Please sign in to post.

Train vs Bus from Lisbon to Coimbra/Porto?

So sorry if this is mentioned somewhere (I'm sure that it would be), but I cannot find it. I'm travelling with my mother and want her experience to be the best.

The question: Rick, in his podcasts (and Audio Europe app, which is fantastic) mentions that Americans seem to take trains but that a bus trip might be more to his liking because bus/coach routes pass through nice towns, are as comfortable etc.

Has anyone found the bus/coach to be a better (or same as train) experience from Lisbon to Coimbra? (then I go onward to Porto) If train preferred, why? Thanks in advance!

Posted by
16893 posts

Both trains and buses run pretty frequently on these routes, and both are comfortable enough for a 2-3 hour ride. I haven't traveled the route enough to compare specific route details. But there still may be one schedule that better fits your plan, or one departure station that's closer to your hotel. That's how I would choose. Trains to Coimbra-B originate from Lisboa S Apolonia and stop briefly Lisboa Oriente station. Buses depart from Lisboa Sete Rios train/bus station area.

Posted by
6777 posts

In that particular case, a bus will take the highway and be less comfortable than the train, which is both quite cheap (no real need to pay extra for the "AP" express service) and quite fast. Also, the train station in Lisbon, Santa Apolonia, is very central (not so in Coimbra B and Porto, but it's fairly quick to reach the centers).