How to Get to Porto from Lisbon

Are you travelling soon to Portugal to discover Lisbon? Being as close as it is to Porto, you should not miss the opportunity to visit this other Portuguese city. Only 300 kilometres away, the distance between the two can be covered by bus, train or even plane. The alternatives are many, but depending on the comfort you are looking for, some may be more interesting than others.

Of course, an organised tour is the most exclusive, personalised and enjoyable option, but for tighter budgets there are other means, such as the public bus. I've done some research to summarise the advantages (and disadvantages) of each mode of transport, so you can start planning your trip.

The short distance between Lisbon and Porto can become very long if you don't plan your trip well. Why? Because you have to keep track of timetables, means of transport, transfers... To avoid problems, I advise you to book an organised tour that picks you up in Lisbon and takes you directly to the centre of Oporto. This way you won't have to worry about wasting trains or buses or, worse, time going from one place to another.

The great advantage of these excursions is undoubtedly to go from one point to another without intermediate stops or transfers, but the comfort during the journey is another aspect to take into account. What do I mean? Travelling by public transport sometimes means uncomfortable seats, no air conditioning in summer or heating in winter, or even having to stand up. Booking a private tour ensures that none of these things happen and that you can enjoy your trip to Porto even before you arrive in the city.

Sounds good, doesn't it? It will when you see the different alternatives you have depending on your budget or the exclusivity you are looking for.

Organised excursion to Porto by private transport with door-to-door service

This is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive services you will find if you want to go from Lisbon to Porto. Why? Because a private vehicle, just for you, will pick you up at your hotel (or any other point in the city you choose), take you to Oporto in approximately two hours and, at the end of the day, return you to your accommodation. Of course, the price is a bit high (from 225€), but if you are travelling to Lisbon with children, it is a very convenient option.

It is the most direct alternative, so if you don't want to waste time and make the most of your day in Porto, you should consider it. In addition, it usually includes transport service within the city as well. What do I mean? Your driver will be your guide and will take you to the most interesting places in Oporto, without the need to walk long distances or take public transport.

Interesting facts

• Price: 225€ approximately
• Duration: about two and a half hours (about 10 hours of excursion, no overnight stay)
• Disadvantage: you have to stick to the tour schedule.
• Recommended if you want to save yourself worries and not waste time on public transport.

Shared bus tour to Oporto from Lisbon

Looking for a cheaper but equally exclusive option? You can always book a shared coach tour, where you will travel with other travellers, but you will get to Porto just as quickly (in about two and a half hours). The price is more affordable (around €80) and, once at your destination, you can stay on the bus and listen to the guide's explanations as you go around the city.

However, bear in mind that the coach will pick you and the rest of the group up at a common meeting point in the centre of Lisbon, so you will have to travel there. However, there are no intermediate stops along the way, so it is still a direct alternative.

Useful information

• Price: approximately 80
• Duration: about two and a half hours (approximately 10-12 hours of excursion, no overnight stay).
• Disadvantage: you have to share the journey with another group of people.
• Recommended if you want the comfort of an organised excursion at an affordable price.

Travelling by train is always a fast and comfortable alternative; the Lisbon - Porto route is a good example of this. For a fairly cheap price (from 25€) the Portuguese train service gives you up to two options to make the journey between these two cities in about two and a half to three hours.

What I like about travelling by train in Portugal is that most of them are very modern and comfortable. For example, for the route between Lisbon and Porto they all have free wifi, which is great for checking for delays or just planning everything you're going to do and see when you arrive. Tickets can be purchased at the stations or on their website; be aware that they are full in high season, so get your tickets well in advance.

The Alfa Pendular train

The first option, the Alfa Pendular, is the fastest, but also slightly more expensive. For about 30€ (one way) you can get from the Portuguese capital to Porto in about two and a half hours. Other than that, I like it because the seats are very comfortable and you have room to stretch your legs.

The journey flies by without many stops, which means it only passes through Lisbon Oriente station. In Porto it stops at Campanha, which then has very good connections (without having to pay extra) to Sao Bento, the central station.

You don't have to worry about availability either, as the high-speed train is fast and has several departures a day. You can check the timetable on the official website.

The Intercity train

This line of the intercity train takes slightly longer (approximately 3 hours), as it is not a high-speed train. However, the price is lower (from €25 one way) and the seat is also assigned, so there is no danger of having to stand up. Another advantage is that there are two stops in the city of Lisbon (Santa Apolonia and Oriente), so it can be more accessible depending on where you are staying.

In Porto you will arrive at Campanha station, from where you can then go by public transport, for the same price, to other parts of the city such as Sao Bento. These intercity trains have more than 10 departures a day, but they make several stops in between and are not as modern, although they are not uncomfortable either.

Interesting facts

• Price: between 50 ¤ and 70 ¤ approximately
• Duration: about three hours
• Disadvantage: you will have to travel to the train stations.
• Recommended if you want to travel comfortably and for good value for money.

The cheapest option to get from Lisbon to Porto is by bus (approximately 20€ each way) but it will take you much longer (from four hours). If you still prefer to use this means of transport, Rede Expressos has more than 20 departures a day to choose from, so you can leave early in the morning (from 7am) and return to Lisbon in the late afternoon (until midnight). Don't worry about comfort, as they are modern vehicles.

Depending on how much time you have, you can choose between one bus line or another. The 50, for example, is much faster (less than four hours) and can also be used to get to Fátima from Lisbon. If you don't mind making more stops and taking a little longer to get to Porto (around four hours) you can consider lines 11 and 53.

In any case, you can take the buses from Lisbon's Sete Rios station and they will drop you off at Rua Alexandre Herculano in Porto, very close to the centre. Please note that you cannot buy your ticket from the driver, so make sure you buy it online or at the ticket office at the station.

Interesting facts

• Price: approximately €40
• Duration: about three to four hours
• Disadvantage: The journey can be long.
• Recommended if you are looking for a cheap alternative

Are you going to rent a car during your trip to Lisbon to get around different cities? Or maybe you have arrived in Portugal with your own car. It's not a bad option to take advantage and use it to go to Porto as well, but I hope you know that tolls are expensive (around 25€) and the system to pay them is a bit complex. However, if you decide to go by road you can do it in about three hours.

The rental price is around 15€/day, so it is cheap, but the problem is that the tolls are very high and they are charged automatically thanks to the number plate recognition. In other words, there are no physical barriers on the road, but the car will be recognised and then the rental agency will give you a receipt. You should bear this in mind and consider it as part of the cost of getting from Lisbon to Porto - you don't want any surprises or fines!

Whether you travel with your own car or a hire car, if you have a driving licence issued by a European country, you will be able to drive freely in Portugal. The only thing is that if you use your car and you don't have ViaT, you will have to buy the toll device at an EasyToll terminal.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 40€ (rental and tolls)
• Duration: about three hours
• Disadvantage: the price of the tolls and their payment system.
• Recommended if you have rented a car for your trip to Portugal.

If you've been looking for flights connecting the cities of Porto and Lisbon, you've probably thought it was very cheap (10€ each way) and fast (about 1 hour). Well, it is, but it is not as suitable an alternative as it seems. Why? Because the airports are further away than any train or bus station (about 30 minutes) and you have to be on time to get through the checkpoint. In total, the journey will take about 5 hours.

Lisbon airport is 20 minutes away from the city, and Porto airport is 30 minutes away. These are not long distances and there are good connections, but if you add the two hours in advance you have to arrive, it is too much. My advice is to consider flying only if you are travelling with luggage and will be spending more than one day in Porto.

Interesting facts

• Price: approximately 20€.
• Duration: about one hour
• Disadvantage: you have to arrive at the airports almost two hours in advance.
• Recommended if you are spending more than one day in Porto and are travelling with luggage.

You may be interested to know that the best excursions to other cities depart from the Portuguese capital, such as those that take you to Sintra, Fátima, Évora or also Arrábida and Sesimbra, two fishing villages with natural landscapes where you can practice outdoor activities such as snorkelling, kayaking or even go on a dolphin cruise.