I must get to Coimbra for 1 night from Lisbon (leaving Lisbon early AM). What's best was bus or train (can't drive ior fly) r/t back to Lisbon or Sintra (my son is getting married in Sintra) ?
The Deutsche Bahn website shows trains are scheduled every hour or so, sometimes twice an hour, and take from 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours. I believe that will be faster than a public bus (tour bus might be quicker). I don't know anything about the need for or advantages of pre-purchasing Portuguese train tickets, but if you want to explore doing that, here's the Combios de Portugal website.
- Sign up at the cp.pt website AND buy your tickets at least 8 days in advance and you can save money.
- The AP trains and IC trains run at almost the same speed. The difference is that the Alfa Pendular trains have fancier seats.
- The price ranges from €32,80 for a 1st-class seat on the AP down to €10,50 for a 2nd-class seat on the IC.
- You have 2 train stations in Coimbra. A and B, The train from Lisboa arrives at Coimbra-B and a frequent 5-minute train can take you to -A.
- You have 3 train stations in Lisboa. Oriente is larger, newer one for the train to Coimbra. Santa Apolonia is the older one and is connected to Oriente via frequent 5-minute rides. Rossio is the station for the line to Sintra. It is connected to both Oriente and Santa Apolonia via the Metro.