Looking at train options for getting from Lisbon to Porto on a Sunday, while we will be staying fairly near Rossio Stn in Lisbon, and note that Sao Bento is most central to where we'll be staying in Porto...looks like train connections are fairly tight ( and we will be hauling some luggage ( back pack and roller bag). Might it be better just to take an Uber or taxi to Lisboa Oriente and same when we arrive at Porto Campanha? Anyone have recent experience?
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Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
I did something very similar (except not much luggage) last May. No need to take Uber in Lisbon unless you don't want to deal with the public transportation. No need to take it in Porto at all.
Key insight about trains in Lisbon: the main train stations are inexplicably poorly connected from each other. Rossio train station is very central but is not well connected to other train stations. (But you can get direct trains from Rossio to Sintra. Weird!)
To get a train north from Lisbon, I walked about 10 minutes from the Rossio area to the Restauradores metro station, then took a direct metro to the Santa Apolonia train station. From there I got on a train north...though I did detours to Tomar and Coimbra before heading to Porto. If I were heading directly to Porto, I'd have done the same thing: pick up the train to Porto from Santa Apolonia.
You could certainly try taking a metro from Rossio to Santa Apolonia with a connection - but that's probably as much of a pain for you as the two trains idea from Rossio. If you want to skip the metro, take the Uber to Santa Apolonia station instead of Oriente (closer to Rossio).
Check Google Maps for metro routings in Lisbon -all the schedules are included. (Google Maps on my phone was also essential just for getting around in Lisbon and Porto, by walking, tram, metro, etc. Saved tons of time.)
Once you get to Porto Campanha station, just take the next train to Sao Bento . Any train ticket to Campanha includes a ticket to Sao Bento. No need to worry about connecting to a train on to Sao Bento that seems like a tight connection - just take the next train (any train...but not a metro, which wouldn't be free). I was on the trains between Campanha and Sao Bento a few times. No one asked to look for a ticket. Technically someone could...most likely no one will. When someone sold me a ticket from Porto Campanha station, I asked about Sao Bento and the agent assured me the short train ride between the two was included.