Lisbon Train Guide – Getting the Train in Lisbon

Tourist Information and Guide on Train Travel in Lisbon

Getting the train from Lisbon is an excellent and efficient way of getting around locally (stopping at a variety of top attractions), and for longer distance travel across Portugal.

As well as Porto, Lisbon is the main transportation hub for trains in Portugal, offering many services and routes for tourists looking to take a day trip from Lisbon.

Buying Lisbon Train Tickets

There a variety of different ways to buy Lisbon train tickets:

1. Lisbon Train Tickets at the Station

Tickets are available to be purchased directly from the stations in Lisbon. They have ticket machines, that come in a variety of languages, as well as staff on hand to assist with using them.

They also have manned ticket offices in some of the larger stations (Santa Apolonia and Oriente) where you can buy tickets

It’s important to note that the trains in Lisbon (the long distance ones especially) can sell out in busy periods, so it is recommended to book online in advance, especially if you want seats next to friends and family.

2. Lisbon Train tickets online through CP

Lisbon train tickets can be purchased through the official CP website. I will admit the website is slightly clunky to use (it seems very old fashioned) and I’ve had issues with foreign bank cards being declined on the site.

They also require you to register on their website as well, and there isn’t a handy mobile app to use on your phone on the go (which is important to me these days when travelling).

They will of course give you the best possible price for a journey around Portugal, and their help/support is of a high standard.

3. Lisbon Train Tickets through Omio – Recommended!

When people are travelling on the train from Lisbon (or any European country for that matter) I always recommend Omio. They are simple to use from any country, and offer simple travel on the train and bus!

When booking through Omio you have a smooth user experience with an excellent, easy-to-use website, as well as a companion app. You can use foreign cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal to buy tickets.

It offers the exact same routes and train bookings (they are an official CP ticket reseller) and the process to book tickets is simple and super easy.

The Omio mobile app is really easy to use, with a simple interface to search for more transport options, and a handy area that stores all your bookings and tickets making them easy to show when going through ticket gates or showing the train staff.

Click Here to Book Lisbon Train Tickets Online or use the widget below to check availability and prices:

Lisbon Train Routes

As it’s the main transport hub in Portugal, there are plenty of options for routes and services leaving from Lisbon. You can pretty much go anywhere in Portugal and the train lines even link up with Spain and Madrid!

Long Distance Trains from Lisbon

The connections from Lisbon are excellent, and you can go the full length of Portugal with CP (Comboios de Portugal) who operate the long distance trains.

Many of the long distance trains, including to Porto and Madrid, leave from either the Santa Apolonia or the Oriente station in Lisbon.

This table shows a sample of some of the most popular long distance journeys on the train from Lisbon:

Destination	Travel Time from Lisbon	Tickets
Porto	3 hours	Book Tickets Online
Faro	3.5 hours	Book Tickets Online
Braga	Approximately 3.5 – 4 hours	Book Tickets Online
Coimbra	About 2.5 hours	Book Tickets Online
Madrid, Spain	Quickest: 8 hours 45m	Book Tickets Online

It’s best to book your tickets as far in advance as possible, with the cheapest tickets going on sale around 10-12 weeks before departure.

For popular destinations such as Porto, do be aware that it can sell out in advance so do keep an eye on it to avoid disappointment (you don’t want to take a bus all the way to Porto!)

To get the latest info around train times and routes visit the official CP website.

Short Distance Trains from Lisbon

There is also a fairly extensive train network around the outskirts of Lisbon, with options for both tourists and locals to get to the small towns around Lisbon.

For tourists these short distance trains can be used to get to the town of Sintra (and view the beautiful palaces) or to get to the beach if you’re looking to relax after a day of walking around the attractions.

You can also get a train to Belem, where you can visit some of Lisbon’s best attractions such as Belem Tower or Jeronimos Monastery.

These smaller trains are also used by local commuters looking to come to Lisbon for work or attend business meetings.

These trains are also operated by CP and you can check the official schedules and times on the website.

Lisbon City Pass – Free Trains!

How are the Lisbon Train Journeys?

Trains in Portugal are actually very well run, with a fast and efficient service that is rarely late. I’ve been on 6 journeys in total across Portugal, and never once were they late in arriving, with some often arriving at least 10 minutes early.

There is normally ample room for luggage above your seat or in the designated luggage storage racks at the end of each carriage. They also seem to put on a lot of carriages, and it’s never difficult to find a seat (unlike some places across Europe).

The longer distance trains have dedicated food and drink carriages, offering anything from coffee and cakes to full warm meals and wine! The prices are actually pretty reasonable as well, with meal deals available.

There are plenty of staff on-board to assist with any queries, and they often speak good English. Make sure you hold onto your ticket throughout the journey, and it’s also wise to carry your passport or some form of identification.

Lisbon Train Map – Routes Across Portugal

You can view all routes that are currently available to travel via train in Portugal by taking a look at the official train map.

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