Why I Chose the Train over the Bus
At first, I was planning to take a bus like Flixbus. But after doing more research, I realized that the train was a better option. So I decided to take the train instead.
AP vs. IC Trains: Which One to Choose?
There are several types of trains, but it seems only 2 are reasonable option.
AP (Alfa Pendular) and IC (Intercidades).
AP is a bit faster, and more modern—it is similar to Korea’s KTX. IC is a bit slower and less polished, more like Korea’s Saemaeul-ho trains.The difference in travel time is about 30 minutes, and the price difference isn’t huge. If you can, I definitely recommend taking the AP.
* AP: 2h 50m
* IC: 3h 15m
How to Book Tickets Online
I booked directly through CP (Comboios de Portugal), the official Portuguese railway company.
Booking in advance is highly recommended as you can get promotion tickets at a discounted rate.
When booking online:
1) Create an account on the CP website. 2)Enter your passport information (required for foreigners). 3) Before paying, make sure to select the “Promotion Price” option 4) When choosing a seat, the part with the thicker bar represents the backrest, so you can tell if it’s forward-facing or backward-facing.
When departing from Lisbon, you should set the route as Lisboa Santa Apolónia → Porto Campanhã.
If you book a few days in advance, you can pay the promotional fare marked with an asterisk. It is much cheaper than full price, so don't miss this promotion!
Most important part! To get the discounted price, make sure to select the Promotion Ticket option. Once you do that, you’ll see the reduced fare applied.
The part highlighted in light green indicates the backrest. When choosing your seat, it will be easy to tell whether it’s a forward-facing or backward-facing seat.
I only considered whether the seat was facing forward or backward, but I should have also thought about the sun’s position. I departed Lisbon around 5 PM, and since our seats were on the left side,I was blasted by strong sunlight the entire trip. The A/C wasn’t as strong as in Korea, so I ended up sweating..
As for the tax-related section during booking, it only applies if you’re eligible. Since I’m Korean and it didn’t concern me, I just left it blank and clicked Next. After completing payment, the ticket will be sent to your email after payment.
Refund policy: Trains depart exactly on time, and if you miss your train, the ticket is gone. No refunds. In Korea, you can usually get some money back, but in Portugal you just lose it.
As I had missed my original train, I had to buy new one....again! Oh, my, my!
Buying tickets at the station: Be prepared for long lines at the ticket counters. Online booking is by far the easiest and fastest option.
From Santa Apolónia, my AP train departed from Platform 1. The platforms are not all located in the same line(?). I felt a bit unusual compared to stations I’m used to.
Conclusion
The round-trip train journey from Lisbon to Porto turned out to be a satisfying choice. With a bit of frustation —like ticketing issues and even missing a train—but in the end, I still enjoyed the experience. In fact, I think it’s the kind of adventure that’s worth having at least once.
If you’re planning a Lisbon to Porto trip, I recommend booking your AP train tickets online in advance. [Check the official CP site here].