Train Lisbon to Porto in July

Santa Apolonia is the station in Lisbon. The train takes 3 hours.

Arriving, if you have a choice, I strongly suggest Sao Bento; not only because it is downtown, but also because it is absolutely splendid.

I never saw before so many people taking pictures of walls. That station is breathtaking. And it is downtown.

Enjoy your trip and have a porto for me.

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I had a look at the cp web site. To get a one way ticket, just leave blank the return date (Data de volta)

Yes, thank you.....I did figure that part out finally...and thanks so much for the Sao Bento suggestion as it is very close to the university. So far I am not able to purchase tickets; not sure if it is because I was taking too long (talking to family in-between getting passport numbers) or it is too far out from the date, but will keep trying.

Trains from Lisbon don't go to São Bento in Porto, just to Campanhã. Constant local trains connect Campanhã with São Bento. But local trains tickets can't be purchased online, which is why CP's website won't let you buy a ticket from Lisbon to São Bento. Just buy a ticket to Campanhã and then hop on a connecting local train there. Though you may decide it's simpler just to grab a taxi or the Metro to your hotel from Campanhã.

In Lisbon, all the intercity trains also stop at Oriente (including a couple through trains from the Algarve that skip Santa Apolonia). It's a bit distant from the middle of town, but if you're staying near a Red Line metro station you may decide Oriente is more convenient for you than Santa Apolonia.

Thank you, Yaguri.

We actually were able to buy tickets from Santa Apolonia, which is very close to our Lisbon hotel, to São Bento, which is quite close to University. There is only a few a day but we found one convenient for us and were also able to still get the "reduced" fare; nice since we bought four tickets. There may be a train cahnge but I do not see one on schedule.

Thanks for your help.

I wasn't going to delve so deeply into the details, but now I will:
Among the trains that run between São Bento and Campanhã are interregional trains originating in Porto and heading north and east. These can be reserved online, unlike the much more frequent urban trains. My guess is that your itinerary has a connection to an IR train between the two Porto mainline stations.

Check to see your ticket has a designation like "IC | IR". That would indication two separate trains with a connection. If so, when you get to Campanhã don't feel compelled to wait at for the train on your ticket. Hop on whatever is the next departure to São Bento.

That is great information, thank you. We are indeed on IC going to Porto then an IR to Campanhã. With the four of us and luggage, can we just inquire about any next train to São Bento and take it? Is it an easy transfer? (three young women, 1 older+ Dad = lots of luggage). I saw the schedule and picked train with the shortest travel times and least exchanges.

Thanks for the clarification and help,

Lisa

Fares between Lisbon and Porto are the same regardless of which station in Porto you're going to, so I'm pretty sure you could use your Campanhã ticket to continue to São Bento.

Campanhã has a pretty typical layout for a major train station: platforms in between pairs of tracks, so that each platform has a track on either side. Platforms are connected by an underground passage accessed by stairs and escalators.

Depending which tracks your trains arrive on, connecting at Campanhã could be as simple as walking 5m to the opposite side of the same platform. Otherwise you just go downstairs to cross to another platform. Each track has a big ol' sign listing its next train, but if I recall correctly, you'd have to go down to the underground passage to find monitors listing ALL upcoming train departures.