Hi all!
I leave this evening for Lisbon from the US. I will be staying in Lisbon for a few days, then heading up to Porto. I am curious whether anyone has taken that route by train? I am trying to decide whether first class is worth the extra cost. Do you get more privacy? I see online that you get a little more space. Any other advantages?
Thanks!
N
Hi N,
I've taken this train several times, both 1st and 2nd class. There's not a big difference, other than you have a bit more space, which is nice if you are tall (I'm 6'4" so always like a bit more room if possible). 1st class is often less crowded than 2nd class, as most of the locals will be traveling in 2nd class. I don't recall this train ever being packed, in either 1st or 2nd class.
If you can, check the day you travel and see if there is a holiday that might increase the numbers on a train. Also, I think trains at noon would mean less people than earlier or later. We will be on a river cruise from Porto and have to return to Lisbon on the train. We plan to go 2nd class and take the train that leaves about noon.
It is truly personal preference. First class seating is 1x2 so the single seat could give a little more privacy in that you would not be sharing a seat with someone else. Personally we see little advantage to first class so generally used second class unless there is a super deal on first. Once rode first class on a German train and we were the only people in the car. That was private.
Here is the London to Porto page from The Man In Seat 61, showing pictures of both first and second class on the Lisbon to Porto train: http://seat61.com/Portugal.htm#Porto
First class is what we took and I would do it again. Not a lot more expensive and the 4 of us had facing chairs with a table in the middle
