Getting Around Portugal: Trains, Buses, Car Hire and Driving Tips

Portugal is a compact country - roughly 560km from north to south and 220km at its widest - which means getting between cities rarely takes more than three hours. The main decisions are whether to use trains, long-distance coaches, or hire a car. Each suits a different style of trip.

CP Trains - The National Rail Network

CP (Comboios de Portugal) operates the national rail network. The two train types you’ll use most are the Alfa Pendular (express, tilting train, premium seating) and the Intercidades (intercity, stops at more stations, slightly cheaper).

Key routes and approximate prices (booked in advance via cp.pt):

Route	Train type	Journey time	From
Lisbon (Santa Apolónia) → Porto (Campanhã)	Alfa Pendular	3h00	€25
Lisbon → Porto	Intercidades	3h30	€20
Lisbon → Faro	Alfa Pendular / Intercidades	2h45	€22
Lisbon → Coimbra	Alfa Pendular	1h20	€13
Porto → Braga	Regional	1h00	€4
Porto → Viana do Castelo	Regional	1h15	€6
Lisbon → Évora	Regional	1h40	€12

Book online in advance at cp.pt - walk-up fares are significantly higher than advance prices, and the Alfa Pendular sells out in both directions on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Trains run roughly every 1–2 hours on main routes; the Lisbon–Porto corridor has hourly Alfa Pendular departures during the day.

Lisbon stations: Oriente (international trains, Alfa Pendular north and south) and Santa Apolónia (also serves Alfa Pendular north) are the main intercity hubs. Rossio and Entrecampos serve suburban lines and some Intercidades routes. Check your departure platform - confusion between stations catches visitors out.

Porto stations: Most intercity trains use Campanhã, with the Alfa Pendular also stopping at São Bento (the architecturally famous azulejo-tiled station in the city centre).

What the Train Does Well

The Lisbon–Porto and Lisbon–Algarve corridors are genuinely excellent by European standards. Comfortable, on time most of the time, and priced reasonably. The Lisbon–Coimbra–Porto route passes river valleys and pine forests - window seat on the right side heading north.

What the Train Doesn’t Cover

The train network is coastal and urban-biased. The Alentejo interior, Douro Valley wineries, rural Minho, and most of the Peneda-Gerês area are poorly served or unserved. For these regions, a car or coach is the only option.

Rede Expressos - Long-Distance Coaches

Rede Expressos is the main long-distance coach operator, covering routes that trains don’t reach or that are cheaper for certain corridors. Coaches are comfortable, air-conditioned, and increasingly punctual.

Key routes:

Route	Journey time	From
Lisbon → Porto	3h30	€14
Lisbon → Braga	4h15	€16
Lisbon → Évora	1h45	€12
Lisbon → Lagos	4h00	€19
Porto → Viana do Castelo	1h30	€8
Porto → Braga	1h00	€7

Coaches leave from Sete Rios terminal in Lisbon (close to Jardim Zoológico metro station) and from Campo 24 de Agosto in Porto. Book at rede-expressos.pt.

Flix Bus also serves Portugal and offers cheap promotional fares on the Lisbon–Porto and Lisbon–Algarve routes - worth checking both operators if you’re flexible on time.

The coach advantage: coverage of smaller cities and towns that have no rail link. The main limitation is journey times - coaches generally take 20–40% longer than trains on the same route.

Driving in Portugal - What to Know

A hire car transforms what you can do in Portugal. Rural beaches, Alentejo wine estates, Douro Valley quintas, and Peneda-Gerês hiking trailheads are essentially inaccessible without one.

Renting a Car

Compare car hire rates - book before you fly rather than at the airport counter, where rates are typically 40–60% higher. Major hire companies (Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, local operators Guerin and Goldcar) all operate at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports.

Minimum age: Most companies require 21+; some restrict under-25s to economy classes. Credit card required for the deposit - debit cards are rarely accepted. Take photos of the car before driving away.

What car to hire: A small hatchback (VW Polo class) works for city use and motorway driving. If you’re going into the Minho mountains, Douro Valley, or Alentejo back roads, a medium-sized car with decent ground clearance handles the occasional rough track better.

Motorways and Tolls

Portugal’s motorway network (A-roads) is fast and well-maintained. Almost all motorways are tolled - most have manual payment booths accepting cash or card, plus Via Verde electronic lanes.

Via Verde: The electronic toll system. Hire cars often have a Via Verde transponder - check with your company whether tolls are charged per use or via a daily fee arrangement. If using your own transponder from another country, it may not work.

The A22 (Via do Infante): The main Algarve motorway. For a period this section operated with electronic-only tolls (no booths), causing confusion for tourists. As of 2025 the section has a combination of manual and electronic lanes - confirm with your hire company before driving it.

Approximate toll costs for common journeys:

• Lisbon → Porto (full A1): approximately €22–25
• Lisbon → Faro (A2): approximately €20–24
• Porto → Braga (A3): approximately €2–3

National roads (N-roads) are free but slower. Between smaller towns, N-roads are often the only option anyway.

Driving Tips

Speed limits: 50km/h in towns, 90km/h on national roads, 120km/h on motorways. Speed cameras are common on national roads and around school zones.

Parking in cities: Paid parking (parquímetro) in all city centres. Blue lines mean pay-and-display; yellow lines mean no parking. Lisbon and Porto have underground car parks near the main sights - these are more reliable than street parking for multi-hour visits.

Petrol: Gasoleo is diesel; Gasolina is petrol. Portugal’s fuel prices are broadly in line with European averages. Motorway service stations are consistently open; rural stations may close on Sundays.

Rural roads in the north: Roads through Minho and Trás-os-Montes can be very narrow with stone walls close to both sides. Pass slowly, use your horn on blind bends (it’s expected, not aggressive), and be prepared to reverse if you meet a lorry.

Urban Transport - Lisbon and Porto

Lisbon

Lisbon’s public transport network is run by Carris (buses and trams) and the Metro. The Viva Viagem card (€0.50, reloadable) is the most convenient option for visits of more than a day - load it with credit or buy 24-hour passes (approximately €6.40). The tourist-targeted Lisboa Card includes unlimited public transport plus museum entry.

The famous Tram 28 - the yellow historic tram through Alfama - is beautiful but extremely crowded in summer and a pickpocket blackspot. If riding for the experience rather than transport, do it before 9am.

The Elevadores (funiculars - Bica, Glória, Lavra) are single-line lifts up Lisbon’s steep hills, running from early morning to around midnight.

Porto

Porto has a Metro network (6 lines including direct connection to the airport), buses, and historic trams. The Andante card system covers all urban transport including the Metro. A 24-hour card costs approximately €7. The Porto Card includes transport plus museum discounts.

Line E (Violet) runs directly from the airport to Trindade station in the city centre - 35 minutes, runs every 20–30 minutes, approximately €2.60.

Airport Transfers

From Lisbon Airport (LIS), the Metro Red Line connects directly to Oriente and Alameda - approximately €1.85 and 20 minutes. Taxis from the airport to central Lisbon run approximately €12–18 depending on traffic.

From Porto Airport (OPO), Metro Line E runs to the city centre in 35 minutes for approximately €2.60. Taxis cost approximately €20–25.

From Faro Airport (FAO) to Faro centre is a short bus ride or €8–12 taxi. Pre-book a transfer if you’re heading to Lagos, Albufeira, or Tavira directly - taxi rates for longer journeys from the airport can be high without pre-negotiation.

Getting Between Lisbon and the Algarve

Train: Alfa Pendular or Intercidades from Oriente to Faro (2h45–3h15). From Faro, regional trains serve the coastal line east to Tavira and west to Portimão and Lagos (change at Faro). No direct train to Lagos from Lisbon - change at Faro.

Coach: Rede Expressos from Sete Rios direct to Lagos, Portimão, Albufeira, Faro, and Tavira.

Car: A2 motorway south - approximately 3h00 Lisbon to Faro without stops. The route is straightforward and well-signposted.

Getting Between Lisbon and Porto

The Alfa Pendular (3h00) is the obvious choice - comfortable, frequent, and comparable in price to coach. If you want to break the journey, stop at Coimbra (45 minutes from Lisbon), where the upper city, university, and botanical garden are worth 3–4 hours.

For Douro Valley access from Porto, the Douro Line regional train from Porto Campanhã or São Bento runs east through the valley to Régua (2h00, approximately €10) and on to Pocinho. The scenery from the train is genuinely impressive, especially late afternoon when the light hits the terraced vineyards. See our Douro Valley by train guide for full details.

Summary - Which Option for Which Trip

Trip type	Best option
Lisbon ↔ Porto (city to city)	Train (Alfa Pendular)
Lisbon ↔ Faro / Algarve coast	Train or car
Lisbon ↔ Algarve beach (Lagos, Sagres)	Car or coach + local taxi
Alentejo exploration	Car essential
Douro Valley	Train for scenery, car for quintas
Peneda-Gerês / Minho	Car essential
City sightseeing (Lisbon, Porto)	Metro + walking

See our car hire Portugal guide for more on rental companies, insurance, and what to check before you sign. For flights to Portugal from major European and US cities, see our flights to Portugal guide. Our Portugal travel costs guide includes transport budget estimates for typical one and two-week itineraries.

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