Can you travel around Portugal by train without renting a car?
Yes. Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, Braga, Guimarães and several Algarve towns can be combined by train. You do not need a car inside Lisbon or Porto. Rent one only for rural sections such as the Alentejo, smaller coastal towns or a deeper journey through the Douro Valley.
Full answer
A first trip to Portugal can be done comfortably without a car.
The main rail line connects Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto. Local and regional trains also reach Sintra, Cascais, Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro and several towns in the Algarve.
For a city-led trip, trains are usually easier than driving.
Where trains work well
Lisbon to Porto is straightforward and frequent. Book ahead for the faster services when travelling at busy times.
Coimbra sits between the two cities. Check which Coimbra station the train uses and how you will reach the centre, as some long-distance services stop outside it.
Sintra and Cascais are easy day trips from Lisbon by local train. Sintra still requires local buses, taxis or walking between the station and the palaces.
Braga and Guimarães can be reached from Porto. Both work as day trips, though staying overnight is worthwhile when you want the evening rather than only the main sights.
The Algarve has a railway running across much of the region. Faro and Tavira are particularly easy without a car. Lagos is connected too, but reaching scattered beaches and cliff walks can still require buses, taxis or tours.
Where a car helps
A car is useful in the Alentejo, where whitewashed towns, wineries and rural accommodation are spread out.
It is also useful for the Douro Valley if you want to leave the railway and river corridor. The roads are winding, so travellers who want wine tastings may prefer a driver or organised tour.
Along the west coast and smaller Algarve beaches, a car gives access to places that are awkward by public transport.
Do not keep the car in the cities
Driving in central Lisbon and Porto brings steep streets, narrow lanes, limited parking and toll or access rules that are easy to misunderstand.
A better plan is to use trains between the cities, then collect a car only for the rural part of the trip and return it before the next city stay.
What about buses?
Buses fill some of the gaps in the rail network and may be faster for certain routes. They are useful for towns such as Nazaré, Óbidos and parts of the Algarve.
Check the exact station, timetable and weekend service. A bus that runs frequently on a weekday may be much less useful on Sunday.
A good car-free route
Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto can easily fill a week or ten days. Add Sintra, Cascais, Braga, Guimarães or Aveiro as day trips.
For the Algarve, choose Faro or Tavira when you want to rely mainly on trains and walking. Lagos can work without a car too, but tours or taxis make the surrounding coast easier.