Sunny Lisbon

If you know where Lisbon and Portugal are located, who’ll know that we are at Europe most western end. So, unlike central Europe countries, where you can get to almost everywhere by train, Lisbon is much more limited in its international train destinations. This is not only justified by our edge position : to this you can add the fact that we are totally surrounded by Spain (our only border) and the fact that over the years trains have always been seen by governments as a “not so good” mean of transportation. So, if you are looking to come by train directly to Lisbon, you currently have two choices:

SudExpresso

The SubExpresso is a night train that connects Lisbon with Hendaye, in the border between Spain and France. From Paris to Hendaye, you’ll get connection through TGV trains. You only have one train ride in each direction daily:

• Lisbon – Hendaye, train leaves Lisbon between 16:00 and 16:30 and arrives at Hendaye in the following day at 07:10
• Hendaye – Lisbon, train leaves Irun (on the Spanish side) around 22:00 and arrives at Lisbon in the following day at 11:03.

The train has two classes, one that provides a bed for the night train (single bed 175€, double bed 125€, triple bed 107€) and other provides only a seated place on a six place cabin (65€).

You can find more information about this train here.

Lusitânia Comboio hotel

The Lusitânia hotel Train is a night train that connects Lisbon to Madrid. Again, you’ll only have one train ride in each direction daily:

• Lisbon – Madrid, train leaves Lisbon around 22:00 and arrives at Madrid in the following day at 08:40.
• Madrid – Lisbon, train leaves Madrid around 22:45 and arrives at Lisbon in the following day around 08:00.

The train has two classes, turista (2nd class) and preferente (1st class). Seated tickets are available for Turista only (57.50€). Bed tickets cost 81€ for Turista and 102€ (double bed) / 146.50€ (single bed) for Preferente.

You can find more information about this train here.

Train Stations

Lisbon has two train stations where international trains stop. Santa Apolonia Train Station (Estação de Sta. Apolonia) is the older station, located close to downtown and Gare do Oriente, located in the eastern and more modern part of the city. They are now both served by the subway system, so it should be quite easy to get anywhere from any of them. My word of advice is:

• If you’ll be staying downtown, use the Sta. Apolonia station. You can quickly get to downtown by subway, exiting at the Baixa/Chiado, Rossio or Restauradores stations.
• If your destination is Sintra, use the Gare do Oriente station. You’ll have there direct trains to Sintra.
• If your destination is Algarve or any other place in the south, use the Gare do Oriente station.
• If your destination is Estoril / Cascais you’ll have to take the coastline train at Alcantara. In Gare do Oriente you’ll have to take a train to Alcantara-Terra and there go to the connecting station called Alcantara-Mar.

If your looking for an hotel, please take a look at Hotel reservations in Lisbon.