Oporto to Salamanca - best transport options?

thanks for the feedback.

I haven't been to Guarda, yet my experience with smaller towns in Portugal has almost always been satisfying. be aware that instead of the bus, you can as well take the train to Guarda (change at Coimbra). this said, without knowing more about your itinerary, it's difficult to tell whether stopping in Guarda could be a welcome break from a tour that includes mainly big cities or a waste of time in case you have more interesting places on your list...

alternatively, take an early train from Porto to Coimbra, enjoy, spend the night, take a train to Vilar Formoso the next day, carry on by bus. (you could switch in Guarda as well, yet since the train station is outside the city and you won't have time to look around anyway, it's likely not as convenient).

afaik, the busses have a toilet.

Guarda is charming enough to worth a visit.
It's a small city on top of a mountain. It's the highest city in Portugal.
I would advice "Residencial Santos" for the night. It's in the old city core, built over the granite rocks. If you are lucky maybe you will get a room on ground floor and share it with a big peace of rock. It's quite cheap but very nice.
Sometimes it's difficult to get a room. They make good prices to enterprises, so generally it's hard to get a room, but nothing stops us from trying. =)

As I understood you want to cut the trip to Salamanca. So in this case Guarda is definitely your option. Vilar Formoso is just a border village. Nothing special.

If you have time. I would cut it twice. One stop in Coimbra (the oldest university in Europe). One day is more then enough to get the most important spots. Second Stop Guarda half day is more than enough to visit the main spots and use the remaining time to take a rest.
And then..... Salamanca!!!

Meanwhile I found 2 other bus companies they all look connected. Same prices, same schedules...?
But it's an alternative if you find any difficulties on getting the tickets.

www.eurolines.es
www.internorte.pt

Enjoy

Thanks again for all that info. Very useful to learn that Guarda rail station is outside the town - one could easily misplan!

I'm now looking at your idea of staying in Coimbra and finding that we could book a bus ticket all the way to Salamanca. My daughter was in Coimbra last year so I'll check her views.

That really has given us a good combination of options - Coimbra, Guarda, Vilar Formoso / bus or train + bus. Thank you both so much.

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