Lisbon to Porto by train: Alfa Pendular, fares and times (2026)

By TrainsNews' International expert · Updated 25 October 2026

Lisbon to Porto by train takes 2 h 48 on the fastest Alfa Pendular from Santa Apolónia, or 2 h 39 if you board at Lisboa Oriente. Comboios de Portugal (CP) runs 16 direct trains on a typical weekday: 9 Alfa Pendular and 7 Intercidades. Official one-way fares are €35.70 in second class on the Alfa Pendular and €28.05 on the slower Intercidades (3 h 13).

Lisbon to Porto by train at a glance

How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?

The fastest Alfa Pendular trains take 2 h 48 from Lisboa Santa Apolónia to Porto Campanhã, and 2 h 39 from Lisboa Oriente, the modern station in the east of the city where the same trains call nine minutes later. A few Alfa Pendular services take a little longer (2 h 55 on the 08:00 departure). The Intercidades takes 3 h 13 from Santa Apolónia, with more intermediate stops (CP timetable for Tuesday 27 October 2026).

Alfa Pendular or Intercidades?

Alfa Pendular is CP's premium tilting train, with two classes: Turística (second) and Conforto (first). Intercidades is 25 minutes slower and €7.65 cheaper in second class. If you are on a budget and not in a hurry, it is a perfectly comfortable option. If time matters, take the Alfa Pendular.

Lisbon to Porto train fares

Official CP fares for one adult, checked on cp.pt on 25 October 2026 for Tuesday 27 October 2026. CP raised its ticket prices by 2.26% on 1 January 2026; fares may change.

How to pay less

• Take the Intercidades: €28.05 instead of €35.70, for about 25 minutes more.
• Watch for CP promotions: CP sometimes releases limited batches of discounted Lisbon–Porto tickets, announced on its website and app.
• Check discounts: CP lists its reduced fares and their conditions on cp.pt.

Lisbon to Porto train times

On a typical weekday (Tuesday 27 October 2026), direct trains left Lisboa Santa Apolónia at these times:

Alfa Pendular trains call at Lisboa Oriente nine minutes after leaving Santa Apolónia (07:09, 08:09, 09:09…). Timetables vary by day of the week: check cp.pt before travelling.

Strike warning: 30 October 2026

CP has warned of disruption on 30 October 2026 because of a strike called by the SFRCI union, with possible knock-on effects the day before and the day after. Passengers holding Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, international, InterRegional or Regional tickets can get a full refund or a free exchange to another train of the same category and class, online up to 15 minutes before departure, or at CP ticket offices up to 10 days after the strike.

Stations: Santa Apolónia, Oriente, Campanhã and São Bento

Lisboa Santa Apolónia is the historic terminus on the riverside, close to the Alfama district. Lisboa Oriente, in the Parque das Nações district, is often easier if you are staying in the north or east of Lisbon or coming from the airport, and saves nine minutes. In Porto, long-distance trains arrive at Porto Campanhã, east of the centre. The famous São Bento station, with its blue azulejo tiles, is right in the city centre: from Campanhã, a short urban train ride takes you there.

Where to buy tickets

Train, bus or plane?

With a city-centre to city-centre time under three hours and trains every hour or so, the train is the most practical option for most travellers. Coaches are often cheaper but slower, and flying makes little sense once airport transfers and security are added.

Expert view

The Alfa Pendular is a tilting train, from the Italian Pendolino family, built for up to 220 km/h. Tilting lets it take the curves of the century-old Linha do Norte faster than a conventional train, without making passengers uncomfortable. That is how Portugal got a fast service without a new line. The trade-off is that the line is shared with regional and freight trains, which limits capacity and punctuality.

The real change is coming with the new Porto–Lisbon high-speed line. Construction of the first section, Porto Campanhã–Oiã (about 71 km, with a new bridge over the Douro), started in October 2026, according to the Portuguese government and Infraestruturas de Portugal. The official target is about 1 h 15 between the two cities, roughly half today's time. No completion date has been announced for the whole line. Like every new high-speed line in the European Union, it will be built for the common European signalling system ERTMS/ETCS, whereas today's trains run under CONVEL, Portugal's national train protection system. Read our guide ERTMS and ETCS explained.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Lisbon to Porto?
2 h 48 on the fastest Alfa Pendular from Santa Apolónia, 2 h 39 from Oriente, and 3 h 13 on the Intercidades.

How much is the train from Lisbon to Porto?
Official one-way fares: €35.70 in second class on the Alfa Pendular, €28.05 on the Intercidades (checked on 25 October 2026).

Which Lisbon station should I use?
Santa Apolónia if you are in the historic centre, Oriente if you are in the north or east of the city or near the airport. Alfa Pendular trains stop at both.

Which Porto station do trains arrive at?
Porto Campanhã. For the city centre and São Bento, take a short urban train from Campanhã.

Do I need to book in advance?
It is not compulsory to book weeks ahead, but popular departures can fill up, so booking a few days ahead on cp.pt or the CP app is wise.

Key takeaways

• 2 h 48 from Santa Apolónia (2 h 39 from Oriente) on the Alfa Pendular, €35.70 in second class.
• Intercidades: 3 h 13, €28.05, a good budget choice.
• 16 direct trains on a typical weekday; arrival at Porto Campanhã.
• Strike on 30 October 2026: refunds and free exchanges available.

Read more

• Madrid to Lisbon in 3 hours: the Iberian high-speed project
• London to Edinburgh by train: LNER, Lumo, sleeper, fares and times
• Paris to Barcelona by train: TGV fares and booking
• All our train travel guides

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Sources: Comboios de Portugal, journey search Lisboa Santa Apolónia and Lisboa Oriente → Porto Campanhã (times and fares checked on 25 October 2026 for 27 October 2026); CP, strike notice for 30 October 2026; CNN Portugal, CP fares up 2.26% in 2026 (22 December 2025); Jornal Económico, start of works on the first high-speed section (11 October 2026); European Commission in Portugal, Lisbon–Porto high-speed line (29 July 2025); Wikipedia, Alfa Pendular. Information checked on 25 October 2026.

Photo: An Alfa Pendular train at Lisboa Santa Apolónia. Thad from Littleton, Colorado, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Written with AI assistance from the official sources cited, reviewed by the TrainsNews editorial team. Real photo, credited below the image. Spotted an error? contact@trainsnews.com — Our AI policy