Lisbon has more train stations than most visitors expect. The two that matter most for long-distance travel are Santa Apolónia and Oriente. Both serve Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains, which is where the confusion starts. Booking pages often show only “Lisbon” in the results, hiding which station the specific train actually uses. Get the wrong one and you may wait on a platform while your train pulls out of the other station across the city.
The split between the other stations follows a clear pattern once you know it. Rossio handles only the suburban Sintra line. Cais do Sodré serves the Cascais coastal line and the Tagus ferry. Entrecampos and Sete Rios handle trains that cross the Tagus via the 25 de Abril bridge, including Fertagus services and CP trains south.
Before you pay for any ticket, open the train details and confirm the exact station name. That one step prevents most Lisbon train mistakes.
Santa Apolónia and Oriente: the two long-distance stations
For most travellers arriving in or departing from Lisbon by long-distance train, the choice comes down to these two stations. The distinction matters: trains to Porto typically start from Santa Apolónia; trains to Faro and the Algarve typically start from Oriente. Both are served by Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains, but for different destinations.
For Porto and northern destinations, use Santa Apolónia. For Faro, the Algarve, or the airport connection, use Oriente.
Santa Apolónia
Santa Apolónia is the city-centre terminus, the closer of the two to the historic districts. It is about 27 minutes on foot from the heart of the Alfama, or a short Metro Blue Line trip from anywhere else in the city. The escalators down to the metro are on platform 5.
The station has 6 platforms and is a true terminus: trains arrive and turn around. None pass through. Trains to Porto typically start from Santa Apolónia before calling at Oriente on the way north. Some international services, including the Sud Express to Hendaye and the French border, also start here.
The ticket hall has a ticket office, luggage lockers, and a minimarket on platform 5. The ticket office is also equipped to sell Renfe tickets, useful if your journey continues into Spain. If you are holding an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades ticket starting from Oriente, you can take a suburban Urbano train from Santa Apolónia free of charge in the hour before departure.
Oriente (Gare do Oriente)
Oriente is around 6 km northeast of the city centre. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 1998 for Expo ’98. It is a striking building to arrive at. Inside, the platforms are on an elevated viaduct and the facilities are spread across several levels that are not well signed. Arrive early.
The station has 8 platforms. Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains to Faro and the Algarve start or terminate here. The Sud Express also calls at Oriente.
The most useful thing about Oriente is its Metro Red Line connection. The Red Line runs directly to Aeroporto station, with no changes required. Arriving from the airport, Oriente is your first practical stop. From there, a suburban Urbano train covers the 8 minutes to Santa Apolónia.
| Santa Apolónia | Oriente | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | City centre, near Alfama | Around 6 km northeast |
| Platforms | 6 | 8 |
| Choose when | Porto and northern trains | Faro/Algarve trains; airport connection |
| Metro line | Blue Line | Red Line (direct to airport) |
| Airport link | Change at Oriente or via metro | Direct on Red Line |
| Long-distance trains | Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Sud Express | Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Sud Express |
Confirm the station name on your ticket before paying. Both stations appear as “Lisbon” in many booking results.
Long-distance trains and reservation rules
CP (Comboios de Portugal) operates Portugal’s main long-distance trains. Two types serve the Lisbon-Porto and Lisbon-Faro corridors.
Alfa Pendular is CP’s tilting high-speed service, running at up to 220 km/h. It connects Braga and Porto in the north with Lisbon and Faro in the south. First and second class are available. Intercidades trains are slower on the same routes but cover a broader set of stops.
Reservations are compulsory on both. When you buy a standard CP ticket, the reservation is included in the price and tied to a specific departure. You cannot board a different train with the same ticket.
Do not board an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades with only an Interrail or Eurail Pass and no reservation. The pass is valid for the journey, but the reservation is still compulsory and must be booked separately. Book at cp.pt or at a ticket office at Santa Apolónia or Oriente. On the Lisbon-Porto corridor, popular departure times can fill up, so book in advance.
Rossio: trains to Sintra
Rossio is one of Lisbon’s most beautiful stations, with a Manueline-style facade in the heart of the old city, near Praça dos Restauradores. It handles only the suburban Sintra line. It looks like a terminus that handles everything. It does not.
Trains to Sintra run roughly every 20 minutes, with a journey time of around 40 minutes. The Mira-Sintra branch extends the line further west. Check times at cp.pt.
One detail catches people out. The metro station nearest to Rossio mainline station is Restauradores, on the Blue Line. There is a metro station named Rossio on the Green Line, but it is not directly adjacent to the mainline station. Use Restauradores.
Cais do Sodré: trains to Cascais and Belém
Cais do Sodré handles the suburban Cascais line, running west along the Tagus estuary coast. It is also the main Tagus ferry terminal, with boats to the south bank.
Cascais trains run roughly every 20 minutes and take around 40 minutes. Belém, home to the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower, is 3 stops away, around 7 minutes.
Cascais trains do not run from Santa Apolónia or Oriente. Cais do Sodré is the only departure point for this line. The station is served by the Metro Green Line, which terminates here.
Entrecampos, Sete Rios, and trains south of the Tagus
Some trains from Lisbon cross the Tagus via the lower deck of the 25 de Abril bridge. These are different services from the long-distance trains at Santa Apolónia and Oriente, and they use different stations.
Sete Rios is the main terminus for Fertagus, a private operator running commuter trains across the Tagus to the Setúbal Peninsula, including Pragal, Corroios, Coina, Pinhal Novo, and Setúbal. Entrecampos is also served by Fertagus and is a stop on the southbound Alfa Pendular route to Faro and the Algarve.
Fertagus is a private operator with its own ticketing, separate from CP. A CP ticket is not valid on a Fertagus service. Buy Fertagus tickets at the Fertagus machines at the station or at fertagus.pt.
If you are booking trains to Évora or Beja (Alentejo), check whether your specific CP train departs from Sete Rios or Oriente, as routing varies.
Getting to Lisbon airport by train
There is no direct train between central Lisbon and Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. The airport connection is by Metro Red Line.
Aeroporto is on the Red Line, which also serves Oriente. The journey from Oriente to the airport is direct, with no changes required, and takes around 10 minutes. From Santa Apolónia, take the Urbano suburban train to Oriente first, then the Red Line to Aeroporto.
Allow around 30 to 40 minutes from Santa Apolónia to the airport, depending on connections. Check metrolisboa.pt for current timetables before you travel.
Practicalities
At metro gates throughout Lisbon, you can pay by touching a contactless bank card when entering. Touch once; no touch-out is needed. Ticket machines also sell single tickets and day passes.
Luggage lockers at Santa Apolónia are coin-operated and in two locations: one in the main hall opposite the ticket office, another behind platform 3. Pay upfront for the first hour and settle the balance on collection. Bring enough coins; the mechanism can reject some.
Oriente also has lockers, but they are hard to find. From the main hall, go down one level and look for a broad passageway on the north side. The lockers are next to the police office.
The ticket machines at Santa Apolónia have English menus. At Oriente, the CP customer service desk on the south mezzanine can help if the ticket windows are unclear.
The free Urbano transfer between Santa Apolónia and Oriente applies in both directions for holders of an Alfa Pendular or Intercidades ticket, within one hour before departure or one hour after arrival.
Frequently asked questions
How many train stations does Lisbon have?
Lisbon has several train stations, each serving different routes. The two main long-distance stations are Santa Apolónia and Oriente. Rossio serves suburban trains to Sintra, Cais do Sodré serves the Cascais line, and Entrecampos and Sete Rios handle trains crossing the Tagus via the 25 de Abril bridge.
Which Lisbon train station should I use for trains to Porto?
Trains to Porto and northern Portugal typically start from Santa Apolónia before calling at Oriente. Book Santa Apolónia for Porto unless the timetable shows a specific departure from Oriente. Always confirm the exact station on your ticket before paying.
Which Lisbon station serves trains to Faro and the Algarve?
Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains to Faro and the Algarve typically start from Oriente and also call at Entrecampos. Confirm the exact departure station on your CP ticket, as some departures may differ. Oriente is also more convenient if you are arriving from the airport via the Metro Red Line.
Do I need a reservation on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains in Portugal?
Yes. Reservations are compulsory on both Alfa Pendular and Intercidades services. When you buy a standard CP ticket, the reservation is included. Interrail and Eurail pass holders must book a separate seat reservation in addition to activating the pass. Book reservations at cp.pt or at the ticket office at Santa Apolónia or Oriente.
What is the easiest way to get from Lisbon airport to the city centre by train?
There is no direct train from the airport. Take the Metro Red Line from Aeroporto station, which also serves Oriente. From Oriente, you can continue by metro or take a suburban Urbano train to Santa Apolónia in around 8 minutes. Allow around 30 to 40 minutes from the airport to the city centre, depending on connections.
What is Fertagus and which station does it use?
Fertagus is a private train operator running commuter services across the Tagus River via the 25 de Abril bridge to the Setúbal Peninsula. It is separate from CP and requires its own ticket. Fertagus services use Sete Rios and Entrecampos stations in Lisbon. A CP ticket is not valid on Fertagus trains.
What is the difference between Rossio and Santa Apolónia station?
Rossio is a suburban station in the heart of the old city, serving only the Sintra commuter line. Santa Apolónia is the main long-distance terminus, serving Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains to Porto and further north. Do not try to board a long-distance train from Rossio.
Can I use an Interrail or Eurail Pass on trains in Portugal?
Both passes are valid on CP trains in Portugal, including Alfa Pendular and Intercidades. A seat reservation is still compulsory on these services and must be booked separately. The reservation fee varies by train and booking channel. Check cp.pt for current pass-holder reservation details.
