Lisbon to Porto Train, Bus or Flight
How to get from Lisbon to Porto in 2026: journey times, stations, fares and luggage rules, plus a travel-day plan that leaves room for a sunset photo session.
The Lisbon to Porto train takes about 2h40 to 3h25 and runs every hour or two, which makes it the simplest choice for most visitors.
Below we compare the Lisbon to Porto train with the bus and the plane, covering stations, fares, luggage and booking, plus a sample travel day that keeps a photo session near sunset. Figures come from CP, FlixBus and the other sources linked in each section and were last checked in October 2026. Timetables and fares change, so confirm them for your own date before you pay.
Take the train for city-to-city simplicity: Alfa Pendular is the fastest service and every ticket includes a seat. Take the bus if the fare matters most; FlixBus lists tickets from €4.48. Fly only if the flight is part of a longer trip, because the flight is under an hour but airports add a lot of time.
How long does the Lisbon to Porto train take?
Two long-distance services link the cities: Alfa Pendular, the faster one, and Intercidades. Seat61 puts Alfa Pendular at about 2h58 city centre to city centre and Intercidades at about 3h23. A CP fare check made in June 2026 and reported by EveryRail showed Lisboa Oriente to Porto Campanhã at 2h39 to 3h04, and Lisboa Santa Apolónia to Campanhã at 2h48 to 3h13.
The bus and plane figures come from Rome2Rio, a route planner, as of October 2026. It lists FlixBus every 30 minutes with Rede Expressos also serving the route, a flight time of 57 minutes, and driving at 3h03 for 312 km.
Train vs bus vs flight: which one suits you?
Alfa Pendular or Intercidades
About 2h40 to 3h15 on Alfa Pendular, with a seat included. CP lists free Wi-Fi on board and a café-bar in carriage 3 of Alfa Pendular trains.
Our default for most tripsFlixBus or Rede Expressos
Around 3h15, with FlixBus fares advertised from €4.48 and one checked bag included. Buses arrive at the Campanhã terminal in Porto.
Lowest faresLisbon to Porto by air
About 57 minutes in the air, and TAP Air Portugal lists the route. You still need to reach the airports, clear security and wait to board.
Mostly for connectionsTime is closer than it looks. A flight saves little once you count the airports, which sit 7 km from Lisbon’s historic centre and 11 km from Porto’s Clérigos Tower.
Route planners such as Rome2Rio show estimates, not live timetables. Compare all three on the operator’s own page for your date before you decide.
Which stations do you use: Santa Apolónia, Oriente, Campanhã or São Bento?
Lisbon has two long-distance stations and Porto has one that matters, with a second reached by a short hop. Check the names on your booking, because a ticket marked only “Lisbon” or “Porto” leaves the choice to the booking page.
- Lisboa Santa Apolónia. The closest to the city centre and the main starting point for Porto trains. It is on the metro’s blue line.
- Lisboa Oriente. Next to Parque das Nações, on the metro’s red line. Seat61 says all Lisbon to Porto trains call here, and an urban train links it to Santa Apolónia in about 8 minutes. Our Lisbon transport guide covers the metro.
- Porto Campanhã. Where long-distance trains arrive. Seat61 gives the walk to the old town as about 2.5 km, so most people take the urban train or a taxi.
- Porto São Bento. The old-town station. An urban train runs from Campanhã in about 4 minutes, and Seat61 reports it is free with a mainline ticket when used within an hour of arrival. Confirm the rule on cp.pt.
- Buses. FlixBus lists Lisbon Oriente (platform D) and Sete Rios as Lisbon stops, and Terminal Intermodal Campanhã in Porto.
How much is the Lisbon to Porto train, and when should you book?
CP’s published price list, in a file dated July 2026, shows a full-price one-way Alfa Pendular fare from Lisbon to Porto Campanhã of €35.70 in Turística (second) class and €49.90 in Conforto (first) class. Intercidades in second class is listed at about €28 in the CP fare check that EveryRail reported for June 2026.
Buying ahead is cheaper. CP says it offers up to 65% off Alfa Pendular and Intercidades tickets bought in advance, and the June 2026 check showed limited promo fares from €17.00 on Intercidades and €21.50 on Alfa Pendular. They can sell out, so read the refund conditions before paying.
- Search for your date. Use cp.pt or the CP app. Tickets go on sale up to 60 days ahead, according to Interrail and Seat61.
- Compare services. Look at Alfa Pendular and Intercidades side by side. If the price gap is small, the faster train is usually the better deal.
- Check both stations. Confirm Santa Apolónia or Oriente, and Campanhã or São Bento, in the journey details before you pay.
- Save the ticket. Keep it in the app or on your phone, plus a screenshot in case your signal drops.
On an Interrail or Eurail pass, Interrail’s page says reservations are required on both services, so a pass alone is not enough. Seat reservation is compulsory on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, and every normal ticket includes an assigned seat.
Landing in Lisbon, heading to Porto? Tell us your dates and we will plan a session in either city.
Check availabilityCan you take big suitcases on the train, bus or plane?
On the train, CP’s luggage page says one item of hand luggage travels free, it must fit the racks or the space under your seat, and anything beyond that counts as excess and is charged on board. In practice Seat61 reports no weighing or measuring, and bags can go in the racks near your seat or at the end of each carriage. Pack what you can lift yourself.
FlixBus’s route page says one checked bag and one hand bag are included free, with extra bags handled separately. For flights, bag rules depend on the airline and the fare, so check yours. If you are flying in first, our Lisbon airport arrival guide covers the metro into town.
- Train: one free hand-luggage item per CP’s rules, extra pieces charged on board; stow bags near your seat.
- Bus: one checked bag and one hand bag included on FlixBus.
- Flight: depends on the airline and fare; check before you book.
How to plan a travel day that includes a photo session
Arrival day works well for a session, and what matters is the light. On 24 November, sunset in Porto is at 17:09, and in Lisbon at 17:17 (local time). On 21 June it is 21:10 in Porto.
In late autumn, that means arriving by mid-afternoon. In summer you have a long evening, and our sessions run daily from 09:00 to 20:00. Here is a plan for a late-November day. It is an example of how to space things out, not a timetable, so pick real departures on cp.pt.
Our Porto sessions are shot by a photographer who lives in Porto, and we pick locations around your arrival time. See our best photo spots in Porto and the Porto photographer page for how it works. Sessions last 30 minutes (up to 25 edited photos), 1 hour (up to 40) or 1.5 hours (60+) for up to two people, and more people can join, up to 10 in total. Every session includes professional editing, a private online gallery within 7 days, full resolution without watermarks and location scouting, and the current prices and details are on the booking page. Starting in Lisbon instead? See our Lisbon photographer page.
Build in a buffer: aim to arrive at least an hour before the session starts, so a late train does not eat into the golden hour. If the weather is clearly unfavourable the session is rescheduled at no extra cost, and we decide together the evening before.
Is it worth stopping in Aveiro or Coimbra on the way?
It can be. Aveiro and Coimbra-B both appear in CP’s Alfa Pendular price list between Lisbon and Porto, so a break is possible. Aveiro is called the Portuguese Venice for its canals and moliceiro boats. Not every train calls at every stop, so check your train’s route on cp.pt before you plan around a stop.
A stopover with bags is awkward and eats into the day, so we only suggest it if you are travelling light or have two nights in Porto. If you are deciding how long to stay, read is 2 days in Porto enough, or the 7-day Lisbon and Porto itinerary.
Common questions
How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?
About 2h40 to 3h15 on the Alfa Pendular and a little over 3h20 on the Intercidades, depending on your stations and departure. CP’s check in June 2026 showed 2h39 to 3h13 for Alfa Pendular journeys.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the Lisbon to Porto train?
Seat reservation is compulsory on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, and a normal ticket includes an assigned seat. If you hold an Interrail or Eurail pass, you still need to book a reservation.
Which station should I use in Lisbon and Porto?
In Lisbon, Santa Apolónia is closest to the centre and Oriente is near Parque das Nações; all trains to Porto call at Oriente. In Porto, long-distance trains arrive at Campanhã, and an urban train takes you to São Bento in the old town in about 4 minutes.
Is the bus cheaper than the train from Lisbon to Porto?
Usually, yes. FlixBus lists fares from €4.48 and the trip takes around 3h15, while the full-price Alfa Pendular fare is €35.70 in second class. Advance train fares can be much lower, so compare for your date.
How far ahead can I book the train?
Tickets go on sale up to 60 days before departure on cp.pt and the CP app. CP says tickets bought in advance can be up to 65% cheaper.
Is it worth flying from Lisbon to Porto?
Only for a connection. The flight is about 57 minutes, but with airport transfers and security the door-to-door time is close to that of the train, about 2h30 on one route planner’s listing.