This page explains how to buy train tickets from Porto to other European cities at the cheapest rates, buying online direct from the operators, usually with print-your-own tickets.  Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.

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Before you buy your tickets

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

Which station in Porto?

• Porto Campanhã is the main station, used by the fast trains to/from Lisbon.  It's in the city centre, but outside the old town.

• Porto São Bento is right inside Porto's historic UNESCO-listed old town, a beautiful station that's a Porto attraction in its own right for its beautiful azulejo tiling in the booking hall.  Tickets to Porto are valid for a free transfer by CP suburban train from Porto Campanhã to Porto São Bento.  Suburban trains link Campanhã & São Bento station every 5-15 minutes taking 4 minutes.

• Douro Valley Line:  For a day trip from Porto along the scenic Douro Valley, see the Douro Valley by train page.

European train travel FAQ

Porto to Lisbon from €9.50

• See the Lisbon to Porto page for fares, tips & how to buy tickets.

An Alfa Pendular train at Porto Campanhã.

2nd class, arranged 2+2 across the car width.		Cafe-bar serving sandwiches, snacks & drinks.

Luggage racks at the end of each car.		1st class seats, arranged 1+2 across the car width.

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Porto to Albufeira, Faro & the Algarve from €19

• Two direct Alfa Pendular trains link Porto Campanhã with Albufeira & Faro every day, see the photos above.  At the time I write this, they leave Porto Campanhã at 05:40 & 14:40.  Porto to Faro takes 5h43 city centre to city centre.

  Alternatively, various other departures are available at intervals through the day with one simple change of train at Lisbon Oriente.

• Advance-purchase fares start at around €19 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  If you buy on the day of travel you'll pay higher prices.

• Check times & prices and buy tickets at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in €) or at Omio.com (in €, £ or $).  Click EN top right for English.  You'll need passport numbers for all travellers.  You print your own ticket.

• Tip:  You should book from Porto Campanhã as that is the station where the fast trains start, but your ticket is valid for a free transfer by CP suburban train from the beautiful Porto São Bento station in the old town to Porto Campanhã.  Suburban trains link São Bento & Campanhã every 5-15 minutes taking 4 minutes.

An Alfa Pendular train at Porto Campanhã.

2nd class, arranged 2+2 across the car width.		Cafe-bar serving sandwiches, snacks & drinks.

Luggage racks at the end of each car.		1st class seats, arranged 1+2 across the car width.

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Porto to Madrid from €16 + €22

Porto to Madrid.  The cheapest option, with some great scenery

• Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by Celta regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã at 08:13 & arriving Vigo Guixar 11:35.

  This is a regional train, 2nd class only, bring your own food & drink.

  The fare is €15.90, fixed-price.

  Book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  From Vigo Guixar it's an easy 10 minute 500m walk to Vigo Urzaiz, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.

• Step 2, travel from Vigo to Madrid by high-speed Alvia train, leaving Vigo Urzaiz at 13:20 & arriving Madrid Chamartin at 17:36.

  The air-conditioned Alvia train has comfortable spacious seating in standard & comfort class and a cafe-bar.

  Fares start at €22, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.

  Check times & book online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for as direct train with 0 changes.  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket.

Step 1, Porto to Vigo by Celta regional express.

Above, the train crosses the Minho river which forms the border between Spain and Portugal.

Step 2, Vigo to Madrid by Alvia train.  Above left, comfort class seats, recently refurbished in tan leather.

The cafe-bar.  Above right, an Iberico meal deal from the cafe-bar on an Alvia train.

Above left, an Alvia at Madrid Chamartin.  Above right, standard (2nd) class seats on an Alvia S730 from Madrid to Vigo.

Scenery between Vigo and Madrid, south of Ourense.

Scenery between Vigo and Madrid, not far from Madrid.

Porto to San Sebastian

• Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by Celta regional express, leaving Porto Campanhã at 19:10 and arriving Vigo Guixar 22:34.

  The fare is €15.90, fixed-price.

  Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

• Stay overnight in Vigo.  The excellent NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.

• Day 2, travel from Vigo to San Sebastian on one of these two possible departures:

  Early departure, 3 times a week:  Leave Vigo Guixar at 07:42 on Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays for Vitoria/Gasteiz, arriving 16:33.  The comfortable air-conditioned Alvia train has a cafe-bar and power sockets at all seats.  An Intercity train provides a guaranteed connection to San Sebastian, leaving Vitoria/Gasteiz 16:45 and arriving San Sebastian Renfe station at 18:35.

  Mid-morning departure, every day:  Leave Vigo Urzaiz station at 09:20 every day by high-speed Alvia train, arriving Madrid Chamartin at 13:42.  Leave Madrid Chamartin at 16:10 by high-speed Alvia train arriving San Sebastian (Renfe station) at 21:33.  From Vigo Guixar it's an easy 10 minute 500m walk to Vigo Urzaiz, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.

  Fares start at €23 each way.  The price varies like air fares, so book ahead for cheaper prices.

  Buy a ticket online at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket.

  Tip:  If using the daily service via Madrid, you might need to treat Vigo-Madrid & Madrid-San Sebastian as separate bookings.

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Porto to Vigo, Santiago de Compostela & A Coruña

• Step 1, travel from Porto to Vigo by Celta regional express train.

  Two Celta regional express trains link Porto Campanhã with Vigo Guixar every day, at 08:13 & 19:10, journey time around 2h22.

  The fare is €15.90, fixed price, 2nd class only.

  Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com and print your ticket.  Booking normally opens 60 days ahead.

• Step 2, travel from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela or A Coruña.

  There are slow regional trains from Vigo Guixar every few hours via the classic line, or an hourly fast Media Distancia train from Vigo Urzaiz on the high-speed line.  It's a 10-minute 500m walk from Vigo Guixar to Vigo Urzaiz, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.

  If you take the morning Celta train from Porto, an easy same-day journey is possible, I'd allow at least 40 minutes between trains in Vigo.

  If you take the evening Celta  train from Porto you'll need to stay overnight in Vigo, I recommend the lovely NH Collection Vigo hotel or cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo, both 10 minutes walk from Vigo Guixar with great reviews.

  Buy tickets from around €9 upwards at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.

  Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.  You print your own ticket. 

The Celta regional express between Porto & Vigo, seen at Vigo Guixar.  Below, the Minho river forms the border between Spain & Portugal.

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Porto to Seville, Cordoba, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia

By train to Faro, bus to Seville.  Cheapest, easily done in a day

• Step 1, travel from Porto Campanhã to Faro by train as shown in the Porto to Faro section above.  Fastest journey around 5h43.

  There's an 05:32 Alfa Pendular direct to Faro, later departures involve a change at Lisbon Oriente if you want a same-day connection in Faro.

  In Faro, the Eva bus station used by Alsa is a 4-minute 280m walk from Faro station, see walking map.

  Alternatively, you could take the 14:32 Alfa Pendular direct from Porto Campanhã to Faro arriving in the evening.  Stay overnight at the excellent Eva Senses Hotel (3 minutes walk from Faro station and right next to the Eva bus station), then take a bus to Seville next morning.

• Step 2, take a bus from Faro to Seville.

  Buses run roughly every 2-3 hours, journey time 2h30 to 3h15, fare €17-€21.  There are various buses run by Alsa, Damas, EuroLines or Iberobus.  I'd allow an hour or two between train and bus in Faro, in case of delay.

  I recommend Alsa (Alsa-Rede Express) as their buses stop at Seville Plaza de Armas then go on to Seville Santa Justa station for easy bus-train connections.  Their Seville Santa Justa stop is just outside the main station entrance next to McDonalds.

  Check times & buy tickets for all these buses at Omio.com, you print your own ticket.

• Step 3, take a train from Seville Santa Justa to Cordoba, Malaga or wherever.  Check times and buy online at www.raileurope.com or Omio.com though for short hops you may as well buy when you get there at the station.

Step 1, take a direct Alfa Pendular train from Porto to Faro.  Seen here at Porto Campanhã.

2nd class, arranged 2+2 across the car width.		Cafe-bar serving sandwiches, snacks & drinks.

Luggage racks at the end of each car.		1st class seats, arranged 1+2 across the car width.

Step 2, take an Alsa-Rede Express bus to Seville.  Seen here at Faro's Eva bus station, next to the Eva Senses Hotel & 2 minutes walk from Faro station.

The bus crosses the Guadiana river, which forms the border between Spain and Portugal at this point.

An Alsa bus at its stop outside Seville Santa Justa station.

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Porto to Paris & Bordeaux