Portugalist

Portugal Trains: How to get around Portugal by Train

Campanha train station

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Portugal has a great train service. It’s old, and it’s a little slow in comparison to the trains in many other European countries, but it’s functional. Sometimes the air con even works as well!

There are four different types of train in Portugal:

  • Alpha-Pendular: The fastest trains in Portugal. These are usually the newest and the most comfortable, and have additional luxuries like audio channels that you can listen to and televisions. This type of train is the most expensive, but the difference between Alpha-Pendular and Intercidades is usually only a few euros. 
  • Intercidades:  This train is slightly slower than the Alpha-Pendular trains as it makes more stops, but it isn’t really significantly slower. Theses trains are older, the bar is a bit more basic, and they’re a little less comfortable. 
  • Regional (R) and Interregional (IR):  These trains cover much shorter distances and are much more basic again. Tickets cannot be purchased in advance or online. 
  • Urban (U):  These trains are common in larger cities like Lisbon and Porto and, again, are quite simple. Tickets cannot be purchased in advance or online. 

Train routes run throughout Portugal and connect all of the major regions by rail. Not every town has a train station, but the majority of the large towns and cities do. If you can’t find a train to the town that you want to visit, it may be worth looking at taking a bus or renting a car instead. 

In fact, sometimes it’s worth looking at where the train station is before booking a train: in some towns, the train is 5 or 10 km outside of the town (meaning you’ll need to get a taxi from the train station to the town centre). Bus stations, on the other hand, are usually always fairly close to the town centre. 

portugal train map

It’s cheap (and here’s how to get it cheaper)

What’s amazing about Portugal’s train service is the cost. Here are some sample prices (accurate at the time of writing in September 2023, and for booking around two months in advance): 

  • Porto to Lisbon: €26.60 for a single
  • Faro to Lisbon: €9.50 for a single
  • Albufeira to Lisbon: €9 for a single
  • Faro to Coimbra: €19 for a single
  • Vila Real de San Antonio to Valenca (a 715km journey): €55.80 for a single.

All of those prices are for second class tickets booked more than eight days in advance to take advantage of the discounts. These are:

  • Up to 56% off if you buy your tickets at least 5 days in advance
  • Up to 65% off if you buy your tickets at least 8 days in advance

Note: Discounts aren’t available on all the tickets. The 7 am train pictured below doesn’t have any discounts available, for example. 

portugal rail trips

Those are for the Intercidades (IC) and Alpha-Pendular (AP) trains. The Urban trains (which can’t be booked in advance) are often even cheaper. These trains aren’t everywhere in the country, but are especially common around Lisbon and Porto. 

portugal urban and regional trains pricing

As well as advanced tickets, there are also discounts for:

  • Under 25s: 25% off for those under 25.
  • Under 30s: 12-30 year olds get 25% off with a European Youth Card .
  • Group travel:  Travel as a group of 3 or 4 people on the Alfa Pendular or Intercidade trains and get up to 50% off.
  • Those with special needs: Up to 75% off for you, and 25% off for your carer.
  • Senior Citizens: Over 65s get 50% off. (It’s a good idea to take ID with you as you may need to show this at the ticket office and also on the train). 
  • Under 3s: Half-price tickets for under 3s that don’t occupy a seat.

You can select any of these discounts when you’re booking online. If you have booked in advance, this is usually the best discount you can get. You can select a Senior Citizen or Under 25 discount, but this will actually be less than the advanced promo price. Unfortunately, you can’t combine discounts e.g. 5 days in advance and under 25.

Tickets can be booked through cp.pt , which is the official website for Comboios de Portugal (the Portuguese train company). You can pay with a credit or debit card or with PayPal. Some people have problems paying with a foreign credit or debit card: if that happens to you, try paying through PayPal (you don’t need a PayPal account to do this). 

Read more about discounted train travel in Portugal

1st class vs 2nd class

portugal rail trips

First class on Portuguese trains is a bit disappointing, at least in comparison to other countries like Spain and the UK where you are served a meal and drinks. It depends on the type of train, but first class on Portuguese trains could just mean more legroom and comfier seats. 

There are three types of train used in Portugal (Alpha-Pendular, Intercidades, Regional (R) and Interregional (IR), and Urban (U)) and only Alpha-Pendular and Intercidades offer a first and second class option. 

First class on Alpha-Pendular usually means you get a drink, a newspaper or magazine, and headphones. First class on Intercidades usually just means that you get larger and comfier seats and, on some seats, a plug socket (plug sockets are also available on some seats in second class). 

You can also book single seats on both Alpha-Pendular and Intercidades trains. This alone could be worth it if you’re travelling alone, and want a bit more space to yourself. The difference between first and second class is often less than 5 Euros, so it’s not a lot to spend to treat yourself to a little extra comfort. 

Do the trains have Wi-Fi?

Increasingly more and more trains in Portugal have wi-fi, especially the Alpha-Pendular routes, and sometimes it even works (but usually it’s very slow). 

Unfortunately, although some trains do have working wi-fi, it’s not a given which means you can’t rely on it if you want to work. Mobile internet connections are also pretty unreliable on the train, particularly when you’re going through more rural parts of the country, and the trains are also quite jiggly which can make you feel sick if you’re staring at a laptop screen. It’s fine for watching a movie, but not great for trying to work. 

Buying Train Tickets

The Comboios De Portugal (Portugal Trains) website is reasonably easy to use, and is one of the easiest ways to buy train tickets. There’s also an app for both iOS and Android, or you could buy your tickets at the counter in a train station.

You can get your ticket sent to your by SMS, which is much easier than having to print it off. You can also get your ticket delivered via the app.

A lot of people use Rail Europe for booking train tickets while travelling in Europe, but it’s much better to use the official website. Rail Europe doesn’t always have all the timetables, you can’t book tickets same day or next day for Portuguese trains, and you don’t get access to the discounts. Just use cp.pt instead.

Note: Regional train tickets (marked ‘R’ on the trains website) and Urban train tickets (marked ‘U’ on the trains website) aren’t normally sold in advance. You can buy them on the day from the train station or on-board if there isn’t a ticket office at the station.

If your long distance train journey includes a change onto a regional train, sometimes you can buy the whole journey in one ticket (this is the case when going from Lisbon to many places in the Algarve, for example). This isn’t always the case, though, and you may need to buy that ‘R’ ticket of your journey on the day. 

Tip: Try to avoid clicking ‘Train times’ (in English) or ‘Consultar Horários’ (in Portuguese). This section of the website feels like the section of the website where you buy tickets, but you can only look up the timetables. If you’re wondering why there’s no ‘buy now’ button, this is probably why.

Credit card problems? Try paying with PayPal instead (you’ll see the option at checkout). You don’t need to have a PayPal account to do this: you can pay with your card using PayPal. 

Ticket details for tax purposes? In Portugal, it’s common to add your personal tax number (known as a NIF ) to a receipt when making a purchase. Doing so can allow you to claim some taxes back.

If you don’t have a NIF number (which you probably won’t unless you’re living in Portugal) and you don’t want to add your personal tax number from your country of residency, you can skip this section.

cp.pt section asking for NIF number

Travelling with luggage 

A lot of people have asked questions about travelling on the trains with luggage. 

Yes, you can bring a suitcase or backpack onboard the train. Every passenger is entitled to bring one piece of luggage (such as a suitcase or a backpack) and a small bag like a laptop bag or handbag. Any more than that is considered excess baggage and you should have to pay extra to bring it but it’s not monitored. 

Luggage storage is generally in a rack above the seats. The racks are wide and can easily take a backpack or a cabin-size suitcase, but may not be suitable for a very large suitcase.

On the long distance AP and IR trains, there is normally a space for extra large bags at the entrance to each carriage (and sometimes in the middle of the carriage as well) however these can fill up. 

If you’re concerned about travelling with luggage, especially large suitcases, consider taking a coach instead. Baggage is stored underneath the bus so there’s more room for wider suitcases and you don’t have to lift it above your head. 

Travelling with pets

Yes, you can travel with a pet (for free) on the trains in Portugal as long as the pet is not dangerous, is housed in a properly enclosed transportation box, and as long as they don’t smell or there isn’t any reason that other passengers might object to travelling with them. 

On some trains, it’s also possible to travel with a dog that’s not in an enclosed transportation box. The dog will need to be muzzled and on a short lead, and the owner will need to bring the dog’s vaccination card and valid licence with them. They’ll also need to buy a ticket for the dog as well. 

Guide dogs can travel with the owner on all trains for free. 

For more information about travelling with a pet on Portuguese trains, visit CP.pt . 

Bringing your bike

Yes, you can bring your bike onboard any intercity train (e.g. from Lisbon to Faro). There is normally space for 1-2 bikes per carriage, and passengers are normally limited to 1 bike per passenger. 

More information about travelling with a bike can be found on CP.pt . 

Getting Train Timetables

portugal rail trips

If you want to see the train timetables, the easiest thing is to enter your dates and do a search. If you click the (+) button, you can see a list of all the stops on the journey.

International Tickets: Portugal to Spain, France & the rest of the world

It’s not possible to book international train tickets with CP.pt. There’s a route from Lisbon to Madrid, for example, but you need to book this through the Spain train website, Renfe.es .

Travelling further than that is even more complicated. I wanted to see if it was possible to book a train ticket from Lisbon to Barcelona or Lisbon to Paris, but neither RailEurope, GoEuro, or thetrainline.eu could do that for me. If you want to do an international trip like this, you will need to book all of the train tickets for each individual leg.

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Spotted a mistake? Suggest a correction

Hello, I was wondering if we can get off and back on the next train with the same ticket? For exemple, if I buy a ticket from Porto to Pinhao, it is possible to get off the final destination (Pinhao), visit Regua and get back on the next train with the same ticket.

Hi Nathalie,

Like a hop on, hop off? I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. I think you would have paid for your seat at that particular time. But you could book a train from Porto to Pinhao and then another one from Pinhão to wherever on the next train.

I am planning to buy Portugal Rail Pass (7 day Validity)

However, I just had a question as to if the train is AP or IC, will I have to pay any reservation fee if I already have purchased the portugal rail pass? If there is a reservation fee, please let me know the cost and whether it is a one time fee for all the trains or do I have to pay each time I take the train.

I would highly appreciate if you would please let me know.

The trains website doesn’t mention a reservation fee, but it does say that you need to go to the ticket office each time in order to get your ticket.

“Before each journey, you have to ask get your ticket from a ticket office or, exceptionally, from the ticket inspector on the train by presenting your card.”

Do I need to change trains in Entroncamento going from Tomar to Lisbon Orient station?

Depends on the particular ticket you have. Most are direct but it looks like others (one that combines R and IC trains) involves a change at Entroncamento. Use the cp.pt website to see what your particular journey involves.

I am trying to register for the Portugal Trains website (cp.pt) but it won’t accept my UK postcode. Any advice?

For some reason the new registration system won’t accept any letters. This means it’s fine if your postcode is 90210 but not CM23 3WE.

You could try registering with 00000 in the postal code area. When you go to buy a ticket, the payment section doesn’t take your postal code from your account so you’ll be able to enter your postcode. Failing that, there is the option to purchase through PayPal.

The only downside I can see to this is that if you need an invoice it may not say your postcode. Most people don’t need this though.

Hello trying to train book tickets from UK and the register site won’t accept my postcode, comes up with invalid box, any ideas to solve this? Thanks

Not sure Fay. Do you have the United Kingdom selected as the country?

If you book a train from Lisbon (Santa Apolonia) to Porto and the train stops at Oriente, can you get on the train at Oriente instead of Santa Apolonia?

I’m not sure what the official rules are with regards to this, but you won’t go through ticket gates so you can get on the train at any stop. I don’t think tickets are normally checked until you leave Lisbon.

This is really helpful. I am looking forward to touring Lisbon and Porto in May. Just wondering if you recommend https://thetrainline.com to purchase the round trip train tickets from Lisboa to Porto in advance since the ticket prices on this website are substantially cheaper than cp.pt. The ticket prices are doubled in cp.pt. Any thoughts?

Thanks so much for your help.

Hello, I will be in Portugal the entire month of April, 2022. When I look at the CP train time tables it notes what appears to be train changes from a urbano to an Intercidades with only 8 minutes between them. Are the trains close enough together to make these types of connections? Thank you so much!

Hard to say without knowing which train station you’re changing at.

James, I am wondering the same thing Gigi is. I’m going from Porto to Regua and it has a transfer in marco de canaveses and it’s only 4 mins. They are all 4-8 mins for the day we are going. Any thoughts on whether this is doable? I’m guessing they wouldn’t schedule all of them like that if it was an issue but I’m worried because we are taking the last train out on the way back.

I’ve never changed here so can’t say for sure, but it looks like this is a regular occurrence and I imagine one train will wait for the other to arrive if it’s late (this is the norm at small stations where changes happen).

Hi James, can you please tell me how to change the ticket time if you have to go later. Is that what revalidation means? If so, how do you do that? Is it possible to change the ticket time on the website or can it only be done at the station? Thanks for all the good info!

According to the CP.pt website, ‘Journeys can be altered to a different day or a different train at any CP station or online, in “Your Tickets” area, if you bought your tickets from the Online Ticket Office or App CP.’ This is for AP and Intercidades trains. There’s more info for the other types of trains too

https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/how-to-travel/Useful-information/reissues

Hi James Thank you for such great info. I’m travelling to Portugal in September. Landing in Porto, hoping to hire a car to Lisbon, train down to Faro and then over to Spain. What is the best way to get to Seville from Faro?

You can get to Seville by bus (tickets at https://www.rede-expressos.pt/en ) or by renting a car and driving there. Bus is probably the better option, though.

There’s no train between Faro and Seville.

On the map of train service on this site and then further along in the informative texts I see Albufeira mentioned with a fare to Lisboa but not illustrated on the map of the cities serviced by train! ‘ I need to be in Lisboa on the 18th of March .I am presently staying in Agadir Morocco.Years ago I spent two weeks at the HAPIMAG in Albufeira flying to the Algarve airport in Faro I believe.I am curious about living in the future perhaps in the Alentejo so the train trip from the Algarve to the north seems an ideal introduction.Incidentally, what is one of the train stations in the Alentejo? My’homework’ now is to see how I will travel from Morocco to southern Portugal where I can travel on the Alpha-Pendular to Lisboa.I am older than 65 …nice to see how ‘social’ and fair the train fares are !

Hi Christopher,

Albufeira’s train station isn’t actually in Albufeira. It’s Albufeira-Ferreiras, which is about 5 km outside.

The trainline only covers part of the Alentejo, but there are plenty of buses as well. These long distance buses are all quite new and good quality, and very easy to get around on.

As for getting to the Algarve from Morocco, there are a few ways I think. One option would be to take the ferry over to Spain and then travel across by public transport. There are often flights to Seville, and there may also be flights to Faro.

There has been talk of connecting the Algarve with Morocco by ferry for many years, but it has yet to happen.

Thank you so much for the information. It has been very educational. We are planning a trip to Portugal in September and I had yet to do any research on train travel. We’ll only be considering it for transport from Porto to Lisbon so this site has been very helpful!

You’re welcome Wendy!

Hi, Great site. I will be arriving in Lisbon Int’l Airport and was told to follow the signs to the metro and go to Oriente where I can then connect to the train network. My end destination is Estarreja. Can I buy a ticket that goes from Oriente to Aveiro to Estarreja? I was also told that there are 2 trains one make local stops and the other makes only 2 to Aveiro.

Any info would be great.

If you put the starting point and the destination into cp.pt it will show you the timetable. Under the column marked ‘detail’ there is a plus sign and you can expand it to see which stations the train stops at.

I imagine the local train you’re referring to is the Urbano (U) train. It looks like most of the journeys involve the U train, so I think you’ll probably end up taking it. It’s not a huge number of stops, though, and it only takes around 13 minutes. I don’t think it’ll be a problem.

Yes, you can buy a ticket to Estarreja. Depending on the route, you might need to buy the ticket on the day. Try putting in your trip to see if you can currently buy the ticket for the journey you want.

thanks for all the helpful information! Do you have any advice on travelling with babies or small children? Is it possible to take (and store) a stroller or baby pram during the ride?

Thanks and best regards, Dennis

Yes, you can take a stroller or pram onboard. There is storage above the seats and also normally at the entrances to the carriages.

Children also normally get free or reduced-price tickets: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/discounts-benefits/Discounts/children-half-price

James, I have a Lisboa card and understand this covers my fare from the Rossio train station in Lisbon to Sintra and back. Do I need to precook a seat for this 40 minute train ride and if so where do I do that using the Lisboa card? Who do I show my Lisboa card to get on the train or once I’m on the train?

I don’t think you can prebook seats on the train to Sintra as it’s a commuter train.

The Lisboa Card works in a similar way to the metro card. It’s electronic, so you scan it to get through the gate and onto the train platform. Someone might check it on the train, and they’ll use a card reader to scan it.

I don’t quite know how it works, but presumably they can see where you scanned it and boarded the train.

Hi there, I have traveled throughout Europe (and Australia!) via train and subway and I am a little confused for Portugal. By the way, really enjoyed your commentary above, it was mostly clear!! A gal pal and I are travelling to Lisbon then train-ing it to Lisbon on Saturday June 6th for 2 nights and wanted to know if it is important to actually book our tickets before we leave USA? As a planner and wanting things done prior to arriving, what do you suggest? I did go to the cp website but wouldn’t allow tickets to be purchased 6 months in advanced. We definitely want to have seats, not necessarily together, and would like to have eyes on our luggage.

What are your thoughts to how we do this the best way? I so appreciate your answer! (And I guess we need to figure out what station our air bnb is located in Lisbon as well as our place in Porto for accurate ticketing?)

Thank you very much!! Patty Adler

If you already know the dates of travel, I would book the tickets. It’s not so much that they run out of seats (although that does occasionally happen) but more that you want to get a seat next to your friend and you *might* get the tickets cheaper if you book in advance (see the section on discounted tickets above).

Six months is too far in advance, though. Put a note in your diary and come back to the site around 2 months beforehand.

Note: Some tickets can’t be booked in advance e.g. for Urban trains (see the article) and it’ll be pretty obvious as the website won’t have an option for buying them. You also can’t buy metro tickets in advance but this isn’t necessary.

As for the luggage, there’s normally a compartment above the seats which is the best place to put it (assuming it fits).

Please let me know if anything else wasn’t clear in the article, and I’ll try and improve it.

Can I take luggage in the trains Lisboa to Porto?

Yes, of course.

According to the trains website, a person can take one piece of luggage + a small bag like a handbag or laptop bag.

Thank your for all the information. My husband and I will be traveling around Portugal almost exclusively by train over the course of 10 days. I have purchased the trains through the CP site. So if I have a trip that has a short regional leg then and IC portion, I still have to pay for the regional ticket although I have the purchased tickets through the CP phone app?

Also, we are each traveling with a standard rolling suitcase and a small back pack. Is there plenty of room for these near the seats? Thanks!

There are some cases where you can buy the long distance + the regional train together online, but generally you can’t buy urban or regional train tickets online or advance. So, if you haven’t been able to buy it in advance, you’ll need to buy that section separately. If you’ve already bought it, there’s no need to buy it twice.

As for the luggage, there are racks above the seats and also usually some racks at waist-height when you enter the carriage. They are wide enough to take a small suitcase.

I am currently on AP first class to Porto right now. Curious if the free drinks offer still on? My dad and I just got charged for the coffee and the staff doesn’t seem to respond to my question. Try to look up their website and can’t find info. 🙁

Every time we have taken the train we have found people in our seats and have had to ask them to move. Is this common?

Yes, it’s quite common.

I don’t think everyone that gets on the trains has a reserved seat. People who get on at smaller towns, for example, often have to buy their ticket onboard, so they just sit in the nearest empty seat. Often that’s a seat that’s empty then but reserved for another leg of the journey.

I wish they would put a sign on the seats that are reserved e.g. this seat is reserved from Lisbon to Coimbra. Would make life a lot easier for everyone.

hi, thank you so much for all this information, it’s very helpful! i’m trying to book a ticket from Faro to Lisbon for Sep. 11th but it won’t give me the discount for the 5/8 days in advance, only full price or other discounts im not eligible to. what am i doing wrong? (im using the app). thanks again!

We are planning to use the train system in Portugal quite expensively in late Sept for a month, entering from the north west of Spain.

For some of the smaller stations, we are assuming that there are no machines that issue tickets, so hopefully there is a ticket office.

We are assuming that this would require having cash, rather than card?

As well, is it expected that a ticket be bought at the station, rather than on the train (assuming that you can buy a ticket from the train conductor?

Do tickets need to be validated before boarding the train? We got caught out with a fine for not doing so in Italy

I imagine the ticket offices will have card payment machines, even in the smaller stations, but I would still carry cash with me as these card machines often don’t like non-Portuguese bank cards. You will also be able to buy some tickets online, which is also worth doing.

As for ticket validation machines, you might find them on the urban trains around Portugal and Lisbon but I don’t think this is common in the rest of Portugal – particularly rural parts of Portugal. It’s also not a thing on the longer distance trains, as the tickets are checked onboard.

Can you get a train at the Lisbon Airport or how close to the airport?

You can get a metro at Lisbon Airport.

The nearest train station is Oriente. Otherwise, look at Entrecampos. Both of them have metro stations.

Hi, I plan to go by train from Monte Gordo to Lisbon, starting with a regional train with no possibility to buy a ticket at the station. Can I buy on board a ticket to Lisbon or only to Faro? Buying a ticket in Faro for the rest of the trip is impossible beccause there are only 7 minutes to change the train

As far as I know you can buy the Monte Gordo to Lisbon ticket online from cp.pt. Surely that’s the easiest option?

If that’s not possible, you could buy the Faro to Lisbon section online and just buy the local Monte Gordo to Faro ticket on the train.

Unfortunately, I don’t know whether you can buy a ticket all the way to Lisbon on the train or whether it’s just regional tickets.

On 20 October 2019, my wife and I (both over 60), leave a cruise at Porto. We want to go by train to Faro. 1. Which station do we leave from? 2. When will tickets be available? 3. Can we get concessions?

Hi Stanley,

All trains go through Porto Campanhã, so that would be the one to aim for (esp if you’re getting public transport to the train station). However, I think the cruise port is a little bit outside of Porto so you could get a taxi to a train station like Ermesinde and start your journey just outside of Porto.

Tickets are available around 60 days in advance, so you should be able to buy tickets for October 20th in the next few days. There are often discounts for buying in advance, so it’s worth doing this.

Concessions are available, yes (both online and in person).

Hello James, we are arriving to Lisbon on Aug 23rd at 17.40 and want to take a train to Porto immediately. Should I buy a ticket in advance? I dont see any discount on the cp.pt for the trains we would need. Or is it OK just to come to the station and buy tickets there? I am also not sure, if we are able to make it to the train at 18:10, or rather 19:10.

Thanks for your advice 🙂

Hi Kristina,

It’s up to you, but you can do either.

If there aren’t any discounts available, the only reason to buy in advance would be to make sure you get a seat (especially together as you said “we” rather than “I”).

I probably would buy in advance just in case tickets sell out for some reason. It’s up to you, though.

Thank you for the reply. Are the “U” and “R” trains ok? We would like to use them for trips Porto-Miramar (20 min), Porto-Aveiro (1 hour) and Aveiro-Coimbra (1 hour).

They’re fine. Not the most comfortable or beautiful, but they’re perfectly safe.

Hello! I have a question regarding the tickets you can’t book in advance. Is the price going to be the same as it’s up online (less than 4e for Porto-Aveiro), or that can be changed as well? Thanks in advance 🙂

The price will be the same 🙂

Hello. Thanks for the info in the article. I have an additional question – we would like to travel from Porto (Campanha) to Aveiro. But it seems we cannot buy online ticket for many from the trains marked “U”. Does it mean, we have to buy them at the station? They are significantly cheaper than AP and IC trains, which have the possibility to buy a ticket online.

Yes, thanks for pointing that out. Those tickets can only be purchased from the ticket offices on the day. They aren’t available to buy online.

Hello, I am traveling with a group of 13 senior citizens from Porto to Lisbon on Aug. 17. Want to do the Alfa Pendular, but not sure how to book? Also which station in Lisbon to get off? Staying in Liberdale area. We will be arriving in Porto by boat and will take taxis to correct?, station. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Roni

You’ll find the largest number of options if you choose Porto – Campanha to Lisboa – Oriente.

The metro goes to Campanha in Porto (there are also taxis of course). From Oriente, you can get a metro station to one of the stations nearest your accommodation (Avenida station maybe?).

Hope that helps.

Hi James, I’m booking tickets for my son, wife and 2 yr old daughter from Lisbon to Porto (fast AP trains both ways) and choosing first class as a treat. When I look at the “change seats” option, it’s not clear if there are tables for the passengers to sit round together, or are they just where shown as a grey block? (Only a small number in each carriage) Very grateful for any help Tony

Just so you know: First Class isn’t that much of a treat in Portugal if you’re coming from the UK. It’s definitely better than Second Class, but it’s not the same as First Class on many train lines in the UK (and other countries).

As for the table, it is the grey block and, yes, there aren’t that many of them surprisingly.

Hi, I was looking into urban train ticket from Aveiro to Porto that only costs 3.35Euro from the cp.pt website. However, there’s no option to buy this ticket online. Do we need to buy this ticket at the station on the day off? Isn’t it risky in case the train is full? Please advise. Thanks

Yes, this usually means that it has to be bought on the day (and not online).

You’ll be able to get a seat. That route also has very frequent trains, so worst case scenario you’ll need to get on the next train.

Good Afternoon, If we are purchasing tickets to Sintra at Oriente Station, do we have to purchase the Viva Viegem Card and if so, is it a one stop purchasing event at the ticket counter? Thanks

Hi Maryann,

Most people just buy the Viva Viagem cards from the automatic machines, which you’ll find in all the metro stations around Lisbon as well as the train stations. They cost €0.50.

You don’t buy a ticket for Sintra (or anywhere else you’re using the card), but preload it with credit. The cost of the journey is then taken off. For Sintra, I think it’s around €2.25 at the moment. You’ll also need to come back, which will cost another €2.25 (there isn’t a return ticket for this journey) so you’ll need to have at least €4.50 on the card. You can top up with €5, so you’ll pay 0.50 for the card and €5 for the credit for a total of €5.50 and there’ll be 0.50 left on the card.

Unless Sintra is one the first day of your trip to Lisbon, I would recommend buying your card (and topping it up) in advance. Reason being that the train station will be quite busy with other people going to Sintra and, if you already have your card, you’ll be able to go straight to the train.

It’s not a big deal, but it’ll save you a little time.

We’re traveling from Porto to Viana do Castelo on 12/09/19. I was hoping I could order the tickets 60 days in advance but September 12 is disabled on the schedule. Is this trip considered a local – buy the day of travel? Thanks, really excited to be going to Portugal.

Hi J. Bradley,

It does look like it’s a local train and that you won’t be able to buy the tickets in advance (I tried some dates next week, and it wasn’t possible to buy tickets either).

Where are you headed to in Portugal (apart from Viano do Castelo and Porto)?

Hi James, we’re going to Lisbon and Evora, and some side trips to Pinhao and Aveiro. I was able to buy the tickets today to Viana, though they are two part tix. Short ride to Nine on the AP, and seats are reserved. Then change to a regional train. Seats aren’t specified, and there was no seat selection for the regional train portion of the journey. Does that mean you just take any seat that’s available on the regional? Thanks, Janice

Yes, on the regional trains that I’ve been on there was no seat selection and I was able to sit anywhere.

Be aware that if you want to book Lisbon – any location in the Algrave, the connecting R train is usually the next available one to your final destination. It is not possible to choose which R train connection to select. For instance, I wanted a 3 hour connection in Faro (to eat lunch). The only option for this particular Lisbon train connection is only 11 minutes. I have to book Lisbon-Faro instead and then buy the connecting R ticket at the station.

Yep, that’s a good point.

Can you get on and off the train with one ticket from Porto to Lisbon? Or would we have to have tickets for each destination?

I’m pretty sure you would need to buy multiple tickets for several smaller journeys.

You’re reserving a seat (e.g. seat 10) for a specific time e.g. the 9 am train to from Porto to Lisbon. If you get off for an hour and get back on another train, it’s not the 9 am train anymore but the 10 am train and someone else will probably have reserved seat 10.

If you want to hop on and hop off, you’ll either need to break the trip up into several trips or rent a car.

We will be travelling from Lisbon airport to Porto (Sao Bento), and were wondering which Lisbon train station is closest to the airport? What is the best way to get from airport to train station? Thanks 🙂

The nearest train station would be Oriente, which is in Parque das Nações. It’s about 3 stops away on the metro.

I would either take the metro or a taxi/uber.

I booked an overnight train from San Sebastián to Coimbra because Renfe would not let me book into Porto (or our eventual destination Pinhao). We arrive 4:45am. I see on the CP website that there is an IR train 5:10 to Porto-Campanhã and 7:14 IR train onward to Pinhao daily but no way to purchase a ticket. Are these not able to be purchased in advance? And if not, will the ticket office be open at 4:45am when we get into Portugal?

Yes, some journeys can’t be booked in advance.

I don’t know if the ticket office will be open at that time, but I’m guessing not. In that case, you’ll be able to purchase them on the train.

Hi, My friend and I are going to be based in Lisbon for 6 days of travel to other towns and cities and I saw the One Country Ticket by Interrail on line which quotes Eu236 to cover the 6 days to go anywhere. It LOOKS like a really good deal having seen the prices for daily normal ticket prices, do you recommend it please?

I don’t think it’s a good deal for Portugal if it’s just for one person. Maybe for other countries where train travel is more expensive, but here train travel is quite cheap.

A single ticket from Lisbon to Porto costs around €30 (but could be as cheap as €16 if you go for the slower train and book in advance). Even at €30, and even if you travelled every day, it would still cost you less than the Interrail ticket.

Work out your itinerary and use cp.pt to get an estimate of how much it’ll all cost, but I can’t imagine 6 days of train travel coming to more than €236 unless you were travelling extremely long distances every day.

Thanks for the helpful site.

Looking at cp.pt for a trip from Tomar to Coimbra. The best timing for us is to take a regional train from Tomar to Entromcomento, then an IC train from Entroncomento to Coimbra-B. The cp.pt site lists the first regional train but under the “Buy Tickets” section does not list that regional train for purchase.

I have read that you can’t book regional trains in advance-is that true? If so, can I reasonably rely on getting on that regional first train? Would buying a ticket in Tomar the day before the train ride make any difference?

Thanks for the help-much appreciated!

It is true that you can’t buy regional train tickets in advance (although often it’s possible if it’s part of a longer journey like the one you’re doing). This means that you wouldn’t be able to buy them the day before either: only on the day at the train station (if there’s a ticket office) or on-board (if there isn’t a ticket office at the station).

I don’t think you need to worry about not getting a seat but, if you are concerned, take a slightly earlier train just to be on the safe side. It looks like there are a lot of journeys on that route, so it wouldn’t add too much time onto your trip.

Great website and information. So just booked a train from Lisbon – Santa Polino to Tunes in June and just realized that I have to switch trains from a regional to an IC at Oriente station to catch my train to Tunes. Couple questions 1. The connection time is only 10 minutes in Oriente is that enough time. 2. Can I just not use the first part of my ticket for the Santa Paolino – and just go straight to the Oriente staion to catch my train to Tunes.

It should be enough time, but I can understand that this could quite stressful and it may not be something that you want hanging over you.

I don’t know if there are any rules preventing you from doing what you’re suggesting, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t be doable. Unlike the metro, there are no ticket barriers at the train station so you won’t have any issues there.

really helpful. thanks. ive walked so much on thebeach the last few days i have blisters so taking a trip along the algarve coast – hopefully with a bik today.

Glad you’re enjoying yourself (blisters aside)!

Sometimes it helps if you go to this url rather than the homepage, which is more for timetables: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/buy-tickets

At the moment, it’s only showing me one discounted journey. Not sure what’s going on.

How long it takes to take the train from Lisbon to Lagos and is it direct from Lisbon to Lagos or is there a transfer at Albuferia? Is it a high speed train?

What website can I visit to book tickets? Do the trains have club cars or does one have to bring their own refreshments? If I buy tickets in advance and decide to change my itinerary, can the tickets be cancelled and refunded at no charge?

Hi Margaret,

The fastest train from Lisbon to Lagos takes around 3h37. The slowest is a little under 4 hours. You will have to change, but that change takes place at Tunes and not Albufeira. Tunes is a very small station, so you won’t have any problem finding the other train.

As for high speed? Well, it’s the fastest one on that route but it’s not like what you’d find in other countries like France and Spain.

I’d probably recommend bringing your own refreshments. Some of the trains (see the article above) have refreshments like soft drinks and snacks, but they’re quite basic.

Tickets can be bought from cp.pt

You’ll find information about refunds (in English) here: https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/passenger-information/Useful-information/refunds It depends on which train you take, but generally you will be able to get most of your money back (minus an admin charge) if you ask for the refund before the train journey.

If you go to the “cp.pt” site, you will see that you can also leave from Porto Sao Bento, and you will find the times, prices, stops, and changes…..

What is the best route by train from Porto to Tomar ?

Hi Cathryn,

I believe you take the train from Porto Campanhã to Entroncamento, and then a regional train from Entroncamento to Tomar.

If you book a train ticket in advance ~eg for date X – do you also have to specify the actual train time or can you leave that open?

IF you have to specify the train, and then are late and miss it ~is the ticket just lost or can you get it changed on the next train without having to pay the full price again ?

Check out http://www.seat61.com – it tells you how to book trains from Portugal to other countries in Europe.

I love the trains in Portugal. The scenery is always amazing.

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Portugal train guide | how to travel portugual by train.

The Savvy Backpacker's guide to traveling Portugal by train

Transportation

portugal rail trips

Portugal is quickly becoming one of the hottest destinations in Europe and one of the best ways to explore its amazing cities and towns is by taking the train. In this Portugal Train Guide, I’ll cover how to travel through Portugal by train—including how to buy train tickets, how to find the best prices on train tickets, and other helpful tips for using Portugal’s rail system.

How To Buy Train Tickets In Portugal

portugal rail trips

Ok, let’s start with how and where to buy train tickets for trains in Portugal.

Where To Buy Train Tickets in Portugal

portugal rail trips

Other than buying tickets at the train station (via the ticket window or automated ticket machines), there are only two ways to pre-purchase train tickets for trains in Portugal—either from the Official Portugal Rail Website ( Comboios de Portugal ) or through the third-party reseller Omio .

The Comboios de Portugal website suffers from some weird translation issues and some international users might have trouble making credit card payments so I recommend sticking to Omio .

Luckily, Omio is much more user-friendly than the Comboios de Portuga website, it accepts all international credit cards, it has a nice smartphone app (where your digital train tickets will be stored), it has a way better user interface, and it’s all in English. Omio sells tickets at the same price as the Comboios de Portugal website but they add a small service fee (around $2)—which I’d rather pay than deal with the Comboios de Portuga website.

Train tickets purchased via both Omio and Comboios de Portugal are digital tickets and can be accessed from their respective smartphone apps (they can also be printed at home). That’s why having a phone with reliable data is important. Check out my Guide For Buying A SIM Card and Mobile Data Plan in Europe to learn how to get affordable mobile data.

When To Buy Train Tickets To Get The Best Price

portugal rail trips

Train tickets in Portugal generally are available for purchase about 60 days before departure so there is no point in trying to book super far in advance.

Tickets for the Portuguese Alfa Pendular train (their high-speed, long-distance train which connects major cities in Portugal and international routes that connect to cities in Spain) are cheapest if bought a few weeks in advance—but generally buying 5-8 days is good enough.

For example, a ticket from Lisbon to Porto costs €16-€20 when bought a week early but sometimes they have extra cheap €10 promo fares. However, if you buy last minute, expect to pay €25-€35. Poke around Omio to see what you find to get a better idea of prices for your itinerary.

The route popularity can also have an effect on price so popular departure times are often slightly more expensive than less desirable times.

Pay Attention To Train-Type And Number of Transfers

portugal rail trips

When looking at potential train tickets, it’s super important to pay attention to both the type of train (AP high-speed, Intercity, local/regional, etc.) and the number of changes (direct, one change, two changes, etc.).

  • AP = Alfa Pendular high-speed train that goes up to 135mph. These trains generally only stop at major towns/cities.
  • IC = Intercity trains. These trains are still quick and hit speeds of 120mph but make more stops than the AP trains. Many IC trains will connect the same cities as AP trains but the journey will take longer.
  • All other trains are local/regional trains. These travel at much slower speeds and make very frequent stops as they’re designed to service smaller towns and villages.

Some train routes are direct and others will have a transfer (or multiple transfers) where you’ll have to change trains at a train station—these stopovers can be super quick (~10-15 minutes) but I’ve also seen longer 1hr+ waits. If possible, seek out direct trains since it’s much easier, quicker, and you don’t have to worry about missed transfers because of delays.

First-Class vs Tourist Class Train Tickets

First-class tickets on Portuguese trains generally cost 50% more than “tourist” class (i.e. second-class) tickets. The main perks are more legroom and larger seats. You can also order food but that’s extra. Seats are arranged in a 2+1 configuration—one row has one seat the other row has two seats.

Otherwise, the tourist/second class is perfectly comfortable. Seats are arranged in a 2+2 configuration—both rows have two seats.

The Types Of Trains In Portugal

Train Travel in Portugal

The Portuguese rail network is comprised of three main types of trains and each has its own quirks.

Alfa Pendular Train (High-Speed Train)

The Alfa Pendular Train (AP) is Portugal’s high-speed train that travels at speeds up to 135mph. These trains typically connect major cities and it’s also the train that connects to cities in Spain. If possible, always book these tickets because it’s a faster and more enjoyable experience.

The Alfa Pendular Trains are modern, have air conditioning, and have comfortable seats. Each train has 1st & 2nd class cars as well as a cafe/bar car. There is also free WiFi & power sockets at all seats.

You’ll want to book these tickets at least a week in advance for the best price but booking even earlier might result in even cheaper promo fares. Check Omio to see current prices.

Intercity Trains 

Next are the Intercity Trains (IC) and these also connect main cities as well as a few smaller cities. These trains can still reach relatively fast speeds of 120 mph but they make more frequent stops which means trips will take longer.

Again, trains are air-conditioned and have both 1st & 2nd class. Most trains also have free WiFi and a cafe/bar car. Don’t expect power sockets in 2nd class but many seats in 1st should have them.

You’ll also want to book these tickets at least a week in advance for the best price. Check Omio to see current prices.

Regional and Local Trains

All other trains are slower regional trains that reach out to small towns and villages.

These trains can’t be booked in advance and prices are always the same, so simply buy your tickets at the train station.

NOTE: Some popular day trip routes (like Lisbon to Sintra) attract tons of tourists so the ticket lines can get very long. Arrive well before your train’s departure or buy your tickets from the station a day before you travel to avoid missing the train you want.

Popular Train Routes in Portugal

portugal rail trips

Portugal is a fairly small country so most visitors stick to a few main train routes. I’ve listed a few of the most popular routes and listed some helpful information for each route.

Lisbon to Porto By Train (Around 2.5h-3h)

Traveling between Lisbon (Oriente Station) and Porto (Campanhã Station) by train is easy and there are multiple direct trains daily. The Alfa Pendular high-speed train will take around 2h40min and the slightly slower Intercity train takes around 3h10min.

Single tickets start around €32 but you can save 50%+ by booking early. Check prices at Omio .

Lisbon to Sintra by Train (Around 45min-1hr)

Sintra is a very popular day trip from Lisbon. It uses a local train that takes around one hour and costs €2.30 each way. There are multiple trains every hour—sometimes as often as every 10 minutes during peak travel times.

You can only buy tickets from the station. The ticket lines can get very long during the busy season so arrive early to avoid the lines.

Lisbon to Braga by Train (Around 3hr 16min)

Braga is a city in the far north of Portugal. Braga is about 3hr15m from Lisbon via the high-speed train and 40m from Porto via the high-speed train.

There are a few direct trains between Lisbon and Braga but most require a change in Porto (which can add anywhere from a 10-minute stopover to over an hour stopover). So look for a direct train for the shortest and most convenient route.

There are multiple daily departures between Lisbon and Braga and tickets cost between €30-€40 but can get down to €12-€15 if booked early. Check prices at Omio .

Lisbon to Coimbra by Train (Around 1h30min-1hr50min)

The riverfront city of Coimbra is about halfway between Porto and Lisbon so it makes a popular trip from both cities. Direct train journeys between Lisbon and Coimbra take between 1.5-2 hours depending if you take the AP or IC train.

Standard train tickets between Lisbon and Coimbra cost around €20-€26 or €10-€15 if booked early. Check prices at Omio .

Lisbon to Faro by Train (Around 3hr 30min)

Sunny Faro is the best-known city in Portugal’s famous Algarve region. The high-speed AP train takes about 3 hours and the IC train takes about 3.5 hours from Lisbon. Check prices at Omio .

More Portugal Train Travel Tips

portugal rail trips

Here are some more random things to keep in mind when using Portugal’s train system.

Double-Check Your Train Station Name

Many cities have multiple train stations that serve different parts of Portugal or other countries—for example, Lisbon’s main stations are Rossio, Santa Apolónia, and Campolide. Don’t make the mistake of going to the wrong station.

Give Yourself Time At The Station

It’s generally easy to find your train once you arrive at the station but give yourself some extra time so you’re not rushing through the crowded station to get to your train.

Don’t Freak Out If You Don’t See Your Train On The Board

You’ll find your train platform via the departure board at the train station. Don’t worry if you don’t see your train because they often only display trains departing within the next 15-20 minutes.

Arrive Early If Buying Tickets At The Station

Ticket lines at the train station can get very long so you’ll want to arrive with plenty of time so you don’t miss your train. If possible, buy your tickets online so you can skip the lines but many local trains can’t be bought online so doing it in person is your only option.

Self-Service Machines Are In English

Don’t worry if you don’t speak Portuguese because the ticket machines (and train station signs) are all in English.

Cheap Tickets Are Non-Refundable

One downside to cheap train tickets is that they’re non-refundable and can’t be changed.

Pack A Picnic

You’re allowed to bring your own food and alcohol on trains so bring some food along for those long train rides.

For more general trips about traveling by train in Europe, check out my Complete Guide To Train Travel In Europe . Also, check out my Guide To Using Rail Passes in Europe if you’re going to be taking multiple train trips as you travel.

More Europe Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

portugal rail trips

Traveling to Portugal and beyond? Here are some helpful articles to help you plan your trip.

  • Lisbon Travel Guide : The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide to visiting Lisbon on a budget.
  • How Much To Budget For Lisbon : I do the math and break down how much it costs to visit Lisbon.
  • The Best Hostels in Lisbon : My guide to my favorite hostels in Lisbon for every travel style.
  • The Best Travel Backpacks : A list of my favorite backpacks that are designed for travel.
  • Backpacking Europe Packing List : What you should take (and what you should leave behind) when traveling to Europe.
  • The Complete Guide To Backpacking Europe : Just about everything you need to know about traveling Europe on a budget.
  • How To Buy Train Tickets in Portugal : More in-depth tips for buying Portuguese train tickets.
  • Recent Posts

James Feess

  • Fashion Advice: How to Avoid Looking Like An American Tourist In Europe - February 20, 2024
  • How To Purchase Train Tickets for Europe | Strategies For Buying European Train Tickets - February 16, 2024
  • Complete Guide To Train Travel In Europe | How To Travel Europe By Train - February 15, 2024

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With our Portugal itinerary, you'll experience Europe of old and new, where youthful cultural scenes meet undisturbed, traditional life. Portugal has the oldest borders in Europe and retained a lot of its ancient architecture. Add to the mix the sun-soaked beaches and friendly, relaxed nature of the Portuguese and it’s a great place to kick-back and take it easy. The country is well connected by train and its modest size means you can experience all of its regions in just a few weeks. All train travel within the country is covered by the Eurail Portugal Pass .

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Portugal

Porto, Portugal

A port of call for historic maritime voyages, Portugal’s second city is the perfect place to begin your own adventure. Stroll along the quayside between the colorful ancient buildings of the Cais da Ribeira and traditional boats parked on the River Douro . A free walking tour, starting at Lion’s Square (Praça de Gomes Teixeira), provides a great introduction to Porto’s history and culture. Linger at the Ribeira Square (Praça da Ribeira) afterwards and you’ll realize why UNESCO recognized the Historic Centre of Porto as a World Heritage site.

Boats beside the Cais da Ribeira in Porto

From Porto to Pinhão

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Porto São Bento

Pinhão, Portugal

Save yourself a day to take the Douro Line (Linha do Douro) from Porto to Régua. Start at São Bento Train Station , which alone is worth visiting for its 100 year old, beautifully tiled walls. Return later in the day to Porto Campanhã Train Station. Portugal’s most stunning train ride takes you through 20 tunnels and across 30 bridges along the Douro valley. Stop at the terraced vineyards of Pinhão on the way, to sample the region’s world-famous port wines – you’re in Porto of course!

View of Pinhão and the vineyards of the Douro Valley

From Pinhão to Coimbra

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Porto Campanhã

Coimbra, Portugal

Coimbra is home to Portugal’s oldest university and no fewer than 6 of Portugal’s kings were born here, including the first ruler Afonso I. No surprise then that the city is rich in history. Visit the tomb of Alfonso I at the Santa Cruz Monastery and don’t miss the Biblioteca Joanina , Coimbra’s extravagant 18 th -century library. Spend an evening at Fado au Centro for a thrilling live performance of Coimbra’s distinctive fado folk music.

Umbrellas hanging in a narrow street in Coimbra

From Coimbra to Lisbon

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Lisboa Oriente

Lisbon (Lisboa), Portugal

As Europe’s second oldest capital city, Lisbon is bursting with historic charm. Take a classic yellow tram to the Moorish Castle of São Jorge for a hilltop view of the city. Then descend on foot through the narrow alleyways of the Alfama district for a taste of old-time Lisbon. Start your evening late, and make sure dinner in the lively streets of the Bairro Alto district in on your Lisbon itinerary. Look in the menu for bacalhau , one of Portugal’s national dishes made from dried and salted cod. For delicious cocktails and fine Portuguese hospitality, head to Bar A Paródia in the west of the city. This hidden gem is one of the oldest bars in Lisbon and one of the most atmospheric too.

A classic yellow tram in Lisbon

From Lisbon to Sintra

Lisboa Rossio

Sintra, Portugal

Be sure to add a day trip to Sintra to any stay in Lisbon. Natural and man-made beauty combine in this fairytale town. Climb the lush wooded hills to the spectacular Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena) with its vibrant turrets and arches in yellow and red. Nestled in the woodland you can also climb the ramparts of the brilliant 8 th century Castle of the Moors . Back in the main town, pop into the little shops and cafés along the narrow, steep lanes. Try ginjinha , a sour cherry shot that comes in a tiny chocolate cup. Look out for locals selling them from their windows.

Pena Palace, Sintra

From Sintra to Faro

Lisboa Entrecampos

Faro, Portugal

Faro is best known as being the provincial capital of the Algarve. Here you can chill by the sea, in one of the many waterfront cafés or beaches. A short bus ride will take you to the popular town beach, Praia de Faro , for soft sand, friendly vibes and a beautiful sunset. Choose to stick within the harbor and Old Town (Centro Historico) and you’ll find plenty of historic delights, none more so than the Igreja do Carmo church. Its eerie bone chapel has walls constructed of femur bones and contains 1245 skulls originating from the Carmelite monks who lived there.

Faro Marina in the evening

From Faro to Lagos

Lagos, portugal.

Lagos is a hotspot for backpackers who bring beach-party vibes and a lively nightlife. It’s also a place to relax to the max and find your personal beach paradise. The closest, Meia Praia , has a long stretch of golden sands, beach bars and water sports. For cliffs, caves and hidden alcoves, try the more secluded Praia do Camilo . For the best surf, take a bus to Sagres at the southwestern tip on Portugal. Further on, you can head to Cape São Vicente , which ancient Europeans perceived as being at the “End of the World”. On the way back, take a boat out to Ponta da Piedade and discover the spectacular grottoes and rock formations.

View of the cliffs and beaches from Ponta da Piedade

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Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, porto to régua, pinhão & pocinho.

Portugal's most scenic train ride takes you along the Douro Valley from Porto (Portugal's second city) to Régua, Pinhão & Pocinho.  It makes a great day trip from Porto, although it's too far for a day trip from Lisbon.  The line currently ends at Pocinho, but over the next few years they plan to reopen the 28km from Pocinho to Barca de Alva on the border with Spain.  Indeed, until 1984 the line continued all the way to Salamanca.

Train times

There are 10-12 trains per day from Porto to Régua, of which 5 or 6 continue to Pinhão & Pocinho.  Porto-Pocinho takes around 3h25.

Check times from Porto to Régua, Pinhão or Pocinho using the journey planner at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt .

Or download a timetable in .pdf format at www.cp.pt/.../comboios-regionais-porto-regua-douro.pdf (please let me know if the link stops working).

You can catch any of these trains from the main Porto Campanhã station, but some start/terminate at the wonderful Porto São Bento station, located right in the UNESCO-listed old city and one of Europe's most beautiful stations.  Start from there if you can.

The best trains to take are the ones called MiraDouro, these use classic carriages built by Swiss firm Schindler, with wide opening windows.  There is a page about these services with a timetable of when this specific type of train runs at www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/how-to-travel/For-leisure/Nature-and-Culture/miradouro-train (please let me know if that link changes).  Some of these start at San Bento station.

How much does it cost?

Porto to Pocinho costs around €14 each way, Porto to Régua around €10 each way.  Fixed-price, unlimited availability, cannot sell out.

How to buy tickets

You can buy tickets at www.cp.pt (in €) or Omio.com (in €, £ or $) and print them out or show them on your phone, but as there are no reservations, tickets have unlimited availability and cannot sell out, you may as well just buy at the station on the day.

Travel tips

Start at Porto São Bento:   São Bento station with its classic wall tiling is a Porto attraction in its own right, so for the full experience take one of the morning trains that start at São Bento.

Which side of the train to sit?   The river is on the right hand side going east from Porto through Tua to just before Ferradosa, then on the left to Pocinho.  If the train isn't crowded, you can switch seats at Ferradosa. 

Food & drink:   The trains are inter-regional trains with no catering, so bring your own food & drink.

Combine train with river boat:   Any hotel in Porto can book you onto a river boat trip along the Douro, for example from Régua to Pinhão.  You can then take the train from Porto to Régua and Pinhão back to Porto, a DIY day trip from Porto by train & boat.  Indeed, you can find one-way river boat trips all the way from Porto to Régua which allow you to return to Porto by train, or vice versa.  Or cruise between Régua & Pocinho, with travel to and from the boat by train.  Try www.cruzeiros-douro.pt .

Short of time?   You'll still get a good appreciation of the wonderful Douro scenery travelling from Porto to Pinhão.  One correspondent recommends lunch in Pinhão at the Casa do Escritor restaurant, dourorenaissence.wixsite.com/writersplace .

Porto São Bento station

Porto São Bento is a terminus located in Porto's UNESCO-listed historic centre.  Built between 1904 & 1916, the azulejo tiling in the main hall makes it one of Europe's most beautiful stations, and a Porto attraction in its own right.  Make sure you call in here!  It's not served by mainline trains to or from Lisbon, but frequent suburban trains link it with Porto Campanhã every 5-15 minutes, journey time 4 minutes.  A few Douro Valley trains start from here, before serving Porto Campanhã.  See larger photo of the interior .  See location map .  See Wikipedia page about Sao Bento .

Along the Douro in pictures

All but one photo in this section are courtesy of Paliparan.com .

Heading east along the river on a morning train...

Regua station...

Alongside the river Douro near Tua.   Photo courtesy of www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip

Between Tua & Pocinho, sometimes just feet from the river...  Photo courtesy of www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip

Now on the way back towards Porto...

And relax...   If you return to Porto Sao Bento station, how about a beer & unique crispy hot dog or Portuguese sandwich at the iconic Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha snack bar 2 minutes walk outside the station?

What are the trains like?

Locomotive-hauled:   Some train are locomotive-hauled, with a mix of former Swiss Railways carriages or stainless-steel cars made in Portugal.  They're not air-conditioned, but have a major advantage - the windows open, for reflection-free photography.  All the trains are 2nd class only.

Air-conditioned diesel units:   Some departures are operated by diesel units, air-conditioned but without opening windows.  Below, this is the lunchtime train from Porto to Pocinho.  Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com

Back to home page

Portugal’s Douro Line is a scenic train journey to “nowhere”

Austin Bush

Feb 8, 2023 • 5 min read

Pocinho train station

The antique wooden train station at Pocinho, the terminus of the Linha do Douro train route through northern Portugal © Austin Bush / Lonely Planet

Our slow travel series explores how you can take more-mindful journeys by train, boat, bus or bike – with tips on how to reach your no-fly destination, and what to see and do along the way. Here, Lonely Planet’s Austin Bush takes us along northern Portugal’s Douro Valley by train.

There isn’t much in the tiny town of Pocinho. But in the case of northern Portugal ’s Linha do Douro, the train line that connects this rural village and Porto , it’s more about the journey to get there. 

The Douro River bisects the top half of Portugal , carving a ragged gap from east to west. That glass of port you tasted in Porto? It got its start in the almost impossibly steep vineyards that frame the river valley. And while most visitors to Porto will experience the Douro River via a cruise, I wanted to do it by train.

Views of the Douro Valley

Many consider the Linha do Douro, the train line that follows the valley, one of the  most beautiful train rides in Europe . Under 125 miles (200km) long, the line terminates at Pocinho, just shy of the  Spanish  border. This means that the train doesn’t really get you anywhere in particular, and you have to return the way you came. But if done right, it’s possible to approach the Linha do Douro as a slow and contemplative – yet also occasionally dramatic – day trip, one that even offers a break for lunch and wine tasting. 

The retro interior of the train that runs the Linha do Douro, from Porto to Pocinho, northern Portugal, Europe

The departure

To ensure that you have time for lunch or (and?) wine tasting, it’s necessary to take the first train of the day, which departs from Porto’s legendary São Bento Station at 7:15am. I was obliged to change trains in the town of Ermesinde, just northeast of Porto, and it was here that I boarded my Linha do Douro train. The stock – made in Switzerland, painted a ’70s-era orange and virtually empty – could easily have featured in a Wes Anderson film.

The next hour, you’ll traverse Porto’s urban sprawl – predominantly gray, semi-industrial feeling suburbs. Your first tunnel (of 23 total) is in Caíde, which is also where the views start to become more rural. The town of Ribadouro offers your first glimpse of the Douro, and it’s from this point on that things get interesting.

Spending diaries: What I spent on a cheap-ish weekend trip to Porto, Portugal

Vineyards in the Douro Valley just east of Pinhão as seen from the train that runs the Linha do Douro, from Porto to Pocinho in northern Portugal

The train snakes along the river, with incredibly steep terraced vineyards and tiny villages clinging to hillsides rising on either side. Whistle-stop stations boast charming tiles; at some points the train tracks are virtually at river level. I did the trip in late January, and while mist and fog obscured the views they created an otherworldly, remote atmosphere. Be sure to sit on the right-hand side for the best views. You may be tempted to hop off in the large-ish city of Peso da Régua , but a wiser stop is Pinhão , where you’ll arrive at about 10am.

The interlude

The terminus for one-day boat trips from Porto, Pinhão is a funny little town, a mix of crusty old winemakers and wide-eyed tourists. It also offers enough to occupy you for a few hours. Take the obligatory photo of the tile murals at the station, and after a walk along the charming waterfront, start planning lunch. A handful of cafes and restaurants are in the center of town, with eateries such as Veladoura or Cozinha da Clara located a short walk away.

Pinhao train station tiles (1).jpg

Alternatively, Pinhão is also home to a legendary butcher, Talho Qualifer – Quinta das Barrocas, where you can taste smoked meats in-house or assemble a riverside picnic lunch. Of course, you’re in the heart of Portugal’s most prestigious wine country, so pencil in time for a tasting session. Several houses, including Croft , Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta do Noval are located right in town, and offer tastings of standard and fortified wines. 

Satiated and slightly buzzed, it’s time to continue to the end of the line: Pocinho. I recommend taking the train that departs at 3:43pm: this allows you nearly five hours to dine and wine in Pinhão, and also catch a not-too-late return train from Pocinho back to Porto. 

A typical station along the Linha do Douro, the train that runs from Porto to Pocinho in northern Portugal

The final hour that connects Pinhão and Pocinho is arguably the most beautiful section of the line – and the section that the day-trippers on boats from Porto miss out on. Outside of Pinhão, the Douro narrows and the scenery becomes more rocky, rugged and wild. At Ferradosa, the train crosses a bridge (one of 35 along the route) to the south bank of the river. Shift to the left side of the train to see tiny train stations – shelters, really – that link to trailheads, abandoned wineries and vineyards that extend right to the tracks.

As you approach the end of the line, the landscape abruptly widens into a broad valley studded with olive trees, a dam and power plant ominously looming in the distance. In Pocinho, the original wooden station is still intact, though there’s not much else to see or do here.

Stretch your legs, take a bathroom break and board the train (most likely the same one you arrived on) returning to Porto, which departs at 5:14pm. If there are no delays, you should arrive in Porto around 8:30pm, just in time for dinner.

A rainbow over a riverside village and vineyards in the Douro Valley as seen from the train that runs the Linha do Douro, from Porto to Pocinho in northern Portugal, Europe

Practical information about the Linha do Douro

Best time to go.

I did the trip in January, which meant the weather was particularly wet and misty. If you’re serious about clear views or photography – or simply want to take advantage of the long days to take a later train back – make the trip during the summer months.

Food and drink on the journey

Pinhão is your best bet for food and drink. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, pack a lunch and a bottle of wine ahead of time and plan a riverside picnic.

I bought my tickets in advance, yet given how few people ride the Linha do Douro nowadays, you’d probably be fine buying your tickets at the station. A round-trip ticket costs just under €30; breaking the trip into bits and buying three separate tickets as I suggest here will cost a tiny bit more.

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Best Itinerary for 10 days in Portugal | Stories by Soumya

The Best 10 Day Portugal Itinerary By Train

Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by Soumya

Are you looking for an easy-to-do 10 day itinerary for Portugal ? Then I have just the thing for you.

Portugal is a beautiful country blessed with years of history, an interesting culture, and gorgeous golden sand beaches. If you are worried about how much you can see with 10 days in Portugal , then this itinerary is for you.

You will learn

  • Top places to visit in Portugal and how many days to spend at each location.
  • How to use public transport to see the best of Portugal in 10 days.
  • Practical information to plan your Portugal trip

This 10-day travel itinerary for Portugal is extremely flexible . Even though we went from north to south, you can easily turn it the other way round depending on where you arrive.

If you ever feel a little too overwhelmed with all the planning, feel free to check out some amazing guided tours that allow you to see the best of Portugal. Else, keep reading to plan your own, memorable 10 day Portugal itinerary by train and bus.

Table of Contents

What trains and buses to use for 10 days in Portugal?

Planning a trip to Portugal? We have the most epic 10 day Portugal itinerary for you. See the bigger cities, charming small towns, eat well, spot Azulejos, tour nature, and do much more. Come, spend 10 days in Portugal with us. #portugaltravelitinerary #portugaltraveltips #lisbon #porto #portugalitinerary10days #portugaldestinations #septembertravel

Please note: This post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

Since we don’t drive, our 10 day Portugal itinerary was completely done on trains and buses . And we found public transport in Portugal to be quite easy to use though a tad bit late sometimes. Within cities, we always used buses, metros, and trams. And they were super convenient.

For intercity travel in Portugal, we used the following.

  • Passenger trains in Portugal – It is easy to find out train timetables, ticket prices, and optimal routes on the Comboios de Portugal website .
  • Intercity buses – We also used Rede Expressos , a very reliable and convenient bus service.

The best 10 Day Portugal itinerary

We started our 10 days in Portugal in the north at Porto and finished in Lisbon . In between, we stopped in many different cities in Central Portugal.

I dreamed a lot about egg tarts (vegan versions also available), Azulejos, and picturesque Portuguese landscapes long before embarking on our trip. Needless to say, you will find tons about them in my 10 day itinerary for Portugal .

Plus, we have a lot of day trip options, heritage hotspots , and practical tips to help you plan your Portugal travel itinerary.

Many travelers combine Spain and Portugal together when they visit. If you wish to do that, you can evaluate Spain vs Portugal first and plan your trip accordingly. Our 10-day itinerary for Portugal will still help you sort your days in Portugal.

Read next: Curated List of the Top 17 Places to visit in Portugal

Day 1: Porto – The beginning of our Portugal 10 day itinerary [Reversible]

Azulejos in Porto | Stories by Soumya

Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon. And to say the truth, it is as pretty as a picture.

Apart from being home to the world-famous Port wine, Porto is one of the best places to spot azulejos (blue and white ceramic tiles that depict life and culture).

We flew into Porto Airport on a Ryan Air flight from Brussels and spent two days sightseeing Porto.

On Day 1, we ticked off many highlights on our Porto bucket list such as climbing the Clerigos Tower, being stumped by the beauty of Palácio da Bolsa, walking the Porto Ribeira and strolling the Dom Luis I bridge.

Tips for visiting Porto

  • Stay in the historic city center if you wish to explore on foot.
  • If you are on a budget like we were, you can stay in the much cheaper area of Vila Nova de Gaia. We stayed at the Hotel Ibis and I would highly recommend it. The rooms are neat and comfortable. Their egg tarts are delicious. Click here to book your stay at Hotel Ibis Porto Gaia .
  • Get a Porto Card if you wish to save some money on entrance fees. A Porto Card makes a lot of sense for adults though not as much for kids under 12. Buy your Porto Card here.

Read our detailed review of the Porto Card with numbers.

Day 2: Day Trip to Douro Valley from Porto by train

Douro Valley | Stories by Soumya

On our second day in Porto, we took a much-awaited day trip to Pinhão and Pocinho from Porto.

The train ride through the majestic Douro Valley , a UNESCO Heritage Site, is extremely picturesque and well worth your time.

Douro Valley is one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world and outright beautiful. Sprawling vineyards, fragrant orange groves, and sleepy villages dot both sides of the valley as Rio Douro snakes through in between.

A traditional Douro valley tour is highly recommended if you are looking forward to some great wine-tasting.

Tips for visiting the Douro Valley by train

  • Start early so that you can spend a good amount of time in Regua and Pinhão.
  • We would highly recommend you to go up to Pocinho and not just end your train ride at Pinhão. The scenery becomes more rugged and natural after Pinhão.
  • Refer to our complete Porto to Douro Valley train guide to plan your day.

Day 3: Porto

This was our second day in Porto. We spent a good amount of time Azulejo-spotting , tasting the best of Pastel de Nata, visiting the offbeat Tram museum, and taking a 6-Bridges Cruise down the Douro River.

Plus, we checked out some of the stunning churches such as Igreja de Carmo, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, and Capela das Almas.

Read next: 17 Best Things to do in Porto .

Leaving for Coimbra by train

We left for Coimbra the same day. We took a late evening train to Coimbra from the Sao Bento Station in Porto. The train journey was a little more than an hour and included two easy changes.

Click here to check for trains from Porto to Coimbra.

Day 4: Coimbra and Conímbriga 

Coimbra Rio Mondego | Stories by Soumya

Coimbra is the often-ignored, culturally-rich cousin of Lisbon and Porto. It hardly figures on tourist itineraries. But once you get here, you will realize there are so many things to do in Coimbra .

Visiting one of the world’s oldest universities, having great family time at the miniature wonderland, and strolling through medieval streets resonating with Fado music are only a few of them.

You can also take a half-day trip to the Roman ruins of Conímbriga where you can see some wonderful floor mosaics from the Roman era. Use Transdev buses for the purpose. Refer to our guide on Conimbriga Roman Ruins for bus details.

Or do a full-day tour of Coimbra and Aveiro to get a flavor of Portugal’s canal town.

Where to stay in Coimbra?

In Coimbra, we stayed at Pensão Flôr de Coimbra, an extremely cozy place with a very friendly owner. The rooms are spotlessly clean and extremely comfortable.

Close proximity to the bus stop and the train station is an added advantage. They do not serve breakfast but we still recommend it wholeheartedly sans the breakfast. Break into a chat with the owner and he will be happy to indulge you. Book your stay at Pensão Flôr de Coimbra here.

Tips for visiting Coimbra & Conímbriga 

  • Take a morning trip to the Conímbriga ruins because it can get extremely hot in the afternoon and most of the ruins are out in the open.
  • Try the delicious Pastel de Tentugal at Coimbra.
  • Carry water and hat if you are hiking up to the university. It was really hot even in September.

Day 5: Leiria, Batalha, and Alcobaça

Our next stop on our Portugal 10 day itinerary was Leiria, another city in Central Portugal that does not see too many tourists.

Yet, it has some really interesting historic treasures such as the Leiria Castle, a 12th-century church, and the famous Rodrigues Lobo square – all doable in half a day.

When in Leiria, you can choose to stay at the impeccable, spacious, yet inexpensive Hotel D.Dinis that we really loved. Their breakfast cakes are drool-worthy. Book your stay at Hotel D.Dinis in Leiria here.

Leiria is also an easy gateway to the monastery towns of Batalha and Alcobaça which is another reason why we chose to stay here.

We got to Leiria from Coimbra on a Rede Expressos bus. The journey took an hour.

Batalha from Leiria – 15 minutes

The Unfinished Chapel at Batalha | Stories by Soumya

The Monastery of Batalha, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is a Gothic building with beautiful Manueline expressions. It is an absolute must-see heritage site when you are in Portugal.

While the main church is free to enter, you need to pay a small fee to see the beautifully-crafted cloisters and the melancholy but stunning Unfinished Chapel.

Alcobaça from Batalha – 30 minutes

After Batalha, we visited the Alcobaça Monastery yet another UNESCO Heritage Site in Portugal’s historic Estremadura Province.

The monastery houses the tombs of King Pedro I and his lover Inês de Castro. Theirs was one of the most tragic love stories in the history of Portugal, proof of which you can see on their tombs today.

Tips for Visiting Leiria, Batalha, & Alcobaça

  • Rede Expressos runs fast buses in the region. The local operator Rodotejo has more frequent buses. So, check them out too.
  • Try the delicious grilled seafood of Leiria and take time to appreciate the huge Portuguese pavements in the city.
  • Reserve at least 2 hours to see each of the monasteries.

Day 6: Day trip to Obidos

Obidos | Stories by Soumya

Many people prefer to do a full-day tour of Obidos, Batalha, and Alcobaça but we chose to reserve Day 6 for a trip to Obidos. This was because we were traveling with our 6-year-old and we wanted him to spend quality time climbing the city walls, enjoy looking at the flowers and colored houses and stroll the narrow, cobblestoned streets of Obidos.

Obidos is a charming village in Central Portugal that looks like it has jumped out of a postcard. It retains its medieval flavor with a number of old churches and bookshops peppered all over.

Obidos is also a great place to shop for colorful Portuguese souvenirs or take some really cool Insta-worthy pictures . When we were planning our itinerary for 10 days in Portugal, we were pretty sure we wanted to visit Obidos. And so we did!

Tips for Visiting Obidos

  • Getting to Obidos from Leiria can be a little tricky. You first need to take a Rede Expressos or a Rodoviaria do Lis bus from Leiria to Caldas Rainha (50 minutes). Then take a Rodoviaria do Oeste or Rodotejo bus from Caldas Rainha to Obidos.
  • Obidos gets pretty crowded during the day. If you are planning for a day trip, make sure you come really early. For those gorgeous Obidos photographs too.
  • If you are planning to stay in Obidos and are on a budget, stay outside the city walls.
  • There are a number of events and festivals going on in Obidos throughout the year. Check them out on Obidos’ Official Website to plan your trip better.

Check out 24 stunning pictures from Obidos to further inspire your wanderlust!

Day 7 & 8: Lisbon – The last stop on our 10 day Portugal itinerary

Out of our 10 days in Portugal, we spend the maximum time in Lisbon and for good reason. We were here for 4 days. Though we thought 7 would have been better since there is so much to see in this city.

Recommended: If you are here for a shorter time, have a look at our 2 days in Lisbon itinerary .

Since we were on a budget, we stayed a little further away from the city center at Hotel Ibis Lisboa Alfragide. There is a bus stop right next door and you can easily get to the city center from here in less than 15 minutes. Book your stay at Hotel Ibis Lisboa Alfragide here.

We spent the first two days exploring Lisbon’s best attractions , Portugal’s Azulejo history, riding an antique tram, hopping onto a funicular, and strolling through the Alfama district and unearthing its multiple treasures. Also took a short trip to the beach of Carcavelos and my little one really enjoyed it.

Southern Portugal has many natural landmarks including the beaches of Algarve, the islands of Madeira and Tenerife, and the Rota Vicentina and Fishermen’s Trail . Unfortunately, we did not have time for them this time. On my list for my next 10 days in Portugal.

Tips for Visiting Lisbon

  • Again take a Rede Expressos bus to get to Lisbon from Leiria. They have buses every hour. The journey takes 2 hours.
  • Get a Lisboa Card for sightseeing in Lisbon and Belem. It helps you save a good amount of money on entrance tickets. Plus, public transport is free. Buy your Lisboa Card here.
  • Tram #28 that runs between Martim Moniz and Campo Ourique and through the picturesque Alfama district is often a must-do item on everyone’s Lisbon bucket list . That is why it is extremely crowded during peak hours. My suggestion is to go really early or board from Campo Ourique to encounter fewer tourists.
  • Read up our guide on Lisbon off the beaten path and visit the less-crowded, beautiful places in Lisbon.

Day 9: Day trip to Sintra & Cabo da Roca

Pena Palace at Sintra | Stories by Soumya

On our third day in Lisbon, we decided to take a day trip to Sintra . We just took the train from Lisbon to Sintra .

Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira were the highlights of our Sintra day trip itinerary. And then, there were the famed travesseiros of Casa Pirquita. Delightful flaky, pillow-shaped pastries that you must absolutely try when in Sintra.

We then took a bus to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. After this, we rode to the beach town of Cascais and enjoyed a hearty dinner there.

Tips for Visiting Sintra and Cabo da Roca

  • If you are taking the bus from Sintra station, I suggest you get off at Pena Palace (this is the last and highest stop) first and then walk your way down to other sights. It saves you a lot of energy.
  • When we visited in early September, the parks of Pena Palace were closed due to fear of forest fires! This is something you might have to consider when planning your trip to Sintra.
  • Carry a light jacket with you if you are planning to go to Cabo da Roca. It can get really cold and windy here even if the rest of Portugal is boiling.

Read next: Perfect 1-day itinerary for Sintra Portugal

Day 10: Day trip to Belem

Cloisters of Jeronimos Monastery at Belem | Stories by Soumya

On the last of our 10 days in Portugal, we chose to visit Belem. Belem is home to some of the most iconic tourist attractions in Lisbon such as the Belem Tower , the Jeronimos Monastery, and the Discovery Monument.

You can also try the famous Portuguese dessert , Pastel de Nata, at Fábrica Pastéis de Belém right here.

Tips for Visiting Belem

  • Crowds at the Jeronimos Monastery start to thin after 1 pm. So, the afternoon is a great time to visit and save yourself from the scorching heat at the same time.
  • Lisboa Cardholders can skip the line to enter the cloisters at Jeronimos.
  • Refer to our Belem Tower guide to plan your trip here.
  • Visit Fábrica Pastéis de Belém really late in the evening to avoid the crowds. They are open from 8 am – 11 pm every day and there is no queue after 9 pm.

Check out more amazing day trips from Lisbon.

This was how our 10 day Portugal itinerary by train looked like.

If we had some more time, we would have loved to visit the beaches of Algarve, the medieval city of Evora, and the heritage town of Braga . For the next time, then.

Are you planning to visit Portugal for 10 days or more? Need help with something? Drop us a comment below and we will get back to you.

More than 10 days in Portugal?

If you plan to spend more than 10 days in Portugal, refer to our amazing list of Portugal posts for more ideas and itineraries.

  • Top 17 Heritage places to visit in Portugal
  • What to do in Lisbon – Top 15 Lisbon attractions that you cannot miss!
  • 6 Amazing day trips from Lisbon
  • Best Lisbon itinerary for 2 days
  • Best Things to do in Porto
  • 8 Amazing day trips from Porto
  • Where to spot the best azulejos in Porto
  • How to spend a day in Coimbra?

Loved our 10 day Portugal itinerary? Pin it for later!

Planning a trip to Portugal? We have the most epic 10 day Portugal itinerary for you. See the bigger cities, charming small towns, eat well, spot Azulejos, tour nature, and do much more. Come, spend 10 days in Portugal with us. #portugaltravelitinerary #portugaltraveltips #lisbon #porto #portugalitinerary10days #portugaldestinations #septembertravel

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portugal rail trips

37 thoughts on “ The Best 10 Day Portugal Itinerary By Train ”

  • Pingback: 25 Interesting Facts About Lisbon Portugal That No One Tells You

I haven’t been to Portugal but it looks like a small country for you to be able to navigate in 10 days! How are the public transport these days? This year, I always opt to rent a car and I feel like Portugal is a perfect start for a European roadtrip. Do you have any information on car rental or maybe buying an RV (and selling it after the Eu trip)? Thanks for the tips – will definitely follow this road!

Hi Cristina,

Portugal is definitely smaller than most other countries in Europe. However, even though, we were able to move from north to south of Portugal in 10 days, we would have loved to see more of the country along its breadth. If you look at my related post on the best places to visit in Portugal , you will notice that there’s so much one can do. Enough to spend a couple of days. Public transport is pretty good in Portugal. May not be on time always but neat, convenient, and cheap. We used public transport for our entire journey of 10 days. Many travelers do roadtrip through Portugal and prefer doing so. You will find various rental options on the official website of Visit Portugal.

I was planning for Portugal before Covid but have to postpone it and I am sure, I will be referring to your itinerary for planning my trip. You have good mixture of historical things to do and cultural things to do here. I am impressed by the architecture of Belem in Portugal.

Belem is definitely one of the highlights of Portugal. Speaks of so many years of Portuguese maritime history and that’s amply reflected in the Manueline architecture here.

Had I seen this plan two years back I would have probably traveled exactly the way you have. Ours was only a 5 day trip and could only experience Lisbon, Sintra & Olhao. Porto looks beautiful for sure. But next time I would love to visit Leiria, Batalha, Alcobaça & Belem to experience the real Portugal. Thanks for wonderful guide.

You are welcome, Subhashish. I am glad you found this useful.

It sounds a great idea to travel around Portugal. I’ve visited Lisbon twice but only for a day on a cruise. I agree that it’s a must to try the Pastel de Nata! Funnily enough, I visited the palace at Sintra when I was six, hopefully your child enjoyed it, I think I was quite bored at that age and didn’t appreciate it. So many great places for people planning a trip around Portugal.

My son loved the Pena Palace for its colors, thankfully. Otherwise I would have been one tortured mom. 🙂

Ah!!! This makes me want to go back to Portugal SO MUCH! I loved Sintra, Porto, Lisbon, and the Douro Valley wineries. I need to head to some of these other places, though. I was supposed to go this month, but the trip got pushed to April. I really hope it happens. I really want to get back!!

I hope the same too. Good luck for your next trip to Portugal.

This is a great, very detailed itinerary to Portugal. You have provided so many valuable tips which help planning a trip. I have only been to Lisbon, so I would like to use your recommendations for other places worth seeing in Portugal. On my list is the Monastery of Batalha, a UNESCO Heritage Site, Porto and Coimbra. Obidos seems worth visiting too. Thank you for sharing such a perfect itinerary!

You are welcome, Agnes. I am glad this was helpful.

Your 10 day itinerary for Portugal is spectacular! You really did not miss a single detail and make it extremely helpful for one to navigate Portugal in 10 days. Some of the spots you mentioned I had never heard of previously and extend thanks to you for showing me them. Coimbra in particular looks gorgeous and gives me serious wanderlust. The sights you highlighted look like an amazing adventure. Thanks for sharing!

Glad you liked it, Rina. Coimbra is a beautiful UNESCO world heritage site but much lesser known than Lisbon and Porto. It’s a great place to add to your Portugal itinerary .

Ah, Portugal – what a fabulous country! I love this itinerary Soumya, as it covers many of the country’s most interesting spots. Porto is my favorite city and Jeronimos Monastery is definitely a must. I’ve never been to Obidos, but I’m taking note for my next trip, as it looks just adorable!

Obidos is so quaint and colorful, you will love it. And yeah, Porto is simply wonderful. I fell in love with the city.

Portugal is one of my favorite countries in Europe, the people there are really nice and the food is fantastic. Your iItinerary is very similar to the one I would have uploaded if I had made one. I am glad that you have Jeronimo’s Monastery as, in my opinion, it is one of the nicer places to visit in Lisbon.

That’s true, Ann. Jeronimos is definitely one of the prettiest places to visit in Lisbon as well as in Portugal.

Portugal is definitely one of the top countries in Europe that I want to visit. I have seen so many beautiful photos of Portugal online especially Porto and Lisbon. The only time I have tried and egg tart was in Macau and I’m sure the egg tarts in Portugal will be 5x better. I am currently planning a trip to Europe and this detailed itinerary and guide is really helpful for me.

Portugal is indeed a beautiful country. And those tarts are delicious. Even I tried my first egg tart in Macau and have been hooked ever since. Hope you have a great trip to Europe and get to see the beauty of Portugal as well.

I like that your itinerary is done by public transport. I typically travel using only public transport too so it is helpful getting tips on how to get from one place to another in Portugal. Looks like you were still able to get to a lot of different places in the country. Good to know that Leiria isn’t too touristy. I always like to include at least one place on every travel itinerary that is lesser-known and visited.

Agree. The real treasure lies in the lesser known places.

Portugal is definitely high on my list but I have not yet made it there. My favorite thing would probably be spotting the azulejus and riding the tram. Porto are is interesting too and looks beautiful. I would like to try some excellent porto wines.

Spotting azulejos is so much fun and riding the tram too. I hope you have a great trip when you get to Portugal

I have been to Portugal once but it was a really short span of time and I couldn’t see or do much of the things you’ve mentioned. I would like to go again soon someday and visit Douro Valley the view shot was awesome! The best fact for me in Portugal was that the houses were so bright and colorful.

Douro Valley is really pretty. And yes, those houses are so photogenic. Hope you have a great second trip to Portugal.

I always thought Portugal has Lisbon, Porto and Algrave as worth visiting places but reading your post now made me interested to other quirky places too. You have done lot of town or places in 10 days which is really appreciating. I am saving this detailed itinerary for my future visit to Portugal. Coimbra and Conimbriga though ignored by tourists looks my kind of place and I would surely go for it. The views of colorful houses here are stunning. Also it is great that you have listed all hotel stays in all these cities which makes me easier to plan my Portugal holiday.

Thanks for the kind words Yukti. I am sure you will love Coimbra and Conímbriga. And it easy to get to places within Portugal since it is not very big. Therefore, we could do so many interesting places. I would love to go back and experience them again.

I love Portugal but there’s so much more to see that I haven’t done yet. I’m getting some great idea here, Porto looks amazing so I’d definitely add that to the list. I absolutely loved the architecture of the monastery at Belem, such an evocative building with an interesting history.

Absolutely, Paul. Those monasteries are so unique and intriguing. I would highly recommend doing at least one apart from Jeronimos in Lisbon.

That’s on a perfect timing. I’m heading to Portugal soon, but only for 3 days, in and around Lisbon. Douro Valley looks gorgeous. Good to know that there are tours that include wine tasting as well. That gives a good reason to plan another trip to Portugal haha. Monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça are important places that I’m missing in this trip as well. More reason to do another trip! Thanks for the tip about the best time to visit Jeronimos Monastery. Will keep that in mind. How much time did it take by bus from Sintra centre to Cabo de Roca?

Hey Bhushavali. Good to hear about your travel plans to Portugal. Lisbon is beautiful and there’s so much to do there. I am sure you will love it. The Sintra bus trip to Cabo da Roca took us 40 minutes. And you can board one right at the city centre.

I’ve been to Portugal 3 times and clearly really enjoy it! Reading your post brings back so many great memories that I think a fourth visit is in order 🙂 I much prefer the north, so Porto wins over Lisbon for me. I’ve not explore much of central Portugal or Leiria and Batalha so I’d love to explore these places the next time I return.

That’s lovely. Portugal 3 times. I would love that. And yeah, central Portugal is beautiful and less touristy. So the monasteries make for great additions to your 4th time Portugal itinerary.

10 days in Portugal sounds lovely! Porto and Lisbon are high on my bucket list, but there’s so much to see beyond those cities too. The monastery in Belem looks fascinating. I bet there’s so much history there!

There’s lots of history in Portugal. And I would encourage you to visit these smaller places as well for the real feel of Portugal.

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The World’s Best Luxury Train Trips: Portugal’s The Presidential Train

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Like the famous Orient Express, Portugal’s own The Presidential Train is a perennial member on the exclusive list of the world’s most luxurious train trips. Onboard, passengers are treated to world class dining prepared by a rotating cast of Michelin-starred chefs as they make the one day return trip from Porto to the Douro Valley wine region.

More than that, passengers get to experience riding on what was once a purpose built train to serve royalty. They will, decades removed, be in sitting in the same seats and dining in the same carriage that was once reserved for the likes of kings, queens, presidents, heads of states, and popes since 1890. It is history…unfrozen and untethered from time.

the presidential train pulling into Sao bento station

A Second Farewell For The Presidential Train

To say it was a privilege to be guests on this luxurious train journey would be an understatement, but the whole thing felt even more poignant after stepping on board and learning that we would be on one of the Presidential Train’s final trips (for a second time in it’s storied history).

A little backstory.

In 1970, the Presidential Train carried the body of Portugal dictator António de Oliveira Salazar, following his death, to his hometown of Vimiero. That was its farewell trip and would have been the end of the story, had the train not been restored in the 2010s by a Portuguese entrepeneur, Gonçalo Castel-Branco, to take a new list of guests on a world class culinary tour to the Douro Valley.

dining table on luxury train rides

For 6 1/2 years starting in 2016, the train welcomed world class chefs and lucky passengers on daily weekend trips from Porto to Quinta do Vesuvio and back.

On October 29, 2022, The Presidential Train welcomed 6 of the best Portuguese chefs to come aboard and create an unforgettable final dining experience. The train will then pull into Sao Bento station one last time and return, indefinitely (because who can say forever), to the National Railway Museum as part of its permanent exhibition.

Our own journey took place on September 11th, just a month and a few trips before the final farewell.

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Bringing The Presidential Train Back To Life

But let’s rewind.

The story of how The Presidential Train was brought back to life goes something like this. After Salazar’s funeral journey, the train decommissioned, moved away and mostly forgotten about for decades.

Eventually, it found a home at the National Railway Museum in Entroncamento, where Gonçalo Castel-Branco happened upon it and immediately fell in love.

outside of the presidential train

As he tells it, “at dinner that night when I tried to share what I had seen with my family and said, ‘we must have an idea for this train!’ to which my 10-year-old daughter replied, ‘why don’t we make a restaurant on it?”

That idea stuck, and after years of restoration, pitching the idea to investors, partners, chefs and purveyors of Portugal’s finest products, permission to run the train on the historic Douro Valley line was secured and The Presidential Train was reborn.

Returning To A Different Era Of Travel

Practically speaking, those wanting to travel to the Douro Valley can take a train that goes from Porto to Pinhão or Pochinho for about 24 euros roundtrip. The journey is about 3-3.5 hours each way in a comfortable modern train.

black and white passengers waiting for train at regua station in Portugal

By contrast, The Presidential Train costs 750 euros. Simply riding on a historic train carriage, especially one without any modern facilities or amenities and costing hundreds more, would hardly seem like enough of an appeal to justify the price difference.

But sharing the same path is where the comparison ends.

entertainment salon carriage on the presidential train

In an age where speed and efficiency rules, one can easily question how some slow and old train trips that cost between $4000-$10000 and beyond can exist. And yet they do.

The Belmond British Pullman , the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , and the Mahajaras’ Express are regularly sold out months in advance. The Cruise Train Seven Stars in Japan has a 4 day 3 night trip that works on a lottery application opened for just one month a year for trips in the following year.

The demand is there…because these train rides, the slower and longer they are, offer an nostalgic escape to a different time where traveling was mostly a privilege.

And those who could afford such travels, had the same taste for high class comfort and service on the road as they did at home. One can hardly expect Monsieur Hercule Poirot to dine on canned tuna when he ventures outside of England to solve a murder.

Michelin Starred Chefs…Aboard

With that in mind, the foundation behind Gonçalo’s The Presidential Train experience was one built around the senses and, of course, the stomach. And there’s no better way to provide high-end dining than to just bring on board a changing cast of Michelin-starred chefs to design a bespoke dining experience lasting from the first few moments you step onto the train and ending only when it returns to its station of departure.

woman holding glass of white wine on luxury presidential train

With the sheer number of different Michelin-starred chefs that have been invited to cook on The Presidential Train, I wonder if there’s anyone who’s more connected in the high-end Portuguese dining scene. And passengers on the train are the luckily beneficiary of that network.

On our journey, we had Chef Diogo Rocha, author of three award-winning books, and a holder of a Michelin Star since 2019 for his Mesa de Lemos Restaurant .

Paired with him was Chef Óscar Geadas, a member of the Portugal’s culinary society and known for his turn as a jury member on Masterchef Portugal. Geladas, too, has held a Michelin Star since 2019, for his restaurant, G Pousada .

In other words, we were in good hands.

entertainment salon carriage on the presidential train in portugal

Amuse Bouche

Our scheduled departure from Sao Bento station was 11:30 am. After checking in at 11 and being handed a welcome invitation reminiscent of old train tickets, we eagerly began to explore the different carriages.

invitation ticket for the presidential train in portugal

At 11:29 am, we were in our cabin just in time for a server to arrive with a bottle of sparkling 2016 Niepoort Spumante Olo. At exactly 11:30 am on the nose, I had the first, of many, glasses of wine in my hand.

server offering niepoort sparkling espumante wine to woman on the presidential train

A few minutes late, we were off and the same server came back with a little amuse bouche of cured tuna that just melted in my mouth. The sun was starting to warm up the day and our cabin as we followed the Douro River east away from Porto.

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Let The Lunch Begin

A second appetizer of partridge terrine came out alongside a refill of our glasses, which I happily accepted. We had a chance to chat with the couple also in our cabin. The gentlemen was a food writer in Lisbon, so we shared a mutual appreciation for good eats and travel.

The cabin itself has the same look as it once did in the past, but with new interiors commissioned to be remade by the same company that made the original.

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Shortly after 12, we were invited to take our seats in the dining carriage for lunch. Dining like this on an old train has long been one of my dream bucket list items. Everything was ready and neatly laid out. Crisp linen cloth, spotless glasses for the white and red wines and of course the menu.

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A Culinary Showcase of Portugal’s Flavors (Part I)

First thing to note. Our waiter informed us that all the wine we’d be drinking on the train today was from the Niepoort Winery , a historic producer of port wine in Portugal since 1842. Their wines are considered to be some of the best in the country.

We started with a 2021 Douro Redoma Reserva Branco. Bright and fresh with a slightly dry finish.

It was served alongside the first course, Scarlet Prawn with White Bean. The prawn was from the southern Algarve region and the humble white bean is a staple in many of Portugal’s traditional stew.

Here, they are both presented very simply. The prawn was soft and sweet and the texture was so delicate, but still had a firm bite to it. The beans were prepared in a way that reminded me of risotto. I could have easily eaten a dozen more of these prawns.

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Next was a 2018 Niepoort Vinhas Velhas Bairrada. I really liked this white and found it very crisp with both fruit and floral notes, acidic but not in an overly sharp way.

niepoort vinha velhas bairrada white wine bottle

The second course was a cod neck with “couscous.” Bacalhau (dried and salted cod) is a staple of a food as you can find in Portugal and can be prepared in so many ways that chefs have no shortage of methods of preparing and serving it.

The “couscous” of the dish was a take on the grain but in a very rustic and creamy way giving a bit of textural contrast to the more firm but melt in your mouth tender cod. The whole dish was topped with a savory foam.

Michelin Star preparation of bacalhau cod with sea foam

Using The Same Toilet As Queen Elizabeth

With a few glasses of wine already in me, it was time to excuse myself to visit the restroom. Relieving oneself on a moving train in an always too tight and always too dank smelling toilet is rarely something to look forward to, but not on The Presidential Train.

The toilet itself has a seat made of solid wood to match the interior of the restroom and train. Connected to the exposed water piping is a mechanical flushing lever with vintage plated signs pointing to “Fechada” for closed and “Aberta” for open. I love these details and it was very satisfying to flush.

The faucet and sink was unlike any that I’ve seen in my travels. What I thought was the lever to turn on the water was actual the spout itself. Swing it towards you and water comes out. I may or may not have stayed in the toilet longer than usual to admire all the little details.

And it wasn’t just the toilet. These original details were everywhere on the train and helped to really sell the feeling of traveling back in time.

vintage ventilation lever on the presidential train ventilacao

I definitely stood there imagining how Queen Elizabeth II probably once stood to wash her hands in the very same small restroom before making her way through the corridors back to her seat.

A Showcase of Portugal’s Finest Flavors (Part II)

For our third course, we had Kid Goat and Potato . This was my favorite dish of the meal. The meat was tender and rich with a jus that brought out the slight gaminess in the thin layer of fat on the goatling.

It was served with slightly sweet compote and…a piece of potato. Obviously, not just a piece of potato, as you can see, but an elevation of a simple ingredient into a realm where it could be a dish on its own.

Michelin Star kid goat recipe with potato spiral

In this case, it looks like a potato was peeled into one long and uniterrupted slice that’s then rolled into a tight cylinder, baked and then cut to form a beautiful medallion of potato that’s crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

The Wines Never Stop Coming

We had also moved to the red wines now with a 2019 Niepoort Charme. I found this wine to drink very much like some of my favorite Cabernet Francs in the way it’s complex but very smooth. A robust wine with notes of fruit, but not in a too sweet way.

The alcohol percentage is only 13.5% in this unfortified wine, so this would be a great red for day drinking. Not that I do that of course.

I noted that we each had at least 6 glasses of wine by this point and it was only 1:35 pm when we pulled in the town of Regua and the sort of halfway point before reaching Quinta Do Vesuvio.

It was also during our little stop that chefs Diogo and Oscar came out to mingle with the guests. I loved their playful energy and was glad to be able to personally express my appreciation for their dishes. It was also a nice little break before dessert.

chef diogo rocha and cesar geadas being playful on the presidential train September 11, 2022.

World Class Staff

I have to take a moment to remark on the rest of the staff. From my first conversation talking to The Presidential Train’s marketing liaison, Sofia Santos, to the moment I stepped off the train with a fully and warm belly, everything was so professional but warm.

That’s the best way to describe it. I’ve been lucky to experience some amazing world class service around the world, but in some places, it can feel very old-fashioned or formal or even cold.

Everyone we encountered on the train seemed very excited to be there and we felt the kind of hospitality you’d like to see as a regular rather than just purely professional service. The smiles felt genuine and everyone was eager to help us make the most of the experience.

woman taking polaroid photo for guests on the presidential train

This is very much a testament to the type of people The Presidential Train brings on board.

A Dessert To Pretty To Eat

São Pedro Velho Strawberries and Basil. The name gives only a hint to the composition of the dish, but what came out was a visual delight that equally teased the palate with so many different ingredients and flavor. Sweet, tart, creamy, refreshing, and crunchy only sort of describe how everything comes together.

This was a fun dish.

Michelin Star strawberry and basil dessert the presidential train

And it came out with, naturally, a port, a Niepoort Bioma Crusted. I don’t alway seek it out, but I always enjoy a good port that’s not too sweet when the opportunity presents itself.

I learned here that a crusted port is a blend 2-3 ports that are then matured. They compare well with vintage ports. Both leave sediments at the bottom of the bottle which adds to the character and profile of the wine. And both are rarer in production than your normal port.

server porting niepoort port bioma crusted wine

The Man Behind The Presidential Train

One of the unique aspect of the The Presidential Train is that man behind the whole concept, Gonçalo, goes on every journey with the passengers. Early on, he stopped by our cabin for a welcome onto the train introduction. During lunch, he was going between the two dining carriages and chatting with the guests.

Gonçalo castelo branco on the presidential train with guests

Though I knew the wines would still continue to pour, I thought we were done with the meal. I was wrong. A plate of petit fours with truffles and cookies came out to accompany an afternoon coffee. With the warm sun and the ample amount of wine, I was glad for a caffeine fix.

Moments later, we pulled up to Vesuvio station. The meal was timed to finish at the perfect moment. Here, I was actually relieved to get out and stretch the legs after a full 3 hour meal (we never actually returned to our cabin once lunch started).

Following Gonçalo, we get to a picturesque vineyard that could easily be straight out of Italy. Here, he gave us a little history about the train and the winery before taking us to the estate.

visiting quinta do Vesuvio vineyard

Experiencing Quinta Do Vesuvio

Home to the Symington family, whose been producing port wine in the Douro Valley since 1882, the Quinta Do Vesuvio is one of their finest estate and one that’s not usually open to the public.

quinta do Vesuvio terrace

Through The Presidential Train, we got the chance to visit this private working estate to enjoy a selection of wines and vintage ports (cigars and cocktails were also available) on their estate terrace that overlooks the adjacent chapel.

quinta do vesuvio port wine tasting table

For those interested, Gonçalo brought us to the stone lagares  to show where the grapes are still stomped by feet and the wine is still produced in the same original method every year following the harvest.

quinta do vesuvio guests visiting cellar laggers

UPDATE: Quinta Do Vesuvio is for the first time offering private tours to the estate that includes a tasting and lunch. This visit requires advanced reservation and costs between 450-500 euros per person depending on the group size.

portugal rail trips

At around 5:10 pm, we stood by the station tracks to await the return of The Presidential Train with its distinctive whistle. Then it was back on the train. This time, our table was on the opposite side of the carriage to give us a different view for the return journey. A thoughtful touch.

view of the duoro river from the window of the presidential train

There’s Always Space For Charcuterie

A new menu card was provided and a quick count revealed 15 different “dishes.” I had no idea how we would eat all of that if the lunch was anything to go by.

As it turns out, several of these items were all plated together into two “charcuterie” platter. The first I would call a meat and cheese plate.

  • 12 month aged Ilha cheese from Lactacores
  • Chiba goat and sheep cheese from the Queijaria Cheese Shop
  • Varanegra cured ham from Salsicharia Estremocense
  • Smoked sausage from Pinhao
  • Sweet red pepper jam from Jose Gourmet

charcuterie platter on the presidential train

The second was more of a seafood charcuterie plate.

  • Cod pate and cuttlefish and shrimp pate from Jose Gourmet
  • Trout with garlic and parsley and smoked sardines from Jose Gourmet

All of this was served with a selection of Niepoort wines and a very refreshing cold tea. At this point, I am admittedly a little more than tipsy, but the flavors of the never ending treats continued to deliver.

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I slowed down on the wine and made we pretty much consumed all the bread alongside the charcuterie and cheeses to keep from getting drunk.

Slowing Down Time

As a photographer, I was compelled to step away from the table every few minutes to try to capture the magic of the fast changing sunset light and landscapes.

view of the duoro river from the window of the presidential train

Leaning out the window, with the feeling of the wind in my hair and the wine doing its thing, I was at peace. There was a happiness that begged for time to slow down, for the light to stay the way it was, and for the journey to keep going forever.

portugal rail trips

As we slowed to a station, I noticed a woman with a large basket of white bags expectantly waiting for the train. This image brought back memories of train travel through places like India or Myanmar, where each stop would offer passengers a chance to buy food and drinks from a chorus of vendors selling through the windows.

Next thing I knew, she was on the train going through the carriages and dropping off little white bundles on each table.

When I looked closer, it had a “The Presidential 2022 Edition” sticker on it. This small gesture left a deep impression on me since this was obviously pre-orchestrated to add another nostalgic element to the whole traveling on trains in the past experience. I loved it.

When we took off again, I used the last bit of light from golden hour to capture the many details that I had missed early in the day.

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Room For Dessert

By this time, I had stopped drinking, despite the temptation. In between each plate, we walked around to the different carriages. Near the front, there’s a salon of sort with some comfortable vintage couches. The previously empty space was now occupied by a piano player who began to play a beautiful song for us when we entered.

We sat a while and just listened.

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Whenever I saw servers moving along the corridor with a new dish, we promptly returned to our table. I definitely didn’t want to miss out on any of the many desserts that would come out wave after wave.

  • Yuzo and Cardamom Financier
  • Red Fruits Tartelette
  • Carob, Tonka Bean and Salted Caramel Cookie
  • Scones with Cranberries and Whipped Cream
  • Red Fruits Jam and Pumpkin Jam with Walnuts

It just was never ending.

red fruits tnrtelette on the presidential train

Portuguese Guitarra and Belgian Chocolates

While the piano music entertainment was obviously confined to the salon carriage, a Portuguese guitar player moved about and put on an evening performance in each of the dining carriages.

I recognized a couple of classical pieces that was being played on the traditional 12 string Portuguese guitarra and it was very relaxing to listen to while we digested our desserts.

portugal rail trips

Another beautiful detail that added to magic and experience of this type of travel.

And then as if all the desserts weren’t already enough, two servers came out carrying a beautiful wooden glass box that I initially mistaken from afar as a large cigar box. Close up, the content was instead columns of truffles and chocolates in all sorts of elegant and intricate shapes from Neuhaus , one of, if not the best, Belgium’s finest chocolatiers.

Neuhaus belgian chocolate truffle gift box

As we listened to all the different options, I was thinking aloud that it was so hard to choose while carefully narrowing down to 3 selections.

“Choose as many as you like.”

While that was tempting, I did stick with a more respectable 3 pieces and immediately wondered if I should have just listened instead.

Until The Train Pulls In

Portuguese caldo verde on the presidential train

As we neared Campanha station, the dining had yet to be concluded and one final dish was brought out – a traditional Portuguese Caldo Verde. My curiosity was piqued earlier when I saw that a soup would be the last course AFTER all the desserts.

And yet, somehow the slightly creamy vegetable soup just worked to close the entire meal leaving us with a warm feeling in our bellies as the train pulled up to Sao Bento station around 10 pm.

A Parting Well Made

While I could not have asked for anything more to the day, The Presidential Train did not let us go away empty handed. Instead, it sent us off with several parting gifts.

The first was a gorgeous hard cover booklet, beautifully designed inside and out, to give us the story and history of The Presidential Train along with a breakdown of each part of our journey, the wines, the meals, the chefs, the vineyard and more. A gorgeous memento to remember a once in a lifetime trip.

When we stepped off the train and walked towards the exit, the full staff of The Presidential Train was already lined up to offer bright smiles and a warm farewell.

And then, for one last surprise, we were given a gift bag to take home.

“So the culinary experience doesn’t end here.”

Amongst the treasure was a small bottle of Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Port in  a cute cylindrical packaging, a bottle of red wine, a beautiful artist sketchbook, and a bar of the wonderfully smelling bar of Portus Cale soap from Castelbel.

Was The Presidential Train Worth It?

At around 750 euros per person for a one day train journey, the price might seem a little daunting initially. But having experienced everything The Presidential Train offered, I have this to say.

Simply put, as far as luxury train rides in the world, The Presidential Train is far and away the most economical and value-filled trip that one can experience.

While I don’t know the exact economics of what putting together a trip of this caliber costs, I can say that Gonçalo and The Presidential Train spares no expenses in giving their guests the absolute best experience. And I have to speculate that this cuts incredibly deep in the profitability, if there’s any, of operating The Presidential Train.

From sourcing the train, pulling the Michelin-starred chefs away from their restaurants, bringing on board an endless supply of fine wines, procuring private access to Quinta do Vesuvio, and sending us off with all sorts of treats, the trip was worth every penny and more.

portugal rail trips

It feels like a deep passion project. A love letter of sorts to Portugal to showcase what the country has to offer in terms of history and culinary prowess. While the trips have come to an end, the memories imprinted on its guests over the years, will surely endure. I can’t wait to see what Gonçalo will set his sights on next.

If you’re looking for more quirky and interesting travel ideas, check out my bucket list for some inspiration and I hope to see you out there.

Updated on October 24, 2023

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Kien is an international photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He captures his adventures on whereandwander.com and believes in living for those moments that make the best stories, told or untold. He is working through his bucket list and wants to help others do the same. Follow him on Instagram @hellokien .

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Getting to Obidos from Nazare without a car - Portugal Forum

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Getting to Obidos from Nazare without a car

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The railway station nearest Nazaré is 6km from the town. The station is called Valado-Nazaré-Alcobaça. There are trains to Óbidos, but then a little bit of a walk. There are local buses on weekdays to Valado from Nazaré bus station, website for times is http://rodoviariadooeste.pt/ you pay on the bus. The website is only in Portuguese. I don't know where exactly they stop in Valado. The timetable does not say and they aren't marked on Google Maps.

Train times - https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/timetables/lisbon-figueira-foz-oeste-regional-trains.pdf

Google street view shows a taxi waiting at the station, so you might be lucky on the way back.

By bus it's awkward but if you are brave, go to the regional bus website mentioned above where you will find there are only three direct buses each weekday, one of which runs only on Schooldays. There are none at the weekend.

The website does not see fit to offer connections, so you must do this yourself. The national long distance bus company Rede Expressos runs several times daily between Nazaré and Caldas, possibly a better bet. Current times will help in planning, but they sell tickets only one month in advance. Or you can buy at the respective bus stations on the day. Their website is http://www.rede-expressos.pt (or find their app) and that is available in English.

There are frequent local buses between Caldas and Óbidos, same website as for nazaré to Valado above.

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