Lisbon to Porto 2026
Train, bus, car or flight?
The train is the right answer for most travellers. Bus wins on price, a rental car earns its keep if you want stops, and flying almost never makes sense once you add airports. Here’s every option with real numbers.
Quick answer
Take the Alfa Pendular unless you have a clear reason not to. It takes around 2h40m, costs from €35.70 in 2nd class, runs roughly every 90 minutes from Lisboa Oriente, and arrives at Porto Campanhã with metro and onward trains into the centre. The Intercidades is slower (3h10m) but around €7 cheaper — worth it if price matters more than time. Use the bus for budget. Rent a car only if you want to stop at Coimbra, Aveiro, Óbidos, or the coast.
Train — the best option for most travellers
Two services run the Lisbon–Porto corridor. The Alfa Pendular is the faster, newer, and pricier of the two — a tilting train that leans into curves and clocks the journey in around 2 hours 40 minutes. The Intercidades makes more stops, takes around 3 hours 10–15 minutes, and costs roughly €7–€8 less for the equivalent seat class. Both depart primarily from Lisboa Oriente (the easier station to reach on the metro, at Oriente on the Red Line).
Trains arrive at Porto Campanhã, about 2 km east of the historic centre. From there you have two options: hop a free connecting train to São Bento in the city centre (four minutes, included on your ticket), or take the metro from Campanhã (Line A or E, around €2).
Alfa Pendular
Free Wi-Fi, power at every seat, spacious 2+2 seating in 2nd class and 2+1 in 1st. Runs roughly every 90 minutes, 06:00–21:00. Book on cp.pt for the best prices and seat selection — international bookers can also use Omio.
Compare Lisbon–Porto trainsIntercidades
Comfortable enough — similar seat quality, just a touch slower and busier. Worth it if the €7–€8 saving matters, or if the Alfa Pendular on your preferred time is full. Same arrival at Porto Campanhã.
Compare Lisbon–Porto trainsBooking tips
- Book on cp.pt for the best prices and seat selection. Last-minute fares can climb to €45–€50.
- EU residents under 30 or over 65 often qualify for CP discounts.
- Oriente is the easier departure station — it’s on the Red Metro Line and has luggage storage, cafés, and a shopping mall.
- São Bento does not handle intercity trains — it’s the beautiful tiled city-centre station, but only for regional and suburban services.
Bus — the budget pick
The bus from Lisbon to Porto is genuinely good value and more comfortable than you might expect — modern coaches with air conditioning, USB chargers, and occasionally Wi-Fi. Rede Expressos is the national operator (more legroom, less crowded) and FlixBus undercuts it on price (often full, but reliably cheap).
Journey time is around 3h15m to 4 hours, depending on traffic on the A1. Most Rede Expressos services depart from Lisbon’s Sete Rios terminal; FlixBus can also use Oriente. Both arrive at Porto’s Terminal Intermodal de Campanhã, attached to Campanhã train and metro station.
The real catch: seats are noticeably more cramped than train seats, and the A1 can be heavy going on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. If you’re booking for a busy travel day, the extra €20 for the train often feels worth it by the time you arrive.
Bus prices in 2026
FlixBus: from around €5–€9 booked well in advance. Rede Expressos: typically €13–€18. Fares are dynamic — cheap tickets on popular departures sell out. Book on rede-expressos.pt, the FlixBus app, or compare both on Omio.
Rental car — only if you want stops
Driving from Lisbon to Porto straight takes around 3 hours along the A1 expressway — which is actually slower than the Alfa Pendular and arrives at a city where parking is expensive and frustrating. The car only earns its keep if you turn the route into a proper journey: a night in Coimbra (Portugal’s ancient university city), a morning in Aveiro (known as Portugal’s Venice), a detour to Óbidos or Nazaré on the coast. Those stops turn a transfer day into a highlight.
Practical costs: A1 tolls run around €24–€25 each way (2026 Class 1 rates). Fuel adds another €30–€50. Ask your rental company for a Via Verde transponder to use electronic toll lanes — cash-toll queues can be slow. One-way rental fees vary; check when booking.
Rental car
Compare one-way prices across suppliers — they vary a lot. Always check whether a one-way fee applies for Lisbon pickup / Porto drop-off before confirming.
Compare Portugal car hireFlight — almost always skip it
The flight itself takes under an hour. But by the time you’ve added the taxi or metro to Humberto Delgado airport, checked in, cleared security, waited at the gate, landed, and then transferred from Francisco Sá Carneiro to central Porto, you’ve typically spent 3+ hours door-to-door — the same as the train, but with more stress and less comfort. Flying makes sense only if the Lisbon–Porto leg connects cleanly to another flight you’re already making.
Full comparison
| Option | Time (door to door) | Price | Best for | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Pendular | ~2h 40m | From €35.70 | Most travellers | Book ahead for best seats |
| Intercidades | ~3h 10–15m | From €28.05 | Budget + comfort | Slower, more stops |
| Rede Expressos | ~3h 15–4h | From ~€13–€18 | Budget travellers | Cramped, traffic risk |
| FlixBus | ~3h 15–4h | From ~€5–€9 | Cheapest option | Popular routes sell out |
| Rental car | 3h+ (direct) | €55–€75 tolls+fuel | Road trips with stops | Parking in Porto is a pain |
| Flight | 3h+ door-to-door | Varies | Specific connections only | Airport time kills the advantage |
What to sort before you go
Lock in transport and accommodation first — especially if your dates are fixed. Everything else can be arranged on the road.
Portugal eSIM
Install data before you fly — maps and transport apps from the moment you land.
Get Portugal eSIMTravel money
Wise uses the real exchange rate with no hidden fees on tickets, food, and hotels.
Open Wise (free)Live timetable check: Always verify the current schedule on cp.pt before booking accommodation around it. Occasional rail works can affect long-distance services.
Two simple ways to fit it into your trip
Adjust for weather, luggage, and how much you want the travel day to do.
Direct, clean
With a stopover
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Choosing the flight because the flight time looks short. Door-to-door, the train almost always wins.
- Renting a car just to drive straight between cities. You pay for tolls, fuel, and parking for no gain over the train.
- Booking accommodation before checking which station you arrive at. Campanhã is not central — the free connecting train to São Bento matters.
- Assuming São Bento handles intercity trains. It doesn’t — it’s a beautiful station for photos and regional trains only.
- Leaving train booking too late on busy dates. Cheap Alfa Pendular seats do sell out on Friday evenings and long weekends.
FAQ
What is the best way to get from Lisbon to Porto?
The Alfa Pendular train, for almost everyone. It takes around 2h40m, costs from €35.70, and arrives centrally — no airport transfers, no traffic. Compare train times on Omio or book direct on cp.pt.
How long does the Lisbon to Porto train take?
The Alfa Pendular takes around 2 hours 40 minutes. The Intercidades takes around 3 hours 10–15 minutes. Both depart mainly from Lisboa Oriente and arrive at Porto Campanhã.
How much does the Lisbon to Porto train cost in 2026?
Alfa Pendular: from €35.70 in 2nd class, from €49.90 in 1st class. Intercidades: from €28.05 in 2nd class, from €40.55 in 1st. Book early on cp.pt for the best prices; last-minute fares can reach €45–€50.
Is the bus worth it over the train?
Yes if price is the main factor. FlixBus from around €5–€9 booked in advance, Rede Expressos from around €13–€18. Journey time is 3h15m–4h. Seats are less comfortable than the train and traffic can add time on busy days.
Should I rent a car from Lisbon to Porto?
Only if you want stops. Coimbra, Aveiro, Óbidos, and Nazaré are all worth breaking the journey for. Direct driving takes around 3 hours on the A1, with tolls around €25 each way. Parking in Porto itself is awkward — leave the car before you get to the centre.
Which Lisbon station do trains to Porto leave from?
Mainly Lisboa Oriente — the easiest to reach on the metro (Red Line, Oriente station). Some services also call at Santa Apolónia. Check your ticket for the specific departure station.
Is São Bento station in Porto the train arrival point?
No. Intercity trains arrive at Porto Campanhã. São Bento is the beautiful azulejo-tiled station in the city centre, but it only handles regional and suburban services. From Campanhã you can take a free 4-minute connecting train to São Bento, or the metro.
Ready to book?
Compare Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains first — that’s the right answer for most trips. Switch to bus or car only if price or route stops make it worth it.
Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links for Omio, Discover Cars, Trip.com, Saily eSIM, Wise, and SafetyWing. If you book through them, Backpacking Is Life may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Train prices cited are from cp.pt and third-party sources as of mid-2026 and are indicative — always check the live price before buying. Last updated June 2026.
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