Train Options - Lisbon to Porto
 

We (group of 4) are planning to travel by train from Lisbon to Porto on a Friday in late May. Should I be looking to purchase tickets prior to leaving Canada or can I wait and buy when we arrive in Lisbon (we'll be in Lisbon for 5 days before traveling to Porto)? In looking at various sites, it appears that the ticket prices are the same regardless of when you buy .... only risk is that the train you may want to take is full?

Is there a big difference (any difference?) in comfort between the AP (Alfa Pendular) and IC (Intercidade) trains?

Last April we travelled from Lisbon to Porto via train. We bought our tickets when we arrived, and the only problem we had was finding a ticket office at the train station at the early hour of the day when our plane arrived from the US. I think you'll be all right buying your tickets once in Lisbon. Oh, and if you are a "senior" you'll get a break in the price; my husband was a senior and I wasn't, and he paid significantly less. I don't know about the difference in comfort levels. I think we took a regular train, and it was just fine.

No, it's cheaper in advance, like air fares.

The ONLY website to buy including the necessary compulsory reservation automatically included and with the cheap advance-purchase fares available is at www.cp.pt = Portuguese Railways official site.

DO NOT buy from any other site. I'm guessing you've seen rail Europe which issues full-price open tickets without the necessary reservation, avoid avoid avoid.

Both AP and IC trains are good, but AP a cut above and faster, as the tilt into the curves.

Thank you for the replies ....

I was looking at the eurail site ... seemed to have the same price regardless of when you booked. Many thanks for putting me onto the Portuguese Railways official site ... and the 40% off for purchasing at least 5 days out! We are more than 60 days out and so have some time to agree on what time we want to get going in the morning (which will also determine if we go on an AP or IC train)! Guessing that if you go through with the purchase on their site, you'll be issued an e-ticket?

We have 3 seniors in our group (60 plus) ... do you know how much of a discount a senior receives? Guessing that it is not as good as the 40% for the special rate tickets?

Many questions will likely be answered on Mark's website, the Man in Seat 61, above:

http://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm

I couldn't find any information on the amount of the Senior Discount ... maybe I'll find it on the Portuguese Railways site after i set up myCP account.

You're right, I couldn't find it either. And I think you're also right about registering first, as it says on this page, to see the senior discounts:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?v...00be01a8c0RCRD

I emailed CP Trains of Portugal ....their response:

Please be advised that Senior Citizen, Retiree/Pensioner receive a discount of 50%. 
Most reported that this discount is valid for senior citizens of over 65 on Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains.

Enroh, thanks so much for the information. I've yet to visit Portugal and am considering it for the next trip. This piece of the puzzle will be saved in my Portugal file.

One thing to check on - when I've tried to buy tickets with a senior discount in some other European countries, I've been told it's for EU residents only. Excepting the UK where we can buy a discount card. It would be useful to know if that might be true in this case, too, or can we tourists avail ourselves of the discount.

MmePerdu, the ticket agent informed us about the senior discount and did not ask my husband if he was a EU resident (we are not). He did have to prove he was 65. That was all.

Good news, shocco67, thanks.