Porto to Lisbon: How I Actually Got There (And Why I Cancelled My Train Ticket)

If you’re staring at flight prices trying to get to Lisbon and wondering why everything costs double what you expected, I’ve been there.

Flights into Lisbon were so expensive when I looked in August that I booked into Porto instead, and it worked out hundreds of euros cheaper!

That left me with one more decision: how do you actually get from Porto to Lisbon once you land?

I originally booked a train.

Then I cancelled it.

Sounds a bit indecisive? Here’s the thing: sometimes the obvious choice isn’t actually the best one, and I only worked that out because a local set me straight.

I’ve done this exact route, train ticket bought and refunded, replaced with a bus, a stranger sitting in my seat and all, so here’s exactly what happened and what I’d do differently.

This is for anyone comparing flights into Porto versus Lisbon, or trying to work out whether going Porto to Lisbon by bus beats the train for this route.

Here’s the exact route, the exact cost, and the mistake I nearly made along the way.

I had already decided Lisbon was worth visiting, and I timed the whole trip around the best time to visit Lisbon before working out how to actually get there.

Why I Flew Into Porto Instead of Lisbon

No complicated logic needed, just the maths of two airports serving the same trip.

It’s a straightforward decision once you run the numbers: same country, same eventual destination, but a completely different price tag on the flight.

That’s the kind of saving that makes an extra few hours of travel completely worth it!

I Nearly Caught the Train (Here’s Why I Cancelled It)

My original plan was the train.

Then I talked to a friend of mine who actually lives in Portugal, and she told me flatly: don’t do that, catch the bus instead!

Her reasoning: the trains on this route are often late, sometimes the air conditioning doesn’t work, and they’re not as clean or as easy as the bus.

I cancelled my train ticket, got a full refund, and booked the bus instead.

The price alone made switching worth it: the train was going to cost me €40, and the bus ended up costing around €18 to €19, more than half the price!

When I checked again afterwards, I found the same route for about the same fare on Omio, which is where I’d book it again next time.

Booking the Bus From Porto Airport

Boarding happens straight from Porto Airport, which made this whole thing so easy!

There’s a small seating area inside the arrivals terminal specifically for people waiting for the buses, with a screen showing which buses are coming and when.

You don’t need to print anything!

I downloaded my ticket and had the QR code ready on my phone, and that was it.

It was so smooth!

Rede Expressos runs this exact route from the airport, it’s one of Portugal’s intercity companies, and it was easy to spot from the screens in the arrivals hall.

The Seat Number Nobody Else Followed

Boarding was simple, and the trip itself took about 4 hours.

One thing worth flagging: you get an assigned seat number, and you’re meant to actually sit in it.

A lot of people don’t!

Someone was in my seat, so I just sat somewhere else, but then a few stops down the road a lot more passengers got on, and I had to go back, find the person sitting in my actual seat, and ask them to move.

So: sit in your seat!

Save yourself the awkward conversation I had to have!

What the Journey Itself Was Like

There’s no stop on this route, so use the toilet and grab a drink before you get on, because you’re not getting another chance for 4 hours!

The bus wasn’t full, more like half full, and it was comfortable the whole way.

It took me right to the bus station in Lisbon, no transfers, no faffing around!

Arriving in Lisbon

There are two different bus stations you can arrive at in Lisbon.

I got off at Terminal Rodoviário de Sete Rios, which was the last stop for my bus.

It was far easier than what the train option would have meant: an Uber from the airport to the train station, then hoping the train actually turned up on time.

Dodging that whole hassle alone made the bus worth it!

From there it was a short trip to where I’d actually stay in Lisbon, in one of the best neighbourhoods in Lisbon I’d picked out in advance.

I had the perfect 3 days in Lisbon mapped out already, and the first item on my list of things to do in Lisbon was waiting for me the next morning.

Would I Do This Again?

Yes, without question!

Flying into Porto rather than Lisbon saved me hundreds of euros, and swapping the train for the bus saved me both money and a headache I didn’t need.

Take the bus over the train if you’re travelling around Portugal, no question.

That’s not just my opinion, it’s what a local told me directly.

And after doing this route myself, I’d pass on exactly the same advice!

I’m the kind of traveller who’ll always take the cheaper, slightly longer option over the fast, expensive one, it’s just how I’m wired.

Weighing up the same decision? It’s worth the 4 hours on a bus, trust me!

Lisbon felt safe from the moment I arrived, more on that in my full breakdown of whether Lisbon is safe, and I went straight from dropping my bags to booking the Eating Europe food tour for the next day.

It also meant I had energy left that first night to try a couple of the best restaurants in Lisbon I had bookmarked before I even landed.