Getting around by train Portugal

Porto's historic train station is an attraction in itself, with its magnificent azulejos that everyone comes to see. You will also see mosaics "inlaid" on the surrounding stones, a real work of goldsmiths. As far as transport is concerned, it is mostly suburban and regional trains that go north (Braga, Guimaraes...). A train connects it to the station of Campanhã every 20 minutes. Depending on the location of your accommodation, check which station is the closest... Luggage lockers are available, on the left as you enter.

Lisbon has various railway stations. The Santa Apolónia and Oriente stations welcome long-distance trains. The Entrecampos station connects the northern suburbs, and a few trains cross the Tagus on the 25-April bridge thanks to the Fertagus company (www.fertagus.pt). For a few getaways, the estação de Cais do Sodré offers the coastal route to Cascais via Estoril while the Rossio station serves Sintra.

On the Porto-Aveiro-Coimbra-Lisbon line, it is well served: every hour, 1 train leaves to Porto and to Coimbra. 4 direct connections with Braga, one every hour with Lisbon. Buses are available to the city centre.

Built in 1886 and 1887, and designed by architect José Luís Monteiro, it blends three styles - Neo-Gothic, Manueline and Plateresque - and boasts a remarkable façade. It's hard to pass by without noticing it. You'll have the chance to visit it if you take the train to Sintra. Rossio station is served by the metro (Restauradores station on the blue Gaviota line). Numerous bus routes pass close by: the 759 from Oriente or Santa Apolónia stations, or the 744 or Aerobus 91 from the airport.

Since 1998, it has been the modern railway station on the World Expo site. It is adjacent to the Vasco de Gama shopping mall. In the northeast of the city, it's on exactly the same line as Santa Apolónia (same services plus Sintra), but closer to the airport. For long-distance tickets, the fare is the same whether you leave from either station. Numerous bus connections are available, such as the 744 from the station to Restauradores.

On the Figueira da Foz-Leiria-Cacém line (Lisbon periphery) some interregional links: 5 trains for Caldas da Rainha, 5 for Leiria, 3 for Figueira and 3 for Óbidos.

Located in Alfama, this station serves many national and international destinations. Inside, you will find a supermarket to do some shopping before your train leaves. For lockers, there are automatic lockers at gate 47, as well as at Oriente, Le Rossio and Cais do Sodré stations. The station is closed at night. Around it, you will find several bus stations to take you to different points in the city, including Cais do Sodré.

The train follows the coast, passing through Alcântara, Belém, Algiers, Carcavelos... and Cascais. The coastal route is nice to look at, remember to stand on the left side of the train. In summer, it is a convoy of flip-flops and sunglasses to the beaches of Carcavelos or Estoril. On the outward journey and especially on the return journey, always check the stations served before boarding, as some trains do not always stop at all stations along the way or stop only at Oeiras.

Accessible by metro with the yellow line, it mainly serves the northern suburbs. So you can reach Sintra or Queluz from this station. There are also connections with Santa Apolonia and Oriente. Thanks to the Alfa Pendular, you will be able to go to Braga or Guimarães (several departures per day). The Fertagus company will allow you to go to the beautiful beaches of the south or to Almada by crossing the bridge of April 25th.

Cascais is the terminus of the coastal train line that leaves from Cais do Sodré (Lisbon). As it runs along the coast, the trip is quite pleasant. Remember to stand on your left side in the direction of travel to enjoy the view during the trip. The journey from Lisbon takes about 45 minutes. The train is often full in summer. Do not try not to pay, as there are very often controllers and the fine is very high. When leaving the station, you arrive directly in the centre of Cascais. You have to walk a little to get to the beaches.

From here, trains (Suburbano, Inter Regional and Inter Cidade) arrive from Barreiro (east of Almada, accessible from Lisbon by crossing the Tagus on the Transtejo ferry from Terreiro do Paço), either direct or serving local stations along the route. From Lisbon, you can take the Fertagus express train to Setúbal. It passes through Roma-Arreiro, Entre Campos and Sete Rios stations and takes 1 hour. This is the easiest and quickest way to get to Setúbal, unless you're already on the other side of the river.