Getting around Portugal: Lisbon–Porto by train, by coach, and from Spain

Portugal has only two host cities, Lisbon (Luz, Alvalade) and Porto (Dragão), 300 km apart. The train is the simplest way to make the round trip in a day.

Lisbon – Porto by train

Official fares from CP – Comboios de Portugal as of 1 January 2026 (Lisboa Santa Apolónia / Oriente ↔ Porto Campanhã):

Train	Duration	2nd class	1st class
Alfa Pendular	2h50 – 2h58	€35.70 (Turística)	€49.90 (Conforto)
Intercidades	3h15 – 3h23	€28.05	€41.50

The Intercidades fares come from a secondary source: check on cp.pt. CP sells promotional tickets at up to 65% off (around €16), released about 60 days before departure; a €7.50 offer even ran from 1 to 15 May 2026. Fares rose by 2.26% in 2026.

By coach

Rede Expressos and Flixbus link Lisbon and Porto for under €10 if you book early (Flixbus from $8.98 observed). Allow 3h15 to 3h30 of actual travel, whatever the advertised duration.

From Madrid

• No direct train in 2026. The Lusitania night train has never been reinstated since 2020. It takes 3 trains and 2 reservations (via Badajoz and Entroncamento): 8 to 9 hours, from about €40. Two combinations a day (departure 08:51 → arrival 17:00; 10:55 → 22:30).
• A daytime Renfe–CP Intercity (Talgo stock, via Évora–Elvas) is planned, with no confirmed date. Stated targets: 5 hours in 2030, 3 hours by around 2034.
• Coach: Flixbus from $21.48, 5h50 minimum, 7 departures a day.
• Plane: 1h21, 16 to 19 flights a day (TAP, Iberia, Air Europa, easyJet, Ryanair), from $36 observed on 26 August 2026 ($72 to $129 for a typical return).

From Vigo

Porto is 150 km from Vigo (a Spanish host city awaiting approval): the Celta regional train (about 2h20, to be confirmed) and coaches.

Airports

• Lisbon (Humberto Delgado): metro red line, €1.90, 25 to 35 minutes to the centre; buses 744/783 at €1.90; taxi about €18; ride-hailing €9 to €18. The Aerobus has not run since 2023. The new Luís de Camões airport (Alcochete) will not open until 2035 at the earliest: in 2030, everything will go through the existing airport — plan for congestion.
• Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro): metro line E, zone Z4, €2.30 (plus €0.60 for the Andante card), about 30 minutes, every 30 minutes.

In the cities

Lisbon: €1.90 per journey, €7.25 for 24 hours (2026 fares). Porto: Andante zone Z2 at €1.40, Andante 24 hours from €5.15 to €16.70 depending on the zones. Details on the city pages.