London to Lisbon by train...

You can reach Portugal by train from London, either via Barcelona & Madrid or via San Sebastian & Vigo.  For the Algarve, take Eurostar & a TGV high speed train from London to Barcelona on day 1, stay overnight in Barcelona, then take an AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Seville and an air-conditioned bus to Faro on day 2.  This page explains the best train times, fares, and how to buy tickets.

Train times, fares, tickets

  London to Lisbon & Porto

  London to Faro & the Algarve

  London to Madeira

  Starting from other UK towns & cities

  Trains from Lisbon to other European cities

  Trains to Lisbon from other European cities

  Lisbon to Porto by train

  Lisbon to Faro & the Algarve by train

  Portugal's Douro Valley line, Porto to Pocinho

Other travel information

  Useful country information: currency, dial code...

  General information for European train travel

  How to change stations in Paris by metro or taxi   

  Left luggage facilities in Paris & Madrid

  Luggage on trains

  Taking your bike   Taking your dog    

  People with disabilities

  Hotels & accommodation in Portugal

  Holidays & tours to Portugal by train

  Travel insurance, Curve Card & VPN

Useful country information

London to Lisbon & Porto

This used to be easy.  Eurostar to Paris, high-speed TGV to Hendaye and Sud Express sleeper train to Lisbon.  The Sud Express was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and Renfe (Spanish Railways) used the pandemic as an excuse to get rid of it, as it isn't interested in sleepers.  So another famous train name has disappeared from the timetables after 134 years.  There's been talk of the Portuguese restarting the Sud Express without Renfe's involvement, and of a direct Madrid-Lisbon day train.  A fast 4-hour Madrid-Lisbon train may be possible in a few years' time, using a new high-speed line in Spain and rebuilt line in Portugal.  But in the meantime, there are just two cross-border routes between Spain & Portugal, a twice daily Regional Express from Vigo to Porto and a daily railcar from Badajoz to Entroncamento which forms part of a slow but interesting 3-train combo from Madrid to Lisbon.  Journeys from the UK to Portugal currently have to use one of these trains.

Which route to choose?

There isn't a clear winner between the route via Madrid and the route via Vigo, it depends on your choice of stopover, Barcelona & Madrid versus San Sebastian & Vigo.  However, the route via Vigo usually has cheaper fares than the route via Barcelona & Madrid.  By all means go out one way, back the other, just make sure you book the Eurostar as a round trip as Eurostar returns are significantly cheaper than two one ways.  All other trains are one-way ticketed so it makes no difference.

  London to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

  London to Porto & Lisbon via San Sebastian & Vigo

Option 1, London to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

London to Lisbon in 2 days & 2 nights with hotel stops in Paris & Madrid.  You take fast & comfortable high-speed trains from London through Paris & Barcelona to Madrid, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then it's a slow but scenic 3-train combo between the Iberian capitals.  Stop off in Paris, Barcelona or Madrid for longer if you like, it makes no difference to the price.

London ► Lisbon

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar on any evening Eurostar you like.

  The last Eurostar leaves London St Pancras at 20.01 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 23:27, but by all means book an earlier one.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, just 2 stops on RER line D.

• Stay overnight in Paris...  If you want a hotel room on arrival at the Gare du Nord, I recommend the excellent 25 Hours Terminus Nord, directly across the road from the Gare du Nord with great reviews & great feedback from Seat61 users.  If you'd rather stay at the Gare de Lyon ready for the morning train to Spain, the Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex with great reviews for staff, cleanliness & comfort.  See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord or Gare de Lyon.

• Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:34.

  This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey - I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views as the train speeds along the scenic Rhône valley past pretty French villages & picturesque churches, then look out for colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, click here for the sights to see from the train on the way.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE-S103 high-speed train, leaving Barcelona Sants at 18:25 & arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:55.  Times may vary, I'd allow at least an hour between trains.  AVE trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

• Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by a 3-train daytime combo, leaving Madrid Atocha at 08:04 daily except Sundays via Badajoz & Entroncamento, arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 20:00, as explained in detail on the Madrid to Lisbon page.

  See map of Lisbon showing Santa Apolonia & Oriente stations.

Lisbon ► London

• Day 1, travel from Lisbon to Madrid by a 3-train daytime combo, leaving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 08:30 daily except Saturdays, changing at Entroncamento & Badajoz, arriving Madrid Atocha at 22:55 as explained in detail on the Madrid to Lisbon page.

• Stay overnight in Madrid.  The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.

• Day 2, travel from Madrid to Barcelona AVE train, leaving Madrid Atocha at 06:30 Mondays-Fridays arriving Barcelona Sants at 09:20.

  Or on any day of the week, leave Madrid Atocha at 06:15 by lo-cost Avlo train arriving Barcelona Sants at 08:45.

  Times may vary, so check for a train arriving in Barcelona 09:30 or earlier using www.thetrainline.com, www.raileurope.com or www.renfe.com.

  The AVE train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The lo-cost Avlo train is one-class, no catering, free WiFi.

• Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Paris by high-speed TGV Duplex, leaving Barcelona Sants 10:33 arriving Paris Gare de Lyon 17:18.

  Book an upper deck seat for the best views as the train rolls past colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, then speeds along the scenic Rhone Valley towards Paris.  There's a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi, just 2 stops on RER line D.  Why not have an early dinner in Paris and catch a later Eurostar?  The Brasserie Terminus Nord (www.terminusnord.com) is good and typically French, and it's directly opposite the Gare du Nord.

• Day 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 19:03 arriving London St Pancras at 20:39.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Barcelona by TGV starts at €39 each way in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class.  More details here.

• Barcelona to Madrid by AVE starts at around €38 each way in standard class, €58 in comfort class (1st class).

• Madrid to Lisbon by 3-train combo costs around €59 each way, more details here.

• Fares for Eurostar, TGV & AVE trains vary like air fares, so book early for the cheapest fares.

How to buy tickets

• The easiest way to book is at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, as all your tickets can be booked together in one place and you can print your own tickets or show a mobile ticket on your phone.  That's because they connect to the British, French and Spanish ticketing systems.  Anyone from any country can book using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted.  There's a small booking fee.

  First, note down each individual train you need and the date on which you need it, using the information above.

• When do reservations open?

  Bookings from London to Barcelona open up to 4 months ahead.  Trains from Barcelona to Madrid usually open 60 days ahead, although this varies as Renfe loads bookings in blocks of dates.  You can reserve hotels risk-free before booking your trains if you use www.booking.com with free cancellation.

• Step 1, go to www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and book from London to Paris & back, add to basket.

  Eurostar should always be booked as a round trip if you're returning, as Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  With TGV & AVE it doesn't matter, as all fares are one-way.

• Step 2, still on www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, book from Paris to Barcelona & back, add to basket.

• Step 3, still on www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, book from Barcelona to Madrid & back, add to basket.

• Step 4, now follow the instructions for booking the 3-train Madrid-Lisbon combo on the Madrid to Lisbon by train page (You book from Madrid to Badajoz at Omio.com, then use Omio.com again to book from Badajoz to Lisbon).

• Alternatively, you can of course book London-Paris at www.eurostar.com, Paris-Barcelona at the French Railways site www.sncf-connect.com, and Barcelona to Madrid & Madrid to Badajoz at the Spanish Railways site www.renfe.com (but see this step-by-step guide to using renfe.com).  Then book Badajoz to Lisbon at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt.  It's more work, more fiddly, prices should be the same.  There's no booking fee, but using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com is a lot easier!

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online.  But to buy tickets by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.  Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483.  For more information on buying European train tickets, see the How to buy European train tickets page.

Or ask Byway to arrange it as a package

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a UK-Portugal train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.

• To see pre-configured packages from London to Faro, Porto or Lisbon, use the journey planner on their website.

  Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Paris Gare du Nord station guide.  How to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

A Eurostar e320 about to leave London St Pancras...		Standard Premier/Business Premier. Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Barcelona by TGV:  See video guide.  More photos & information about this journey.

The Paris-Barcelona trains are impressive 320 km/h (199mph) TGV Duplex double-deck high-speed trains.  You board the train through a wide sliding external door into a small hall at one end of the lower deck, where an internal door opens into a lower deck seating area.  A wide, short & easy flight of carpeted stairs leads from the entrance door to a landing at one end of the upper deck.  You walk along the train from car to car at the upper level, and the café-bar is also at the upper level.  There are toilets & luggage racks both upstairs & downstairs, and power sockets at all seats.  If you have problems with stairs or very heavy luggage, the lower deck might be best.  But for the best views (over the top of the occasional sound barrier along the high speed lines!), definitely choose an upper deck seat.  For couples in first class, an upper deck 'club duo' table-for-two is easily the best option.  Free WiFi is coming to these trains at some point.  Paris Gare de Lyon station guide.  Barcelona Sants station guide.

TGV Duplex at Paris Gare de Lyon. These 320 km/h double-deckers link Paris with Barcelona.  Watch TGV Duplex video.

Cafe-bar on upper deck car 4, serving tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, snacks & microwaved hot dishes....		2nd class seats on upper deck with a mix of tables for 4 & unidirectional seating.  360º photo.

1st class upper deck seats, club duo on the left, club quatre on the right.  360º photo.		A TGV Duplex.  The 1 near the door indicates 1st class, a 2 indicates 2nd class.

Lunch with wine, on the move...		Béziers' 13th century cathedral, seen from the train...

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees.  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

3. Barcelona to Madrid...

This high-speed journey takes as little as 2h30 at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).  More about Barcelona-Madrid trains & journey.  Barcelona Sants station guide.  Madrid Atocha station guide.

An S103 AVE train from Madrid to Barcelona, about to leave Madrid Atocha.  See virtual tour of an AVE S103.

Standard class (2nd class) on an AVE-S103...		Comfort class (1st class) seating.

Scenery an AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

4. Madrid to Lisbon...

This is a slow but scenic & interesting 3-train combo across rural Spain and Portugal.  For full details see the Madrid to Lisbon page.

Changing trains at Badajoz station.  The express from Madrid to Badajoz is on the left, the single-car Allan Railcar from Badajoz to Entroncamento is on the right..  Photo courtesy of Giles Baker.

Castle seen from the Badajoz to Entroncamento train.  Photo courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

The Badajoz to Entroncamento railcar pauses at wayside stations with lovely tiling.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

Lisbon Santa Apolonia station:  See map

For the city centre you want Santa Apolonia station, although if you're heading to/from Faro & the Algarve, these trains start at Lisbon Oriente so change there.

Lisbon's central Santa Apolonia station.  Photos courtesy of Ian Moffat.

Back to top

Option 2, London to Porto & Lisbon via San Sebastian & Vigo

This route also takes 2 nights with hotel stops in San Sebastian and Vigo.  It's a bit slower but usually cheaper than option 1, although as fares are dynamic like air fares this isn't always the case.  San Sebastian is well worth a longer stopover, and Porto is worthy of a stop, too.  There's great scenery crossing Spain.

London ► Porto, Lisbon

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:22, arriving Paris Nord 13:57.

  On Saturdays you can leave London St Pancras at 12:24, arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:57.

  Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare Montparnasse.

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Hendaye by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 16:11 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays, arriving Hendaye at 20:47.  On Saturdays, leave Paris Gare Montparnasse at 18:10, arriving Hendaye at 22:47.

  The TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.

  Times can vary so check for your date of travel at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

• Day 1, transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian by Euskotren metro, every half hour, taking 37 minutes.

  On arrival at Hendaye walk out of the station and turn right, walk across the forecourt to the Euskotren station.  Buy a ticket and hop on the half-hourly local train to San Sebastian, you can check times at www.euskotren.eus.  Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara station takes 37 minutes.

  Amara (Euskotren) station is 10 minutes walk from San Sebastian's Renfe station, see walking map.

• Stay overnight in San Sebastian.  The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station.  If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.  If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.

• Day 2, travel from San Sebastian to Vigo.  There are two possible departures, both using comfortable high-speed Alvia trains with cafe-bar:

  Morning departure, every day:  Travel from San Sebastian (Renfe station) to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving San Sebastian at 09:02 and arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:56.  Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia train, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00 and arriving Vigo Urzaiz at 20:12.  Vigo Urzaiz station is a 1.1 km 15-minute walk from Vigo Guixar station, see walking map.

  Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only:  Spend the morning in San Sebastian.  An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 12:13 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz at 13:58.  This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:19 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 23:35.

  Tip:  There's a lovely relaxed cafe-bar at San Sebastian Renfe station, accessible from the forecourt or the near-side platform, just north of the main station building, ideal for a cafe con leche before your train.

• Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by air-conditioned regional train, leaving Vigo at 08:58 & arriving Porto Campanhã at 10:20.

  The train is comfortable and air-conditioned, 2nd class only.  If you'd like to spend some time in Vigo, there's a later train leaving Vigo at 19:56 arriving Porto 21:18.

• Day 3, if travelling to Lisbon, take any suitable onward train from Porto to Lisbon, for example the 11:40 Alfa Pendular arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 14:30.

Lisbon, Porto ► London

• Day 1, travel from Lisbon to Porto on any suitable train, for example the 14:00 Alfa Pendular from Lisbon Santa Apolonia arriving Porto Campanhã at 16:50.

• Day 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by air-conditioned regional train, leaving Porto Campanhã at 19:10 arriving Vigo Guixar at 22:34.

  If you're staying in Porto and would like to spend some time in Vigo, there's also a morning regional train leaving Porto Campanhã at 08:13 and arriving Vigo Guixar at 11:35.

• Stay overnight in Vigo.  The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Vigo to San Sebastian on one of these two departures:

  Early departure, 3 times a week:  Leave Vigo Guixar station at 07:42 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays for Vitoria/Gasteiz, arriving 16:29.  The comfortable air-conditioned Alvia train has a cafe-bar and power sockets at all seats.  An Intercity train provides a guaranteed connection to San Sebastian, leaving Vitoria/Gasteiz 16:45 and arriving San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 18:35.

  Mid-morning departure, every day:  Leave Vigo Urzaiz station at 09:20 every day by high-speed Alvia train, arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:42.  Leave Madrid Chamartin at 17:38 by high-speed Alvia train arriving San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 22:40.  Vigo Urzaiz station is a 1.1 km 15-minute walk from Vigo Guixar station, see walking map.

  San Sebastian Renfe station is 10 minutes walk from Amara (Euskotren) station, see walking map.

• Stay overnight in San Sebastian.  The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station.  If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda.  If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.

• Day 3, transfer from San Sebastian to Hendaye on the 08:15 Euskotren metro from San Sebastian Amara station.  These metro trains run every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes.  Buy a ticket at the station and hop on the next train.  You can check times at www.euskotren.eus.

• Day 3, travel from Hendaye to Paris by TGV Duplex Océane, leaving Hendaye at 09:36 and arriving Paris Gare Montparnasse at 14:19.

  The TGV Duplex Océane has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Times may vary, so check train times for your date at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Cross Paris by métro or taxi from the Gare Montparnasse to the Gare du Nord.

• Day 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 17:03 arriving London St Pancras at 18:32.

How much does it cost?

• London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Paris to Hendaye by TGV starts at €25 each way in 2nd class, €40 each way in 1st class.  The price varies like air fares, so book ahead.

• Hendaye to San Sebastian costs €2.75, paid at the station on the day.

• San Sebastian to Vigo starts at €23 each way.  The price varies like air fares, so book ahead for cheaper prices.

• Vigo to Porto costs €14.95, fixed price.

How to buy tickets

• Go to www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Both these websites connect to the British, French (SNCF) & Spanish (Renfe) ticketing systems so you can buy all your tickets together in one place, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted no problem.  You print your own tickets or show a mobile ticket on your phone.  There's a small booking fee.  Use whichever you prefer, fares should be the same.

• Step 1, book from London to Hendaye (and back, if returning) and add this to your basket.

  Tip:  Make sure you allow at least a full 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more, as the system may suggest connections as short as 42 minutes by default.  If necessary, split the booking into London-Paris & Paris-Hendaye, or (if using www.raileurope.com) click More options and use the stopover feature to specify a 1-hour or longer stopover in Paris.

• Step 2, book from San Sebastian to Vigo one-way and add this to your basket.  If returning, book Vigo to San Sebastian as a second one-way journey and add that to your basket.

  Tip:  If you have any problems getting the system to show the whole journey across Spain, split the booking and book each train separately, using the times above as your guide.

• Step 3, now buy the ticket from Vigo to Porto (and back, if returning) and add that to your basket.

  Now check out and pay for all journeys as one transaction.

  Step 4, book a Porto to Lisbon train either at the Portuguese Railways (CP) website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).  Raileurope & Trainline do not yet connect to CP's system.

• Step 5, book your hotels here.

• Alternatively, it's also possible to book London-Paris at www.eurostar.com, Paris-Hendaye at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, San Sebastian-Vigo & Vigo-Porto at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com, without paying any booking fee, but it's more work and more fiddly, using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com is a lot simpler.  See this step-by-step guide to using renfe.com.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online.  But to buy tickets by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.  Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483.  Unlike some other agencies, International Rail are equipped with both the French and Spanish rail ticketing systems, so can sell the cheapest fares for all the trains from the UK through Spain to Portugal.  They charge a £10 booking fee for bookings under £100, £20 for £100-£300, £30 above £300.  Eurostar, TGV & Trainhotel tickets will usually be emailed to you as e-tickets, so there's no postage fee or delay.  For more information on buying European train tickets, see the How to buy European train tickets page.

...or ask Byway to arrange it as a package

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a UK-Portugal train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.

• To see pre-configured packages from London to Faro, Porto or Lisbon, use the journey planner on their website.

  Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Paris Gare du Nord station guide.  How to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi.

A Eurostar e320 train.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier seats.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish border by TGV...

Most TGVs between Paris and Hendaye on the Spanish border are now double-deck TGV Duplex, most with the stylish new Océane interior with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views.  Paris Montparnasse station guide.

Boarding the TGV Duplex at Paris Montparnasse...

There are automatic ticket gates at the entrance to the platforms at Paris Montparnasse, just scan the barcode on your ticket.  Click the images below for larger photos...

TGV Océane cafe-bar, upper deck car 4 (or 14)		TGV Océane 2nd class seats...

TGV Océane 1st class seats.  An innovation on TGV Océane, all 1st class seats (except the very end ones) rotate to face the direction of travel, or can be rotated to make a face-to-face group of 2 or 4 seats.  The drop-down tables open to reveal USB and 2-pin power sockets.

3. Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren...

At Hendaye, get off the TGV, walk off the platform and through the SNCF station ticket hall...		Walk out of Hendaye SNCF station & turn right, the Euskotren station is 50m across the forecourt.  Larger photo.

This is the new Hendaye Euskotren station, opened in 2020.  Photo courtesy of Nicholas Brooke, taken soon after it opened.		Hendaye Euskotren station, looking back towards the station building.  Photo courtesy of Nicholas Brooke.

There are now two platforms.  It's where the trains start, so no worries, you can't get on the wrong train, they all go to San Sebastian-Donostia Amara!  These air-conditioned metro trains leave every 30 minutes, a turn-up-and-go metro service.  There's plenty of space for luggage and they even have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

4. San Sebastian to Vitoria by Intercity and Vitoria to Galicia by Alvia...

The connection at Vitoria-Gasteiz:  On the right, the 12:21 Intercity train from San Sebastian has arrived at Vitoria/Gasteiz.  On the left, the Alvia train from Barcelona to Galicia picks up passengers.  These Alvia-S130 trains are nick-named Patito (little duck) by staff, no prizes for guessing why.  They have adjustable axles so can run on standard-gauge high-speed lines at up to 250 km/h or on Iberian broad gauge classic lines at lower speed. Photo courtesy of Ekain Munduate.

Standard class on the Intercity train, 2+2 across car width.		Comfort class seats on an Alvia train, 1+2 across the car width.

Scenery as the train enters Galicia on its way to Vigo.  Photo courtesy of Martin Hill.

5. Vigo to Porto by regional express train...

The train is comfortable and air-conditioned.  It's 2nd class only, there are toilets but no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.  There are no seat reservations on these trains, you sit where you like.  This route is known as the Celta link, it runs twice a day, morning & evening, you can find a timetable at www.cp.pt.

The local train between Vigo & Porto.  Photos courtesy of Martin Hill.

6. Porto to Lisbon by Alfa Pendular or Intercity train...

The best and fastest trains are the tilting 200 km/h Alfa Pendular, shown below, there are various departures through the day.  Other departures are branded Intercity, with older air-conditioned cars and old-school comfort.  You can book Portuguese domestic trains at the CP website www.cp.pt, the only website that will book them.

Alfa Pendular train from Lisbon to Porto.  Photo courtesy of Matt from www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip.

1st class on an Alfa Pendular train.  Photo courtesy of @rexybexy

Back to top

---

London to Faro & the Algarve

You can easily reach the Algarve by train from London, either by train all the way via Lisbon, or by train to Seville then bus.  Train service from Lisbon to the Algarve was dramatically improved some years ago.  The line from Lisbon to Faro was electrified and speeded up, and air-conditioned InterCity trains now run direct from Lisbon's new Oriente station, crossing the Tagus on an impressive suspension bridge instead of requiring passengers to take a ferry to Barreiro station across the river from central Lisbon.  With the sleeper trains from the French border & Madrid to Lisbon now discontinued, I'd currently recommend the route via Seville shown as option 1.

Option 1, London to the Algarve via Seville

Take comfortable high-speed trains from London to Seville, then a 3-hour bus ride from Seville to Faro.  This is currently the fastest, cheapest & easiest option.

• Step 1, travel from London to Seville as shown in the London to Seville section on the Spain page.

  You take a Eurostar to Paris and high-speed TGV to Barcelona on day 1, and stay overnight in Barcelona.  Next morning, take a direct AVE high-speed train from Barcelona to Seville, arriving at Seville's impressive Santa Justa station at lunchtime on day 2. 

  Buy tickets as shown on that page.  The Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return, the TGV starts at €39 each way, fares work like air fares so book ahead for the cheapest prices.

• Step 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus, journey time 2h30 to 3h15, with a departure roughly every 2-3 hours.

  Several bus companies run on this route including Also, Damas, EuroLines and Iberobus, you can check times for all these companies and buy tickets at Omio.com (formerly GoEuro.com).  You print your own ticket.

  Buses typically leave at 08:30, 09:30, 11:30 & 16:00, and from Faro back to Seville at 08:20, 10:30 & 16:00, 18:30, but it varies by day.  The fare is around €17-€21 each way.  Look for buses that start from Seville Santa Justa station, where the trains arrive, so it's an easy same-station train-bus interchange.

  In fact, Spanish Railways www.renfe.com will sell through tickets from Barcelona to Faro if you select Faro-bus as your destination, although it's easier to buy tickets for the trains at www.raileurope.com and a separate ticket for the bus at Omio.com.

• So for example, you could leave London mid-morning by Eurostar to Paris and high-speed TGV train to Barcelona, stay overnight in Barcelona, catch the morning high-speed AVE train to Seville then an afternoon bus to Faro, and be in Faro around 17:30.

• Similarly in the return direction, you could catch a morning bus from Faro and the afternoon AVE train to Barcelona, stay overnight, then take a TGV to Paris and Eurostar to London next day, arriving in the evening.

Option 2, London to the Algarve via Lisbon

The sleeper trains to Lisbon have been discontinued, and until links between Spain & Portugal are improved, this is now the slower option.

London ► Albufeira, Lagos, Faro

• Step 1, travel from London to Lisbon as shown in the London to Lisbon section above.

• Step 2, travel from Lisbon to the Algarve by modern air-conditioned InterCity train.  There are a range of trains daily between Lisbon and the Algarve, see www.cp.pt or Omio.com for the complete timetable and fare and to buy tickets online.  For Lagos, change at Tunes.

Faro, Albufeira, Lagos ► London

• Step 1, travel from Faro to Lisbon by modern air-conditioned InterCity train.  There are a range of trains daily, see www.cp.pt or Omio.com for timetable, fares and to buy tickets online.  From Lagos, change at Tunes.

• Step 2, travel from Lisbon Oriente to London as shown in the London to Lisbon section above.

How much does it cost?

• Lisbon to Faro costs €21 each way in 2nd class, €27 each way in 1st class, full price.  Discounted advance-purchase fares are often available at www.cp.pt or Omio.com.

• For fares London to Lisbon, see the Lisbon section above.

How to buy tickets

• See the Lisbon section to buy tickets from London to Lisbon.

• Buy Lisbon-Faro tickets online at www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).  If using cp.pt, remember that Lisbon is spelt 'Lisboa' and you should select 'Lisboa - Oriente' for trains to Faro.  You print your own ticket.

Or ask Byway to arrange it...

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a UK-Portugal train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.

• To see pre-configured packages from London to Faro, Porto or Lisbon, use the journey planner on their website.

  Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form.  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

• Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

Lisbon-Faro Intercity train.  Photos courtesy of Matt from www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip.

2nd class seats...		1st class seats...

Back to top

---

London to Madeira

A weekly summer-only ferry service links southern Portugal (Portimao in the Algarve) with Funchal on Madeira.  The ferry crossing takes 24 hours.  See madeira-ferry.pt.

 Back to top

---

Guidebooks

Make sure you take a good guidebook, even in the age of the internet.  I think the best ones out there for the independent traveller are the Lonely Planets and the Rough Guides.  Both books provide an excellent level of practical information and cultural and historical background. You won't regret buying one of these!  My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", is due to be published in June 2008, and Amazon will let you pre-order now.

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

Back to top

---

European Rail Timetable & maps

The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map.  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Back to top

Hotels in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com...

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Back to top

Holidays to Portugal by train

If you want a holiday to Portugal by train not plane, but want someone else to organise all the train tickets & hotels for you, several specialist companies do just that, for a holiday without airport hassles or whole days in cramped coach seats on motorways.  Railbookers offer tailor-made individual holidays with departure on any date you like, whereas Rail Discoveries & Great Rail Journeys offer escorted tours with specific departure dates.

Railbookers custom-made tours, holidays & breaks by train...

Railbookers can tailor-make a holiday or city break to Portugal for you, with train travel, transfers & hotels, leaving on any date you like.  If you tell them what you want, they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out for you.  They get a lot of repeat business!

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk. 

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, see website.

  Canada call free 1-855-882-2910, see website.

  Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, see website. 

  New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website.

Great Rail Journeys, www.greatrail.com, 01904 527120:  Escorted tours...

GRJ offers five-star upmarket rail-based escorted tours to various European countries, with travel from London by train and a range of departure dates.  Check holiday details online, then call 01904 527120 to book or use their online booking form.

Back to top

Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance...

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I use an annual policy myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection.

  You can use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Curve card saves foreign transaction fees...

Banks often give a poor exchange rate, then charge a currency conversion fee as well.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:  1. Download the app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to most European addresses including the UK.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, just like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto whichever of your debit or credit cards you choose.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I use a Curve Blue card myself - I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that link, too.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained...

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN means your connection to the internet is encrypted & always secure, even using unsecured WiFi.  In countries such as China where access to Twitter & Facebook is restricted, a VPN gets around these restrictions.  And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none to European visitors, so if you're not located in Europe you can avoid this fee by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN.  VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy and I use it myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank...

With tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes now often held digitally on your mobile phone, it's vital to keep it charged.  I recommend carrying an Anker powerbank which can recharge your phone several times over if you can't get to a power outlet when you're on the move.  I never travel without one.

Back to top

Back to home page