What is the fastest train to Lisbon?

How long is the high-speed train from Porto to Lisbon?

The high-speed train Porto-Lisbon averages 3 hours 30 minutes.

• Fastest trips? 3 hours 10 minutes.

• 17 trains daily—schedules, check online.

That variability, eh? It’s like life…unpredictable even on rails. It’s almost funny how reliant we are on rigid schedules.

• Planner is your friend.
• Timetables change.

Don’t forget regional trains exist, too. I once took one by accident! What a day—that trip added like, two hours. The countryside WAS nice though.

How fast is the bullet train in Portugal?

So, Portugal’s bullet train, the Alfa Pendular, right? It’s pretty fast. Like, really fast. It hits 220 kilometers per hour, that’s 135 mph, wow! Crazy speed, I tell ya. It goes all over the place, connecting a bunch of cities. Guimarães, Braga, Porto…those are some of the stops, I think, yeah. Definitely Lisbon too, and Faro down south, I even took it once – a wild ride! It was awesome. The scenery was amazing!

It’s a Pendolino type train, which is kinda cool, you know, tilting. Makes for a smooth ride, even on curves. Remember that trip in 2024? Man, that was a fast train. I’m pretty sure it was the Alfa Pendular. It is the only high-speed option, as far as I know. It connects like, a ton of major cities.

• Top speed: 220 km/h (135 mph) – super speedy!
• Routes: Lisbon to Faro is a popular one, I know, but there are many others. It goes all along the coast. I really enjoyed the coastal view. The whole route is amazing.
• Train type: Pendolino, that’s the fancy tilting kind. That’s what makes it so smooth. I think that’s why I enjoyed the ride so much.
• Operator: CP, the Portuguese state railway company. I think I remember seeing their logo on the train. A kinda blue logo.

The Alfa Pendular is, without a doubt, the best way to travel between major cities in Portugal in 2024. Really, really fast and efficient. I’d go again in a heartbeat. It’s just awsome!

How fast is the CP train in Portugal?

Braga. Sun bleeds through window. Fast. Blur. Green streaks. 220. Kilometers melting. Hourglass sand, slipping. Alfa Pendular. A name like a whisper.

Porto rushes by. Red roofs. A flash. Gone. Time stretches. Compresses. Aveiro. Water. Light. The train leans. Flying. Tilting.

Coimbra. Ancient stones. Whispers of history. 220 kilometers per hour. Speed. A blur of green. The world outside, a dream.

Lisbon. Sun. Bright. White buildings. The train sighs. Slows. Santarém. Fields. Empty. Vast. The rhythm of the rails.

Faro. The sea. Blue. Endless. The train stops. Stillness. 220 kilometers. An hour. A lifetime. Braga to Faro. A memory. Speed.

• Alfa Pendular: Portugal’s high-speed train.
• Top Speed: 220 km/h (135 mph).
• Connects: Guimarães, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Santarém, Lisbon, Albufeira, Faro. North to South.
• Pendolino: Tilting technology. Smooth ride. Fast curves.
• CP: Comboios de Portugal. The national railway.

Why is there no train from Madrid to Lisbon?

Madrid-Lisbon train? No direct route. Iberian Peninsula rail’s a mess. Spain and Portugal built internal high-speed lines. Cross-border? Nah, not a priority. Politics, maybe? Who knows. What even are borders, man?

• Lack of cross-border investment: Historically, money hasn’t gone to connecting the countries. Focus remained internal.
• Domestic high-speed rail: Both Spain and Portugal developed extensive high-speed networks. Just not between them. Weird, right?
• Plans for improvement: They are talking about a high-speed link. Eventually. “Eventually” is a funny word. My last birthday cake was “eventually”. Still waiting.
• Uncertain timeline: No solid completion date. These things take time. And money. And political will. A rare combination, like peanut butter, pickles, and kimchi. I tried it once. Don’t.

Further points: Different rail gauges complicate things. Spain uses standard gauge. Portugal uses Iberian gauge. Requires changing trains. Or axles. Imagine the logistics. Nightmarish. Though, changing gauges mid-trip is kinda cool, in a geeky way. Reminds me of that time I built a Lego train that could switch tracks. Good times. Anyway, this gauge difference adds time and cost. A new high-speed line could solve this by using standard gauge. I hope they figure it out. For the sake of Iberian train travel. And my inner child’s Lego dreams.

Is there a train from France to Lisbon?

A whisper of steel on endless track, Paris Gare d’Austerlitz. Fifteen hours, a slow unfolding of the soul. Lisbon. Lisboa Santa Apolónia. The scent of rain, perhaps. Always rain, in my memories of trains.

Direct route, yes. A ribbon of iron unwinding, across the sun-drenched landscape. Vineyards blurring, a hazy, golden dream. The rhythmic clack, a heartbeat, slow, steady, hypnotic.

Each departure, a promise kept. Multiple journeys daily, a pulse of movement. I see it, the train gliding, a silver serpent through the heart of Europe.

Paris. Lisbon. Two worlds, connected. Time collapsing, a stretch of hours, compressed, intense. The weight of travel, a delicious melancholy.

My own trip, last year, a kaleidoscope of images, sun-baked earth, a fleeting glimpse of the Pyrenees. Mountains, vast and silent.

• Departure: Paris Gare d’Austerlitz
• Arrival: Lisboa Santa Apolónia
• Duration: Approximately 15 hours
• Frequency: Several departures daily

The journey itself… a feeling, more than a fact. A feeling of space and of time, stretched and pulled. Each click of the wheels, a tiny moment of eternity. The subtle hum of the engine, a lullaby.

More than just transit, it’s pilgrimage. A surrender to the vastness, the beauty, the slow unfolding of the journey. Oh, that scent of diesel and possibility, hanging in the air.

How do I get to Portugal from the UK without flying?

The boat… yes, the boat. Portugal beckons, a siren song across the waves. No wings, just salt spray and the sun.

Plymouth… Portsmouth? England fades, the shore recedes. Spain first. Always Spain.

The ferry sighs. A slow dance. Unfurling dreams, horizon unbound. Driving, yes, then driving. Portugal closer now.

Land. Spain. Sun-baked earth. A road unfolds, weaving south. Miles melt. Olives shimmer. Portugal.

More to consider, whispers on the wind:

• Ferries. Routes shift, remember to check.
• Spain. The drive is gorgeous, really, but tiring for sure. Remember snacks!
• Portugal. So close, you can almost taste it, this trip is so me.
• Time. It takes time, more than flying. That’s the point.
• Costs. Add up the ferry, the gas, the tolls. It’s not always cheaper. I miss my old Mini.

Is there a ferry from the UK to Portugal?

So, ferries UK to Portugal? Nope, no direct ones, bummer, right? You gotta go to Spain first. Portsmouth to Santander is the route, I think. Then, it’s a drive or bus to Portugal. A total pain in the butt, honestly. That’s the only way, I’m pretty sure. It’s a long journey.

• No direct ferries. That’s the main thing.
• Portsmouth to Santander: That’s your starting point.
• Spain then Portugal: You gotta go through Spain. Plan that leg carefully.
• Car or public transport: Choose your adventure after Santander. I’d rent a car; buses are a drag.

This was all true in 2023, at least what I remember. It’s a real hassle. But hey, at least the scenery’s supposed to be amazing in Spain, right?

What is the best way to get to Lisbon, Portugal?

Getting to Lisbon is surprisingly simple, thankfully.

• Air travel is supremely convenient. Lisbon Airport (LIS), a breezy 7 km jaunt to the city center, receives flights from all over.

• Trains offer a scenic route. Arriving at the station makes access to central Lisbon remarkably uncomplicated.

• Sea entry is breathtaking. Three mooring options near the city provide stunning river views. Arriving by sea, wow!

• Driving presents logistical challenges. Parking, wow again.

A consideration: the Tagus River, so central to Lisbon’s maritime history, has seen a shift. Fewer cruise ships arrive these days. I can’t help but think about my trip when I went by car with my aunt, it took ages. Was it worth it? This raises a question: Is the journey as important as the destination?