Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the most appealing capital cities in Europe. It is beautifully situated, extending over the hills that line the Tejo Estuary. Lisbon is easily accessible by train from London, Paris, Madrid, and other European cities, but the journey is lengthy. Lisbon serves as the hub of Portugal's small but efficient rail network. There are several stations in the city, but two are particularly popular with visitors. Santa Apolónia is a long-established rail terminus just east of the city center. In 1998, Oriente debuted a showpiece new station. Even if you don't want to take the train, its futuristic architecture makes it worth a visit.

Long-distance domestic trains from the south of Portugal (for example, from Faro and Beja) serve Oriente station in Lisbon. Trains from the north, such as those from Braga, Porto, Evora, and Entroncamento, stop at Oriente before proceeding to Santa Apolónia. Both Oriente and Santa Apolónia are served by overnight trains from Madrid and other Spanish cities. It should be noted that there are no direct daytime trains from Spain to Lisbon. The journey from Vigo (on the Galician coast of northwestern Spain) to Lisbon is perfectly feasible during the day, but a train change in Porto is always required.

There are numerous local suburban rail services in Lisbon, some of which depart from locations other than Santa Apolónia or Oriente. Trains to Belém, Cascais, and Estoril, for example, depart from Cais do Sodré station, while local services to Sintra depart from the charming Lisboa Rossio station, which served as the city's main railway hub until the mid-1950s. You can also take the ferry from Cais do Sodré station to the terminus Cacilhas, where a bus will take you to see the Christ Roi.

Location: Portugal

Significant train routes:

• Lisbon to Porto - 3h10 mins
• Lisbon to Madrid - 9h19 mins
  
• Lisbon to Seville - 9h43 mins