I can not get a handle on train travel! We will fly into Lisbon Aug 20. Want to book fast train Aug 28 to Faro, then fast train Sept 4 from Faro to Porto. Then sleeper train Porto to Barcelona Sept 11. Then fast train Barcelona to Paris Sept 18. Then fast train Paris to Cologne Germany Sept 28. We want to book each trip & don’t want a Eurail pass as it seems cheaper to just book individually. Have tried going directly to train sites, but they are then under rail ninja ( 3rd party seller) which reviews say is a scam site. They sell tickets but then trains are cancelled & it’s a hassle to get refunds. Tried Omio, they say no trains from Lisbon to Faro? Only bus? Wondering if it’s better to just wait & buy each ticket directly from the stations at each city as we arrive. We will use local trains/buses while in each city to do day trips to explore as much as we can. Any advice or direction would be so appreciated!!
Thanks in advance,
Michelle
Posted by
Boston
91 posts
For the Portugal legs - it's too early to purchase, those open up 60 days out (you are a week or two early). They will be cheaper if you purchase ahead. You will also need reservations for the fast trains. It could be possible to buy them at the station but during peak season, buying ahead seems smart. I believe this is the correct website https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en
Posted by
Sweden
6850 posts
Buy the tickets from the company that actually runs the trains. For Portugal, use www.cp.pt as mentioned. Buy the Barcelona-Paris tickets from www.sncf-connect.com and Paris to Cologne from www.eurostar.com
Unfortunately there are no overnight trains from Porto to Barcelona anymore.
Posted by
Wengen
2382 posts
Rail Ninja is indeed a scam site. They have set up a lot of websites that look like official railway sites, but aren't. You have probably tried to find the railway websites using google.
What you should do is first get yourself a bit more familiar with rail travel. Go here: www.seat61.com
There are no night train from Porto to Barcelona btw.
Best place to book is always the official site of the national railway of the country your trip starts in. And be prepared that booking in June for trips in September is something that you are not expected to want to do, so you may find out that tickets are not available yet, and you may encounter confusing error messages...
Posted by
Wengen
2382 posts
There never were any night trains from Porto to Barcelona. There used to be one from Vigo, which is a few hours away.
For that leg I would fly. Unless you don't mind visiting a few places en route. You can train Porto - Vigo - Santiago de Compostela for example, and spend a few days there, then go from there to Barcelona.