Santa Apolonia is Lisbon main intercity station for trains to Porto and northern Portugal.

About Santa Apolonia Train Station

Santa Apolónia is Lisbon's oldest railway station, serving as the traditional terminus for international and long-distance domestic train services. Located on the waterfront in the Alfama district, the station handles Intercidades and Alfa Pendular high-speed services to Porto (2.5 hours), Faro in the Algarve (3 hours), and Coimbra (2 hours).

The station's waterfront location places it at the eastern edge of the historic Alfama neighborhood, Lisbon's oldest quarter of narrow medieval streets, fado music houses, and tilework-covered buildings climbing steeply to the São Jorge Castle above. The adjacent Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesdays and Saturdays) and the National Pantheon at the Church of Santa Engrácia are nearby landmarks.

Santa Apolónia also serves as a stop on the Blue Line of the Lisbon metro, connecting it directly to the rest of the transit network. The nearby cruise ship terminal at the Santa Apolónia Cruise Port handles many of the large vessels calling at Lisbon. The waterfront promenade from the station toward Praça do Comércio offers views across the Tagus River to the Cristo Rei statue.

Nearby Landmarks

Alfama District National Pantheon Feira da Ladra Market São Jorge Castle (uphill)

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost EUR 15-18
Time 18-25 minutes

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Rideshare (Grab/Uber)

Cost EUR 9-13
Time 18-25 minutes

Arrivals level

Train (Metro Blue Line)

Cost EUR 2 (same journey)
Time 30-35 minutes
Frequency Every 5-8 minutes

Step-by-Step Directions

Take Metro Red Line from Aeroporto to Alameda. Transfer to Blue Line (Santa Apolonia direction). Exit at Santa Apolonia.

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi EUR 15-18 18-25 minutes Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Rideshare EUR 9-13 18-25 minutes Budget-conscious, app users
Train EUR 2 (same journey) 30-35 minutes Budget, avoiding traffic

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

The metro to Santa Apolónia runs until about 1:00 AM. Late-night train departures are rare — the last Alfa Pendular to Porto departs around 9:30 PM. Taxis and Uber/Bolt are available 24 hours in the area. The Alfama neighborhood around the station has fado houses open until midnight or later. Night buses serve the Alfama/Santa Apolónia area on limited schedules.

Luggage Tips

Santa Apolónia station has luggage storage lockers on the main concourse level. The station is on level ground along the waterfront, making luggage handling straightforward. If heading into the Alfama from here, note that the neighborhood involves very steep, narrow streets and stairs — only go with luggage if your hotel is nearby. The metro station has elevators.

Accessibility

Santa Apolónia metro station has elevator access. The train station itself is largely on one level and accessible. CP trains have wheelchair-accessible carriages, and station staff can arrange boarding ramps with 24 hours notice via the CP accessibility service. The surrounding Alfama neighborhood is one of Lisbon's least accessible areas due to steep hills, cobblestones, and stairways.