Lisbon Santa Apolonia station, walking distance from the city centre. Photo courtesy of Ian Moffat.

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This page explains how to travel by train from Lisbon to other key European cities, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Information current for 2024.

bullet pointBefore you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a €35 point-to-point ticket online?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

bullet pointEuropean train travel FAQ

An introduction to European train travel

 

Senior fares (over 60)

 

Guide to Eurail passes (overseas visitors)

Important tips for buying European train tickets

Youth fares (under 26)

 

Guide to Interrail passes (for Europeans)

How to check European train times

Child fares & child age limits

 

Couchettes & sleepers on night trains

Do I need to book in advance?

Luggage on European trains

 

Train seat numbering plans

How far ahead can I book?

Luggage storage at stations

 

Wheelchairs & special needs

Can I stop off on the way?

Taking a bike by train

 

Real-time service updates

Should I travel 1st or 2nd class?

Taking a car by train

 

Hotels & accommodation

How long to allow for connections?

Taking dogs & pets by train

 

Changing stations in Paris by metro or taxi

How early to arrive at the station?

Maps of the European rail network

 

What to do when things go wrong...


Lisbon to Porto from €9.50
Alfa Pendular train from Lisbon to Porto

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

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Lisbon to Faro & the Algarve from €8
Portuguese Intercity train to Faro

An Intercity train from Lisbon to Faro.  Courtesy of Matt from www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip.

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Lisbon to other destinations in Portugal

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Lisbon to Madrid from €33 & onwards to Alicante & Valencia

Option 1, Lisbon to Madrid in a day, the leisurely direct way

Madrid to Lisbon by train: Changing trains at Badajoz

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

Scenery between Badajoz and Madrid

Wonderful arid scenery on the Spanish plateau between Badajoz & Madrid.  Photo courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

Option 2, Lisbon to Madrid with overnight stop in Porto - a round-about route, but with fast trains & a great stopover

Alfa Pendular train from Lisbon to Porto

Day 1, travel from Lisbon to Porto by Alfa Pendular.  Courtesy of Matt from www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip.

1st class on an Alfa Pendular

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

 

Day 2, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express train.  Photos courtesy of Martin Hill.

Alvia train

Day 2, travel from Vigo to Madrid by Alvia train.  Nick-named patito or little duck, for obvious reasons!

Turista Plus seats on an Alvia train   Alvia train at Madrid Chamartin

Comfort class seats on an Alvia train.

 

Alvia train at Madrid Chamartin.

Option 3, Lisbon to Madrid with overnight stop in Vigo - same route as option 2, but overnight stop in Vigo

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Lisbon to Barcelona from €78

Option 1, Lisbon to Barcelona with an overnight stop in Madrid

Club class on a Spanish S103 AVE train   An S103 AVE train at Madrid Atocha station

Comfort class (premium 1st class) on the AVE train.  A meal with wine, coffee & liqueurs is included.

 

An S103 AVE train as used between Barcelona & Madrid, seen here at Madrid Atocha station.  Virtual tour

Turista class on a Spanish S103 AVE train   Preferente class on a Spanish S103 AVE train

Standard class (2nd class).

 

Comfort class (1st class).

Option 2, Lisbon to Barcelona with overnight stop in Porto - a round-about route, but with fast trains & a great stopover

Alfa Pendular train from Lisbon to Porto

Day 1, travel from Lisbon to Porto by Alfa Pendular.  Courtesy of Matt from www.youtube.com/c/nonstopeurotrip.

1st class on an Alfa Pendular

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

 

Day 2, travel from Porto to Vigo by regional express train.  Photos courtesy of Martin Hill.

Alvia train

Day 2, travel from Vigo to Madrid by Alvia train.  Nick-named patito or little duck, for obvious reasons!

Turista Plus seats on an Alvia train   Alvia train at Madrid Chamartin

Comfort class seats on an Alvia train.

 

Alvia train at Madrid Chamartin.

Option 3, Lisbon to Madrid with overnight stop in Vigo - same route as option 2, but overnight stop in Vigo

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Lisbon to Burgos, Valladolid, San Sebastian from €38

By daytime trains with overnight stop in Vigo

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Lisbon to Seville

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Lisbon to Vigo, Santiago de Compostela

Option 1, Lisbon to Vigo & Santiago de Compostela with overnight stop in Porto

Option 2,  Lisbon to Vigo & Santiago de Compostela with overnight stop in Vigo

 

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

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Lisbon to Andorra

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Lisbon to London

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Lisbon to Paris

Option 1, Lisbon to Paris via Madrid & Barcelona

Option 2, Lisbon to Paris via Vigo & San Sebastian

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Lisbon to Biarritz, Lourdes, Bordeaux

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Lisbon to Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Berlin, Warsaw, Moscow

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Lisbon to Avignon, Marseille, Lyon, Cannes, Nice, Frankfurt, Geneva & Switzerland..

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Lisbon to Genoa, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy

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Lisbon to Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague

Option 1, via Marseille & Genoa

Option 2, Lisbon to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest via Marseille & Geneva - you may prefer this scenic route

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Hotels in Lisbon

Find hotels at Booking.comMy favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

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 most cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & VPN

 

Staysure travel insurance

 

Columbus Direct logo

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

UK flag  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

UK flag  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

US flag  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

 

Maya.net logo

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility listMaya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

 

Curve card

Curve card

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  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 at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

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

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend 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.

 

Express VPN

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explainedExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use 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.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

Anker Powerrbank

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

 


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