If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, there’s a very good chance that you’ll need to travel from Lisbon to Porto at some point, whether that’s by train, bus, or taking a drive!
As American expats who live in Lisbon and adore visiting Porto, we’ve had the opportunity to travel between the two cities several times.
And, while we prefer traveling from Lisbon to Porto by train, there are certainly merits to going by car as well.
Here, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about traveling between Lisbon and Porto, including a step-by-step guide to traveling by train.
We’ve also included a guide to the best stops along a Lisbon to Porto road trip.
And, of course, everything in this post works when traveling from Porto to Lisbon, too!
Here’s what to expect when planning your trip between Portugal’s two largest cities.
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How Far Apart Are Lisbon and Porto, Portugal?
Lisbon and Porto are roughly 320 kilometers or 200 miles apart (give or take, depending on the route).
Whether you travel by train, car, or bus, you can expect to spend an average of between 3 and 4 hours traveling from one city to the next.
While we don’t recommend taking a day trip from Lisbon to Porto (or vice versa), it is technically possible–we talk a bit more about that in this post.
Our Favorite Way to Travel from Lisbon to Porto: Train
As I mentioned above, our absolute favorite way to travel between Porto and Lisbon is by train!
Portugal’s rail system is excellent for traveling the main corridor of the country along its western edge, and traveling by train from Lisbon to Porto is extremely popular.
There are around 30 trains that travel each day, from early in the morning until late in the evening, making it extremely easy to travel with minimal advance planning.
Two different types of trains travel this route: the Alfa Pendular High-Speed Trains (which are slightly faster) and the Intercidades Express Trains (which are slightly older).
I have a tendency toward motion sickness and find that I have to be a bit more cognizant to make sure I’m looking ahead, etc, on the Alfa Pendular trains.
That being said, the experience is extremely similar, and we book both types interchangeably depending on what fits into our schedule.
Both trains are comfortable and clean, with plenty of room to spread out and space to store luggage.
Here’s how to plan your trip from Lisbon to Porto–or Porto to Lisbon–by train.
7 Easy Steps for Traveling from Lisbon to Porto By Train
Buy tickets for your Lisbon to Porto trip.
First things first: you’ll need to buy tickets for your trip between Lisbon and Porto!
While you can buy tickets in person if you’re traveling at the last minute (and if you happen to be traveling with a dog as we do, you’ll need to do so), it’s much easier to compare prices and train schedules by looking online.
Omio will allow you to check prices and schedules for both types of trains, and buy train tickets with ease.
Shop train tickets for travel between Lisbon and Porto today!
Depart from the correct train station.
Lisbon has four train stations, so be sure to read your train ticket carefully and make sure you head to the right place!
Most trains from Lisbon to Porto, though, depart from Santa Apolonia, which is located (more or less) at the base of the Alfama District.
Santa Apolonia is fairly small and simple to navigate.
Be prepared for the conductor to check your ticket.
Once you board, at some point between departure and arrival in Porto hours later, you’ll have your ticket checked by the conductor as they walk by.
Be sure to have your ticket handy in order to show it to them!
Relax and enjoy the views!
The views along the train route between Lisbon and Porto have some beautiful sections, especially north of Espinho where you can admire sandy beaches as you travel and ask you approach Porto Campanha Station.
While I wouldn’t go as far as to call the views a destination worth traveling for in their own right, it’s certainly not a bad stretch of countryside to admire for a few hours!
Arrive in Porto Campanha.
When your train pulls into Porto Campanha and you disembark, your journey isn’t quite over yet!
Your train ticket from Lisbon to Porto remains good for this part of your journey–but you’ll need to switch trains.
Board your train to the famous Sao Bento Train Station.
When in Porto Campanha, look for trains headed to Sao Bento Train Station.
They leave every 10-15 minutes or so, so you won’t have to wait long!
Once you get on board, the ride lasts a brief 4 minutes.
Arrive in the heart of Porto and start your adventure!
When you pull into Sao Bento Train Station and disembark, congratulations: you’ve officially traveled from Lisbon to Porto by train!
As you walk into the entrance hall of the train station, be sure to look up: the azulejos of Sao Bento are a destination in their own right, and this magnificent view is a fantastic welcome to Porto.
Once you exit the train station, you’ll be in the heart of the city, with many of Porto’s top attractions located within a 10-minute walk (or in the case of the cathedral, within sight).
How (and Why) to Travel from Porto to Lisbon By Car
If your trip to Portugal is focused only on the cities of Lisbon and Porto, with possible day trips to popular nearby spots like Sintra and the Douro Valley, then there’s absolutely no reason to drive.
However, if you are hoping to focus your Portuguese road trip on the cities, small towns, beaches, and more that lie between Lisbon and Porto, driving can be a blast!
Portuguese roads between Porto and Lisbon are well maintained and easy to navigate (though you’ll definitely want a GPS).
You will also be paying plenty of tolls, so be sure to account for them in your budget!
Ready to book your road trip between Lisbon and Porto?
We recommend searching for your rental car through Discover Cars, which will allow you to sift through all your options and choose the right car for you based on price, the reputation of the company that is renting it, and the terms of the rental contract.
With favorable traffic, it takes a little over 3 hours to drive from Lisbon to Porto.
While some of these stops will add 30 minutes or so to your schedule, they’re all located fairly directly between Porto and Lisbon!
Shop rental cars for your Lisbon to Porto road trip today!
Fabulous Lisbon to Porto Road Trip Stops
Coimbra
Home to the University of Portugal, Coimbra is incredibly beautiful and mixes ornate architecture and lengthy history (it was the capital of Portugal from 1139 to 1385) with youthful energy.
Note that Coimbra is located along the train route between Lisbon and Porto, so you can easily add a stop here with or without a car.
Fatima
Fatima is the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in Portugal and a fairly recent one at that!
It is said that in 1917 (as World War I raged across Europe), the Virgin Mary appeared to 3 young children here stating that the world needed peace.
Whether you are a member of the Church or not, Fatima is a fascinating cultural and historical destination between Lisbon and Porto.
Aveiro
Calling Aveiro the “Venice of Portugal” may be overselling it a bit–but you can ride a colorful boat through a canal here!
Located on the coast, Aveiro is also known for its Art Nouveau architecture.
Nazare
This charming fishing village is most famous today for a very special reason: the utterly gigantic waves that arrive between October and February, making it one of the most famous surfing destinations in the world!
Whether you want to watch the surfers or simply enjoy the town, though, there’s no doubt that Nazare is a delightful place to visit on Portugal’s Silver Coast.
Obidos
Obidos is a quintessential small European town.
Walled, whitewashed, utterly beautiful, and overlooked by an imposing castle, Obidos is absolutely one of the best places to visit between Porto and Lisbon!
Check out our guide to the best things to do in Obidos!
Tomar
With beautiful winding streets and striking medieval architecture, Tomar would be a lovely place to visit in Portugal regardless of its link to a very famous group…
… But the fact that Tomar was once the seat of the Order of the Knights Templar certainly adds to the city’s mystique!
Both the Tomar Castle and the famous local Convent of Christ are connected to the Knights Templar.
More Beach Towns
From Ericeira to Peniche to Figueira da Foz and beyond, tracing all of the beach towns that hug the west coast of Portugal between Lisbon and Porto would be worthy of several blog posts in and of itself!
Suffice it to say, though, that if you’re looking for beautiful beaches, sweeping Atlantic views, and charming villages, you’ll find no shortage of them in this part of Portugal.
About Traveling from Lisbon to Porto By Bus
Traveling to travel from Lisbon to Porto (or Porto to Lisbon) on a very tight budget?
If so, traveling between Portugal’s two largest cities by bus may be right for you!
In any other scenario, though, we highly recommend taking the train over the bus when traveling between Lisbon and Porto.
It takes roughly the same amount of time to travel between the two cities by bus as it does by train, and often longer (especially when accounting for traffic).
In addition, most buses have drop-off points further away from the heart of Porto than the train route does.
There’s also truly nothing like arriving in Porto and being greeted immediately by the magnificent azulejos in the Sao Bento Train Station–it makes my heart skip a beat every time!
Buses are generally less comfortable than trains, as well, and we’ll choose a train over a bus whenever possible.
For travelers wanting to enjoy the best of Portugal, we will always recommend traveling from Lisbon to Porto by train unless they are planning to make a full, multi-stop road trip experience out of the journey!
Compare prices between buses and trains for visiting Porto from Lisbon!
Hi, how is it to travel from Lisbon to Porto by air. Economy sounds inexpensive, but those fairs do not include bags. How much does it cost to travel with checking in 2 bags and one carry on? Jim
Hi Jim!
There are very few circumstances where I’d recommend flying between the 2 cities. The flight itself is an hour, but getting to/from the airports and checking bags is much longer and more cumbersome than taking the train.
The going rate for checked bags is around 50 Euro/bag right now, but of course, that can vary depending on the airline. Some budget airlines also charge for carry on luggage, as well.
Hi Kate,
Love your blog. My daughter and I are planning a 5 day trip to Portugal. I would like to visit the Shrine at Fatima and spend time exploring the sights and sounds of this beautiful country. This is our first trip, so I am not a savvy traveler. Where would you recommend to stay and how can we get to places? Do you recommend booking day tours or can we explore on our own. Any advice will be invaluable. We are planning to fly in to Lisbon from the US
Hi Brenda,
Sounds like a wonderful trip!
Based on your description, I’d recommend booking a day tour to Fatima from Lisbon. It’ll make things very simple for you to see the shrine without worrying about transportation. Many of the day trips also include stops at other nearby attractions like a monastery, the beautiful town of Obidos, and/or the beach town of Nazare. It’s a great way to get a taste of the country!
As far as Lisbon goes, you’ll find lots to occupy you there as well–this post goes into more detail on that: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/3-days-in-lisbon-itinerary/
Within the city, you can walk, plus use taxis and the metro, to get around.
If you want to take an independent day trip to nearby spots like Cascais or Sintra, you can take the train, a taxi, or even book a tour.
Hope you guys have a fantastic time in Portugal!
Hi Kate,
Thanks for your response. Which airport should I fly into if I want to go to Lisbon? and do you have any recommendations to stay. We wanted to visit the Shrine of Fatima and stay close to the city, so we have easy access to the other locales.
Hi Kate,
We are planning our trip to Portugal in April over spring break, flying into Lisbon and flying out of Porto.
Are most sites open in Lisbon on Easter Sunday? Is it a good idea to go to Sintra on Easter Sunday? or Saturday before Easter Sunday?
What is the best way to get to Sintra from Lisbon?
Is Uber available in Portugal?
We are planning to drive from Lisbon to Porto as we would like to make it a road trip and stop for a night near Coimbra, what are the estimated toll charges?
Thank you for the Discover Cars link. It seems to have prices lower than the major car rental companies. Are the companies featured in Discover cars reliable?
Hi Sheena,
You’ll definitely want to plan on most things being closed on Easter Sunday, including museums and restaurants. I’d plan ahead what you want to do that way and check the hours as best you can, but keep in mind not all attractions will necessarily note the Easter closer online.
To get to Sintra from Lisbon, you can take the train from Rossio Station. Taxis and Ubers are available as well.
The companies on Discover Cars are mostly local companies, and we’ve never had anything but good experiences with their recommendations!
I’m not sure of the estimated toll charges off the top of my head, but the rental company may be able to give you an idea when you rent a car.
Hi Kate,
Thanks for your great blog. I am planning a car trip from Lisbon to Porto, and would like to spent a day & night in Aveiro. Do you recommend to stop there in our way from Lisbon or to get to Aveiro from Porto?
Thanks,
Jose
Hi Jose,
Either way is fine, it really depends on your schedule and the rest of your itinerary!
If you can arrange things to overlap with your drive up from Lisbon and you’re planning to end your trip in northern Portugal, that’d be easiest, but Aveiro is a fairly quick drive from Porto as well.
Hi Kate,
Your blog has been incredibly helpful in planning our trip to Lisbon and Porto, later this month! A question for you re: Lisbon->Porto travel. We were planning on taking the train, but recently found out there is a rail strike on the dates of travel (May 1 and 8) – can you provide any insight into service changes? i.e., reduction in service vs. total work stoppage? Thank you in advance!
Hi Liz,
So happy we can help!
Unfortunately, strikes can really vary in intensity and duration. Some sort of “essential” service generally keeps running versus a total stoppage, but what that looks like in practice can vary.
I’d keep an eye on this website for your dates (this is the Portuguese national rail company’s alert page): https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Alerts
If it looks like the train is going to be particularly cumbersome on the day you plan to travel, you can always turn it into a road trip! A bit less efficient but lots of fun, and we’d highly recommend adding a stop along the way if you go this route.
Thank you so much for your help!
Hi,
My husband and I are going to Lisbon in September for 7 days. We would like to see as much of the country as we can. Should we just rent a car and drive?
Hi Kiki,
It depends on what parts of the country you want to see, but if you’re hoping to stop at several of the small towns, monasteries, etc, between Lisbon and Porto, you’ll get a lot out of renting a car!
The Douro Valley and Algarve are also best seen with a car.