Is it easy to travel around Portugal by train?

Yes, between the main cities. The Alfa Pendular and Intercidades link Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon and the Algarve, and suburban trains reach Sintra and Cascais. Smaller towns and the countryside are easier by car.

Do you need to book trains in Portugal in advance?

For the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, yes: seats are reserved, and Promo tickets bought at least 5 days ahead are cheaper. Regional and suburban trains need no reservation.

How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?

About 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes, depending on the train.

Is there a train from Lisbon to the Algarve?

Yes. Trains from Lisbon Oriente reach Faro in about 3 hours. For Lagos, change at Tunes.

Can you take the train from Portugal to Spain?

The Celta train links Porto with Vigo, in Galicia. There is no direct train between Lisbon and Madrid.

Portugal by Train: How It Works

✈️ THE SHORT VERSION

Portugal's trains, run by CP, link Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga and the Algarve, so you can see the main destinations without a car. The fastest train is the Alfa Pendular, followed by the Intercidades, and both need a seat reservation, which comes with your ticket. Book early: Promo tickets bought at least five days ahead can cost much less. Regional and suburban trains, to places like Sintra, Cascais and the Douro Valley, need no reservation.

This guide covers train types, tickets and discounts, reservations, luggage, the main routes with journey times, the stations to know and tips for traveling by train.

Portugal's Train Types

Train	Where it goes	Seat reservation
Alfa Pendular (AP)	Braga, Guimarães, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon, Faro	Required, included in the ticket
Intercidades (IC)	Main cities, including Évora, Guarda and the Algarve	Required, included in the ticket
Regional and InterRegional	Smaller towns, including the Douro Line	Not needed
Urbanos (suburban)	Around Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, including Sintra and Cascais	Not needed
Celta (international)	Porto to Vigo, in Spain	Required

The Alfa Pendular has two classes, Conforto (first) and Turística (second), Wi-Fi and a bar. If you hold an Alfa Pendular reservation, you can use the CP lounge at Lisbon Oriente for free, up to two hours before departure.

Two yellow trains stand beside a platform at a railway station in Porto, Portugal, beneath a vaulted glass and iron roof, with a green bench in the foreground. — Railway Station, Porto, Portugal

Main Routes and Journey Times

Route	Train	About
Lisbon to Porto	Alfa Pendular or Intercidades	2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes
Lisbon to Faro (Algarve)	Alfa Pendular or Intercidades	3 hours on the fastest trains
Lisbon to Lagos (Algarve)	Intercidades, change at Tunes	About 3 hours 50 minutes
Lisbon to Évora	Intercidades	About 1 hour 30 minutes
Porto to Peso da Régua (Douro)	Regional	1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes
Porto to Pinhão (Douro)	Regional	2 hours 20 minutes to 2 hours 40 minutes
Porto to Vigo (Spain)	Celta	About 2 hours 30 minutes

Check the timetable on cp.pt before you travel, as times and connections change. There is no direct train between Lisbon and Madrid.

Route guides

🚆 Lisbon to Porto Train: Times & Tickets 🚆 Lisbon to Algarve by Train 🍇 Douro Valley: Day Trip or Overnight? 🏛️ Évora and the Alentejo: Travel Guide

Tickets and Discounts

Where to buy. On cp.pt, in the CP app, at ticket machines or at station ticket offices. You can reserve up to 60 days ahead.
Promo tickets. On the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, CP sells a limited number of discounted seats. Buy at least 5 days ahead for up to 56% off, or 8 days or more ahead for up to 65% off. Once the Promo seats sell out, the normal fare applies.
Promo conditions. Promo tickets can be exchanged but not refunded, and from August 2026 they are sold only online and at ticket machines.
Suburban trains. Around Lisbon, use a reloadable navegante card for trains to Sintra and Cascais.

Summer trains to the Algarve sell out, so book early for July and August.

View from a traditional train beside the Douro River in Portugal, with wooden carriage windows on the left and terraced hills rising across the blue water. — Douro Railway, Douro Valley, Portugal

Luggage

On domestic trains, CP allows one piece of hand luggage free, plus a laptop or handbag. It must fit on the overhead rack or under your seat. On the Alfa Pendular and Intercidades, extra luggage is charged a fee on board. Folded bicycles and scooters count as hand luggage. Travel light if you can, as racks fill up on busy trains.

Stations to Know

Lisbon Oriente: the main station for trains to the Algarve and the north, with the metro to the center and the airport.
Lisbon Santa Apolónia: by Alfama, the end of the line for many trains from Porto.
Lisbon Rossio: in the center, for trains to Sintra.
Lisbon Cais do Sodré: on the river, for trains to Cascais.
Porto Campanhã: Porto's main station for trains to Lisbon, the Algarve and Vigo.
Porto São Bento: in the center, famous for its tiled hall, with trains to the Douro Valley.

Passengers sit on benches beside a yellow and grey train at a railway station in Aveiro, Portugal, beneath an iron roof with a stone tunnel entrance beyond the platform. — Railway Station, Aveiro, Portugal

🚇 Getting Around Lisbon: Transport Guide

Where the Train Does Not Go

Some places are easier by car or bus: the Costa Vicentina, the villages of the Alentejo, the Almendres megaliths, the Peneda-Gerês National Park and many beaches. A good mix is the train between cities and a car for a few days in the region you want to explore.

Passengers sit on benches beside a yellow and grey train at São Bento Railway Station in Porto, Portugal, with iron roof supports and a stone tunnel entrance beyond the platform. — São Bento Railway Station, Porto, Portugal

🚗 Lisbon to Porto Road Trip: Best Stops

What Is Coming: High-Speed Rail

Portugal is building a high-speed line between Porto and Lisbon, planned in three phases, starting with Porto to Soure. When finished, after 2030, it is expected to cut the trip to about 1 hour 15 minutes, from about 2 hours 50 minutes today. A high-speed link between Lisbon and Madrid is also planned, but not before the 2030s.

Tips for Traveling by Train

Sit on the right from Porto to Pinhão for the Douro views.
Arrive a little early, especially at Lisbon Oriente and Porto Campanhã, which are large stations.
Lisboa is Lisbon. Station boards and tickets use the Portuguese names.
Bring water and snacks on regional trains, as the bar is on the Alfa Pendular.
Check for strikes and works. Delays or bus replacements happen, so check cp.pt before you go.