). These habits keep a strike from ruining a trip:
- Check the day before. Open CP’s website and your operator’s app the evening before, because strikes are usually announced in advance and CP posts the minimum services.
- Know the ticket rules. Standard delay compensation does not cover strikes, but unused long-distance tickets can be refunded until 15 minutes before departure, and exchanges are free (CP refunds).
- Never plan a tight connection. Do not book the last train before a flight or a session. Arrive the day before whenever you can.
- Have a plan B. Coaches and ride-hailing may still run, and the government lists strike minimum-service orders on the DGERT website.
Fit a photo session into your route
Most visitors move between Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais and Porto in the same week, and a short session fits between two stops. We are a team of local photographers: sessions in Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais, and in Porto with a photographer who lives there. Choose the length that suits your day.
Every session includes a private online gallery within 7 days, full-resolution files and no watermarks, and the location scouting is ours. To book, choose your session on the booking page, message us to check availability or pay by card to reserve, and we confirm the details on WhatsApp. Current prices are on the booking page, and “Surprise me” lets us pick the spot.
Need a starting point? Our Lisbon photographer page and Porto photographer page show what a session looks like in each city.
Common questions
What is the best way to get around Portugal as a tourist?
Use the train between the big cities, coaches to reach towns without rail, a plane for Madeira and the Azores, and a rental car only for the countryside and the coast. In Lisbon and Porto you rarely need a car.
Do I need to reserve a seat on trains in Portugal?
On Alfa Pendular and Intercidades a seat is included in the ticket, so you simply buy a ticket for a specific train. Interrail says pass holders need a seat reservation on these trains.
How far ahead can I buy CP train tickets?
Long-distance tickets go on sale up to 60 days before travel and sales close 15 minutes before departure. Promo fares sell out, so buy early for busy days.
Can I use my train ticket on a different train?
Not directly: a CP ticket is valid only for the day and train you chose. You can exchange a long-distance ticket online for free until 15 minutes before departure, subject to availability.
What happens to my travel plans if there is a strike?
Check CP and your operator the evening before, because minimum services usually run but trains can be cancelled. CP allows refunds or free exchanges on unused long-distance tickets until 15 minutes before departure.
Do I need a rental car in Portugal?
Not for Lisbon or Porto, where metro, trams, trains and taxis cover most visitors. A car is useful for Cabo da Roca, the Douro and the Alentejo, but check tolls, parking and fees at pick-up.