Lisbon to Porto on the regional line instead of the Alfa Pendular

September 2026

The fast train does Lisbon to Porto in under three hours. The regional services take about five with one change, and cost roughly a third of the fare. I had no reason to hurry, so I took the slow option and broke the trip in Coimbra.

The route

• Lisbon Santa Apolónia to Coimbra-B on an Intercidades, about two hours.
• Short urban shuttle from Coimbra-B into Coimbra town, lunch, a walk up to the old university.
• Regional from Coimbra-B to Porto Campanhã in the afternoon.

Was it worth it?

Yes, with one caveat: the connection at Coimbra-B is tight if your first train runs late, and the next regional can be two hours away. Check the evening timetable before you commit to a long lunch.

Next: the Douro line east of Porto, which everyone says is the prettiest railway in the country.