Lisbon Train Station – Lisboa Santa Apolonia

Lisbon Train Station – Lisboa Santa Apolonia Station

Guide and Information Santa Apolonia Station Lisbon

Located in the historic Alfama district, Lisboa Santa Apolonia is the main train station in Lisbon. This major transport hub offers local, national, and international train routes, making it super handy for travelers. It’s got modern amenities and a bunch of services, so whether you’re a local or just visiting, you’ll find it easy to get around. If you’re planning to explore more of Portugal or even go to other countries, this station is a great starting point.

Lisbon Train Station Location

Lisbon’s main train station, Lisboa Santa Apolonia, is nestled in the Alfama district, not too far from the city center. This makes it a convenient spot if you’re staying nearby. A quick taxi ride or even a walk can get you to the station easily.

If you’re not into walking, no worries—taxis are easy to find, and the ride usually doesn’t take more than 10 minutes from most parts of the city. There are also local buses and even the metro that stop near Santa Apolonia, so getting there is a breeze.

Flying into Lisbon Airport? Getting to Santa Apolonia is pretty simple. You have a few options like taking a taxi, a bus, or the metro. Any of these can get you to the train station without much hassle, making it easy to go from your flight to your train.

Lisbon Train Station Overview

Lisboa Santa Apolonia is the main go-to for trains in Lisbon, offering both local and long-distance routes. If you’re looking to travel within Portugal or close-by areas, local trains usually run by Comboios de Portugal (CP) got you covered. For long-distance or international travel, you can also rely on services from CP as well as other international rail operators.

Type of TrainOperated ByPopular RoutesFrequency
LocalCP (Comboios de Portugal)Lisbon to Cascais, SintraEvery 20-40 mins
Long-DistanceCP, IntercityLisbon to Porto, Faro, CoimbraSeveral times a day

Local trains are perfect for quick trips to nearby places like Cascais and Sintra. For longer trips, say to Porto or Faro, long-distance trains are the way to go. These can get you to other parts of Portugal and even to other countries, like Spain.

Just a heads-up: It’s a good idea to check the schedule and book your tickets ahead of time, especially for long-distance trips. In Portugal, like in many other countries, long-distance trains usually require seat reservations, so you won’t have to stand during your trip. Making things a lot easier.

Lisbon Train Station Facilities

At Lisboa Santa Apolonia, you’ll find a variety of services to make your trip easier. There are ticket offices where you can buy or pick up pre-booked tickets, and if you prefer doing things yourself, there are also self-service machines.

If you’ve got some time to kill, there are comfy waiting areas where you can sit down and relax. There are cafes and vending machines for a quick snack or a cup of coffee. You’ll also find a couple of small shops or kiosks selling magazines, snacks, and travel essentials.

The station has clean restrooms for public use. If you need to get somewhere else in Lisbon, the station is well-connected to other public transport options like local buses and the metro. And if you’d rather take a taxi, you’ll usually find a bunch waiting outside the station. There’s also an information desk where you can get answers to any questions you might have about train schedules or directions. So all in all, it’s a pretty well-equipped station that’s got most things you’d need.

Additionally, Lisboa Santa Apolonia provides luggage storage facilities, making it convenient for travellers who wish to explore the city without the burden of carrying their bags around.

Buying Train Tickets – Lisbon Train Station

ooking tickets at Lisboa Santa Apolonia is pretty straightforward. You’ve got a couple of options:

  • Ticket Counters: The old-school way. Just walk up to the counter, tell them where you’re going, and they’ll sort you out. You can pay with cash or card.
  • Self-Service Machines: These are touch-screen kiosks where you can buy tickets yourself. They usually have English language options and take both cash and card.
  • Online: If you’re the type who likes to have everything sorted before you go, you can book tickets online through the Comboios de Portugal (CP) website. Just print your ticket or show it on your phone when you get to the station.
  • Apps: There are also mobile apps where you can book tickets and always have them handy on your phone.

Regardless of how you book, for long-distance and international trains, you’ll usually need to reserve a seat. Local trains, like ones going to Cascais or Sintra, don’t need a reservation. You can just buy a ticket and hop on.

Navigating the Train Station

Navigating around Lisboa Santa Apolonia is usually pretty easy. The station isn’t super huge, so you won’t get lost easily. When you walk in, you’ll likely see the ticket counters and self-service machines right away. They’re hard to miss and that’s where you’ll go if you need to buy or pick up tickets.

Signs for platforms are clearly marked in English, and you just follow those to get to your train.

If you’re looking for food or a restroom, signs will guide you to cafes, vending machines, or restrooms. Everything’s pretty well-signposted, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding what you need.

Taxis usually wait outside the main entrance, so they’re easy to find if you need one.