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Porto Campanha station. Photo courtesy of @rexybexy. |
This page explains how to buy train tickets from Porto to other European cities at the cheapest rates, buying online direct from the operators, usually with print-your-own tickets. Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.
I want to go from
Porto to...
Before
you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these important tips for buying European train tickets. It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?
Which
station in Porto?
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Porto Campanhã is the main station, used by the fast trains to/from Lisbon. It's in the city centre, but outside the old town.
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Porto São Bento is right inside Porto's historic UNESCO-listed old town, a beautiful station that's a Porto attraction in its own right for its beautiful azulejo tiling in the booking hall. Tickets to Porto are valid for a free transfer by CP suburban train from Porto Campanhã to Porto São Bento. Suburban trains link Campanhã & São Bento station every 5-15 minutes taking 4 minutes.
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Douro Valley Line: For a day trip from Porto along the scenic Douro Valley, see the Douro Valley by train page.
European
train travel FAQ
Porto to Lisbon from €9.50
Porto to Albufeira, Faro & the Algarve from €19
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Two direct Alfa Pendular trains link Porto with Albufeira & Faro every day, see the photos above. At the time I write this, they leave Porto Campanhã at 05:40 & 14:40. Porto to Faro takes 5h43 city centre to city centre.
Alternatively, various other departures are available at intervals through the day with one simple change of train at Lisbon Oriente.
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Advance-purchase fares start at around €19 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. If you buy on the day of travel you'll pay higher prices.
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Check times & prices and buy tickets at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $). Click EN top right for English. You'll need passport numbers for all travellers. You print your own ticket.
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Tip: You should book from Porto Campanhã as that is the station where the fast trains start, but your ticket will be valid for a free transfer by CP suburban train from the beautiful Porto São Bento station right inside the old city to Porto Campanhã. Suburban trains link São Bento & Campanhã stations every 5-15 minutes taking 4 minutes.
Porto to Madrid from €15 + €22
Porto to Madrid. The cheapest option, with some great scenery
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Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã at 08:13 & arriving Vigo Guixar at 11:35.
This is a regional train, 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around €15, fixed-price.
Book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
From Vigo Guixar station it's a 1.1 km 15-minute walk to Vigo Urzaiz station, see walking map, or a 7-minute 450m walk using the Ascensor Halo lift, see walking map.
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Step 2, travel from Vigo to Madrid by high-speed Alvia train, leaving Vigo Urzaiz at 13:20 & arriving Madrid Chamartin at 17:36.
The air-conditioned Alvia train has comfortable spacious seating in standard & comfort class and a cafe-bar.
Fares start at €22, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Check times & book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for as direct train with 0 changes. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies. You print your own ticket.
Porto to Barcelona
Option 1, Porto to Barcelona in a day
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Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã at 08:13 arriving Vigo Guixar 11:35.
This is a regional train, 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around €15, fixed-price.
Book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
From Vigo Guixar station it's a 1.1 km 15-minute walk to Vigo Urzaiz station, see walking map, or a 7-minute 450m walk using the Ascensor Halo lift, see walking map.
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Step 2, travel from Vigo to Madrid by high-speed Alvia train, leaving Vigo Urzaiz at 13:20 & arriving Madrid Chamartin at 17:36.
The air-conditioned Alvia train has comfortable spacious seating in standard & comfort class and a cafe-bar.
Fares start at €22, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Check times & book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for as direct train with 0 changes. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies. You print your own ticket.
Transfer from Madrid Atocha to Madrid Chamartin as shown here.
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Step 3, travel from Madrid Atocha to Barcelona Sants by high-speed AVE train in as little as 2h30 on any evening departure. I'd allow at least 2 hours between trains in Madrid. For example, a high-speed AVE usually leaves Madrid Atocha at 19:00 and arrives Barcelona Sants at 21:30.
The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about trains from Madrid to Barcelona.
Fares start at around €35.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, Porto to Barcelona using the direct Vigo-Barcelona Alvia train 3 times a week
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Day 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã around 19:10 and arriving Vigo Guixar some 2h25 later.
The fare is around €15, fixed-price.
Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Vigo to Barcelona by high-speed air-conditioned Alvia-S130 train with cafe-bar, leaving Vigo Guixar at 07:42 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays and arriving Barcelona Sants at 21:35.
Fares start at €25 in Standard class or €29 in Comfort class. Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, only in €, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it).
Porto to San Sebastian
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Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã around 19:10 and arriving Vigo Guixar 2h25 later.
The fare is around €15, fixed-price.
Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
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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 possible departures:
Early departure, 3 times a week: Leave Vigo Guixar station at 07:42 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays for Vitoria/Gasteiz, arriving 16:33. 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 16:10 by high-speed Alvia train arriving San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 21:33. From Vigo Guixar station it's a 1.1 km 15-minute walk to Vigo Urzaiz station, see walking map, or a 7-minute 450m walk using the Ascensor Halo lift, see walking map.
Fares start at €23 each way. The price varies like air fares, so book ahead for cheaper prices.
Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If using the daily service via Madrid, you might need to treat Vigo-Madrid & Madrid-San Sebastian as separate bookings.
Porto to Vigo, Santiago de Compostela
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Two regional express trains link Porto Campanhã with Vigo Guixar every day. At the time I wrote this departures are at 08:13 & 19:10, journey time around 2h22, fare around €15. Reservation is required, book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com and print your own ticket. Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.
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Change in Vigo for a train to Santiago de Compostela. If you take the morning train from Porto, an easy same-day journey is possible. If you take the evening train from Porto you'll need to stay overnight in Vigo. Book from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela as a separate ticket from around €9 upwards at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies. You print your own ticket. I'd allow at least 40 minutes between trains in Vigo.
Porto to Seville, Cordoba, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia
By train to Faro, bus to Seville. Cheapest, easily done in a day
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Step 1, travel from Porto Campanhã to Faro by train as shown in the Porto to Faro section above. Fastest journey around 5h43.
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Step 2, take a bus from Faro to Seville. Buses run roughly every 2-3 hours, journey time 2h30 to 3h15, fare €17-€21. There are various buses run by Damas, Alsa, EuroLines or Iberobus. I'd allow an hour or two between train and bus in Faro, just in case of delay.
Check times & buy tickets for all these buses at Omio.com (formerly GoEuro.com), you print your own ticket.
In Faro, most buses leave from the Terminal Rodoviário which is just across the road and to the right when you walk out of Faro railway station. In Seville, buses use various terminals but some use one outside Santa Justa station, best if you have an onward train.
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Step 3, take a train from Seville Santa Justa station to Cordoba, Malaga or wherever. Check times and buy online at www.raileurope.com or Omio.com though for short hops you may as well buy when you get there at the station.
Porto to Paris & Bordeaux
Option 1, Porto to Paris via Vigo, Madrid & Barcelona
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Day 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã at 08:13 arriving Vigo Guixar at 11:35.
The fare is around €15, fixed-price.
Book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
From Vigo Guixar station it's a 1.1 km 15-minute walk to Vigo Urzaiz station, see walking map, or a 7-minute 450m walk using the Ascensor Halo lift, see walking map.
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Day 1, travel from Vigo to Madrid by Alvia train, leaving Vigo Urzaiz station at 13:20 & arriving Madrid Chamartin at 17:36.
This high-speed air-conditioned Alvia train has comfortable spacious seating in standard & comfort class and a cafe-bar.
Fares start at €22, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Check times & book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for as direct train with 0 changes. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies. You print your own ticket.
Transfer from Madrid Atocha to Madrid Chamartin as shown here.
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Day 1, travel from Madrid Atocha to Barcelona Sants by high-speed AVE train in as little as 2h30 on any evening departure. I'd allow at least 2 hours between trains in Madrid. For example, a high-speed AVE usually leaves Madrid Atocha at 19:00 and arrives Barcelona Sants at 21:30.
The AVE has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about trains from Madrid to Barcelona.
Fares start at around €35.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. Suggested hotels close to Barcelona Sants station with good or great reviews include the Hotel Barcelo Sants (4-star, great reviews, directly above Barcelona Sants station itself, recommended), AC Hotel Sants by Marriott (4-star, just 50m from the station), Hotel Catalonia Roma (3-star), Hostal Baler (2-star), Hotel Transit (1-star), Meeting Point Hostel (inexpensive private rooms & dorm beds).
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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.
Fares start at €39 in 2nd class or €59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee). Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show a mobile ticket on your phone.
Option 2, Porto to Bordeaux & Paris via San Sebastian - slower but usually cheaper
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Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã around 19:10 and arriving Vigo Guixar 2h25 later.
The fare is around €15, fixed-price.
Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Vigo to San Sebastian on one of these two possible departures:
Early departure, 3 times a week: Leave Vigo Guixar station at 07:42 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays for Vitoria/Gasteiz, arriving 16:33. 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 16:10 by high-speed Alvia train arriving San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 21:33. From Vigo Guixar station it's a 1.1 km 15-minute walk to Vigo Urzaiz station, see walking map, or a 7-minute 450m walk using the Ascensor Halo lift, see walking map.
Fares start at €23 each way. The price varies like air fares, so book ahead for cheaper prices.
Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: If using the daily service via Madrid, you might need to treat Vigo-Madrid & Madrid-San Sebastian as separate bookings.
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Stay overnight in San Sebastian.
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Day 3, travel from San Sebastian to Hendaye by Euskotren, every 30 minutes, journey time 37 minutes, fare around €2.75, pay at the station.
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Day 3, take a train from Hendaye to Bordeaux or Paris. Hendaye to Paris takes just 4h40, with a TGV Duplex every couple of hours or so.
Hendaye to Paris start at €25 in 2nd class or €45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Check times and buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking normally opens 60 days ahead. You print your own ticket.
Porto to all other destinations
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For London & UK, see the London to Portugal page which covers this in both directions. You travel from Porto to Paris as shown above then from Paris to London by Eurostar.
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For Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Germany, Scandinavia, Poland, Russia: Travel to Paris as shown above, then see the Trains from Paris page.
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For the South of France, Andorra, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia: Travel to Barcelona as shown above, then see the Trains from Barcelona page.
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For Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine you can consider travel via Paris or via Barcelona. Travel to Paris as shown above, then see the Trains from Paris page. Or travel to Barcelona as shown above, then see the Trains from Barcelona page.