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This used to be easy.  Eurostar to Paris, high-speed TGV to Hendaye and Sud Express sleeper train to Lisbon.  The Sud Express was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and Renfe (Spanish Railways) used the pandemic as an excuse to get rid of it, as it isn't interested in sleepers.  So another famous train name has disappeared from the timetables after 134 years.  There's been talk of the Portuguese restarting the Sud Express without Renfe's involvement, and of a direct Madrid-Lisbon day train.  A fast 4-hour Madrid-Lisbon train may be possible in a few years' time, using a new high-speed line in Spain and rebuilt line in Portugal.  But in the meantime, there are just two cross-border routes between Spain & Portugal, a twice daily Regional Express from Vigo to Porto and a daily railcar from Badajoz to Entroncamento which forms part of a slow but interesting 3-train combo from Madrid to Lisbon .  Journeys from the UK to Portugal currently have to use one of these trains.

Which route to choose?

There isn't a clear winner between the route via Madrid and the route via Vigo, it depends on your choice of stopover, Barcelona & Madrid versus San Sebastian & Vigo.  However, the route via Vigo usually has cheaper fares than the route via Barcelona & Madrid.  By all means go out one way, back the other, just make sure you book the Eurostar as a round trip as Eurostar returns are significantly cheaper than two one ways.  All other trains are one-way ticketed so it makes no difference.

Option 1, London to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid

London to Lisbon in 2 days & 2 nights with hotel stops in Paris & Madrid.  You take fast & comfortable high-speed trains from London through Paris & Barcelona to Madrid, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Then it's a slow but scenic 3-train combo between the Iberian capitals .  Stop off in Paris, Barcelona or Madrid for longer if you like, it makes no difference to the price.

London ► Lisbon

The last Eurostar leaves London St Pancras at 20.01 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 23:18, but by all means book an earlier one.

Eurostar has two cafe-bars, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Standard Premier & Business Premier fares include breakfast.

Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex , leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 09:42 and arriving Barcelona Sants at 16:31.

This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  It's a comfortable & scenic journey - I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views as the train speeds along the scenic Rhône valley past pretty French villages & picturesque churches, then look out for colonies of flamingos on the étangs in southern France, click here for the sights to see from the train on the way .

Day 3, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by a 3-train daytime combo, leaving Madrid Atocha at 08:50 daily except Sundays via Badajoz & Entroncamento, arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 17:00 or leaving Madrid Atocha 10:55 every day, arriving 22:25, as explained in detail on the Madrid to Lisbon page .

See map of Lisbon showing Santa Apolonia & Oriente stations .

Lisbon ► London

Day 1, travel from Lisbon to Madrid by a 3-train daytime combo, leaving Lisbon Santa Apolonia at 08:00 every day, changing at Entroncamento & Badajoz, arriving Madrid Atocha at 19:38, as explained in detail on the Madrid to Lisbon page .

How much does it cost ?

London to Paris by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £168 return standard premier (1st class).

Paris to Barcelona by TGV starts at €39 each way in 2nd class, €59 in 1st class.  More details here .

Barcelona to Madrid by AVE starts at around €38 each way in standard class, €58 in comfort class (1st class).

Madrid to Lisbon by 3-train combo costs around €59 each way, more details here .

How to buy tickets

The easiest way to book is using www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com .

Both sites connect to the British, French (SNCF) & Spanish (Renfe) ticketing systems so you can buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in €, £ or $, international credit cards accepted no problem.  You print your own tickets or show a mobile ticket on your phone.  There's a small booking fee.  Use whichever you prefer, fares should be the same.

First, note down each individual train you need and the date on which you need it, using the information above.

When do reservations open?

Eurostar opens booking up to 6 months ahead, sometimes up to 11 months.  Bookings from Paris to Barcelona usually open up to 4 months ahead, sometimes longer through the summer.  Trains from Barcelona to Madrid usually open 60 days ahead, although this varies as Renfe loads bookings in blocks of dates and as they now face competition on this route they may open sales much further ahead.  You can reserve hotels risk-free before booking your trains using www.booking.com with free cancellation.  More about when bookings open .

How to buy tickets by phone

It's better to book online.  But to buy tickets by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.  Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483.  For more about buying European train tickets, see the How to buy European train tickets page .

Or ask Byway to arrange it as a package

Byway ( Byway.travel ) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a UK-Portugal train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.

To see pre-configured packages from London to Faro, Porto or Lisbon, use the journey planner on their website .

Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption & re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Paris by Eurostar

Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More about Eurostar & check-in procedure .  St Pancras station guide .  Paris Gare du Nord station guide .  How to change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi .

2. Paris to Barcelona by TGV  See video guide .  More photos & information about this journey.

3. Barcelona to Madrid

This high-speed journey takes as little as 2h30 at up to 320 km/h (199 mph).  More about Barcelona-Madrid trains & journey .  Barcelona Sants station guide .  Madrid Atocha station guide .

4. Madrid to Lisbon

This is a slow but scenic & interesting 3-train combo across rural Spain and Portugal.  For full details see the Madrid to Lisbon page .

Lisbon Santa Apolonia station:  See map

For the city centre you want Santa Apolonia station, although if you're heading to/from Faro & the Algarve, these trains start at Lisbon Oriente so change there.

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Option 2, London to Porto & Lisbon vi a San Sebastian & Vigo

This route also takes 2 nights with hotel stops in San Sebastian and Vigo.  It's a bit slower but usually cheaper than option 1, although as fares are dynamic like air fares this isn't always the case.  San Sebastian is well worth a longer stopover, and Porto is worthy of a stop, too.  There's great scenery crossing Spain.

London ► Porto, Lisbon

Lisbon, porto ► london, how much does it cost.

It's better to book online.  But to buy tickets by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.  Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483.  Unlike some other agencies, International Rail are equipped with both the French and Spanish rail ticketing systems, so can sell the cheapest fares for all the trains from the UK through Spain to Portugal.  They charge a £10 booking fee for bookings under £100, £20 for £100-£300, £30 above £300.  Eurostar, TGV & Trainhotel tickets will usually be emailed to you as e-tickets, so there's no postage fee or delay.  For more about buying European train tickets, see the How to buy European train tickets page .

2. Paris to Hendaye on the Spanish border by TGV

Most TGVs between Paris and Hendaye on the Spanish border are now double-deck TGV Duplex, most with the stylish new Océane interior with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  I recommend an upstairs seat for the best views.  Paris Montparnasse station guide .

3. Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren

4. San Sebastian to Vitoria by Intercity and Vitoria to Galicia by Alvia

5. Vigo to Porto by regional express train

The train is comfortable and air-conditioned.  It's 2nd class only, there are toilets but no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.  There are no seat reservations on these trains, you sit where you like.  This route is known as the Celta link, it runs twice a day, morning & evening, you can find a timetable at www.cp.pt .

6. Porto to Lisbon by Alfa Pendular or Intercity train

The best and fastest trains are the tilting 200 km/h Alfa Pendular, shown below, there are various departures through the day.  Other departures are branded Intercity, with older air-conditioned cars and old-school comfort.  You can book Portuguese domestic trains at the CP website www.cp.pt , the only website that will book them.

London to Faro & the Algarve

You can easily reach the Algarve by train from London, either by train all the way via Lisbon, or by train to Seville then bus.  Train service from Lisbon to the Algarve was dramatically improved some years ago.  The line from Lisbon to Faro was electrified and speeded up, and air-conditioned InterCity trains now run direct from Lisbon's new Oriente station, crossing the Tagus on an impressive suspension bridge instead of requiring passengers to take a ferry to Barreiro station across the river from central Lisbon.  With the sleeper trains from the French border & Madrid to Lisbon now discontinued, I'd currently recommend the route via Seville shown as option 1.

Option 1, London to the Algarve via Seville

An Alsa bus from Seville to Faro & Lagos, at its departure point right outside Seville Santa Justa station.  Courtesy of Julie Murray.

Option 2, London to the Algarve via Lisbon

The sleeper trains to Lisbon have been discontinued, and until links between Spain & Portugal are improved, this is now the slower option.

London ► Albufeira, Lagos, Faro

Faro, albufeira, lagos ► london, or ask byway to arrange it, london to madeira.

Until the pandemic, a weekly summer-only ferry service used to link southern Portugal (Portimao in the Algarve) with Funchal on Madeira.  The ferry crossing took 24 hours.  However, at present there seems to be no ferry service at all linking mainland Europe to Madeira.

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G uidebooks

Click the images to buy at amazon.co.uk, european rail timetable & maps.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Hotels in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com.

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

H olidays to Portugal by train

Railbookers, railbookers.co.uk.

Railbookers can tailor-make a holiday or city break to Portugal for you, with train travel, transfers & hotels, leaving on any date you like.  If you tell them what you want, they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out for you.  They get a lot of repeat business!

Great Rail Journeys, greatrail.com

Travel insurance & other tips, always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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• train tickets

London to Lisbon by train

Travel from London (United Kingdom) to Lisbon (Portugal) by train (1585km): schedule and information to the train connection. Compare fares and buy your ticket.

To travel by train from London in the United Kingdom to Lisbon in Portugal, first travel to London. From there by Eurostar train to Paris. Then by high-speed-train in direction of the French-Spanish border. There you change to the night train to Lisbon. Buy first a ticket from your departure station in the United Kingdom to London (ACPRail). A second one for London to Paris (Eurostar + Trainline + SNCF + ACPRail). A third one from Paris to Irun or Hendaye (Trainline + SNCF). And for the night train one from Irun or Hendaye to Lisbon (ACPRail).

Your travel route could be like that.

1 London (United Kingdom) - Paris (France) - Hendaye (France) - Lisbon (Portugal)

The following links could be interesting for you.

train connections : popular connections travelled by other users

The route consist of more than one step. You have to buy several train tickets.

1a Travelling from London (United Kingdom) to Paris (France)

The Eurostar train from London to Paris is the fastest train connection with a travel time of 2.5 hours. You can buy cheap train tickets from 50 euros. There are up to 18 train connections daily. You can find the exact timetable and ticket prices for the Eurostar high-speed-train by clicking on the booking links. If you want to travel cheaper, you can travel by bus. The journey time takes considerably longer with about nine hours. But the tickets are much cheaper and start at 14 EUR. Companies like Flixbus offer several bus connections daily - also as a overnight trip. You can get the bus tickets via the booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from London to Paris?

Cheap train tickets! Buy your train ticket online on Omio. The easy to use booking system with very good prices and e-tickets.

Cheap international train tickets Official online shop of Netherlands railways (NS International). International train tickets for Europe including overnight trains. Buy your saver fare tickets easily and securely here.

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Eurostar (EST)

ferry: Ferry connections that might be helpful. Dover - Calais

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Paris - London

search for train schedules here: Online timetable information, on which you can find relevant, up-to-date connections. rail.cc Deutsche Bahn

1b Travelling from Paris (France) to Hendaye (France)

Travel from Paris to Hendaye by direct TGV/Inoui high-speed-train. The journey time is 4:45 hours. The train ticket fares start from 34 EUR. The departure train station in Paris is "Paris Montparnasse". Find the exact train schedules and buy your ticket via the given booking links.

Where to buy a ticket from Paris to Hendaye?

train types: Train types you are likely to travel with. Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) / inOui (INOUI)

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Hendaye - Paris

1c Travelling from Hendaye (France) to Lisbon (Portugal)

Travel from Hendaye to Lisbon by the overnight train "Sud Express". The journey time is 11:45 hours. The train ticket fare starts from 29 EUR. The departure time in Hendaye is 18:45. The arrival time in Lisbon is 07:30. This comfortable "Talgo" train offers four service categories: - Turista: 2nd class seats - Cama Turista: four bed compartments. The beds are comfortable and there is a washing basin in the compartment. This service category offers the best value for your money. - Cama Preferente: two bed compartments, which offer more privacy, including a washing basin. - Cama Gran Clase: two bed compartments. This most luxurious travel option offers a private shower and WC in your compartment. Find the exact train schedule and book your ticket via the given booking links. Please note: the direct night train is currently suspended!

Where to buy a ticket from Hendaye to Lisbon?

Buy your train tickets for the Portugal to Spain or France night trains easily and securely here. Online shop of ACPRail, the rail travel experts for more than 20 years.

Online shop of the Spanish Railways Renfe.

Online shop for train tickets of the Portuguese Railways CP.

night train: Night trains that might be suitable for this trip. TH 313 Hendaye - Lisbon / TH 310 Lisbon - Hendaye

train connections: popular connections travelled by other users Lisbon - Hendaye

Impressions from the first-class upper deck

The renfe lusitania trenhotel from spain to portugal, travel overnight from france to italy, reopening of the elvas - badajoz line, travel overnight to portugal from irun and madrid, travel in style with russian railways, with the celta train to portugal., through the pyrenees on a spectacular railway line., need a cheap place to sleep we recommend booking.com, find a cheap flight compare prices on kiwi.com.

Do you have questions about the connection between London and Lisbon? Does something not work as it should? Just ask in our forum and get competent answers from our rail travel experts.

Eurail: if you want to travel this route by Eurail instead of train tickets, have a look here for reservation fees and further information.

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Find trains from London to Lisbon

Search for cheap train tickets from london to lisbon and book your trip in minutes., london train station directory, location of major train stations in london, lisbon train station directory, location of major train stations in lisbon, faqs for booking trains from london to lisbon, how far is london to lisbon humberto delgado by train.

The straight-line distance from London to Lisbon Humberto Delgado is 984.1 mi, but the actual distance you’ll travel by train depends on the route taken.

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Find and compare cheap train tickets from london to other popular destinations on momondo, start planning your trip to lisbon, get the latest lisbon flight insights.

Find the best time to travel, cheapest fares and most popular airlines.

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Get an overview of the top hotels in the most popular neighborhoods of Lisbon

Top car rentals in Lisbon

Experience Lisbon from behind the wheel! Learn more about the best car rental deals here

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Enjoy the amenities of home away from home. Learn more about vacation rentals here.

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Shining a light on the green and gorgeous

What is  green travel?

• Mar 4, 2020

Train from London to Lisbon, Portugal

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Lisbon, Portugal for onward connections to the south of Portugal and the Algarve.

Journey Time: fastest from 21 hours 59 mins

Sample timetable: Depart London 7.55am, arrive Lisbon 7.30am the following morning

Transfer: 1. Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse and 2. Change at Irun (Hendaye station) on the French/Spanish border for the overnight sleeper train to Lisbon Estação do Oriente

Frequency of Departures: 6/day

Carbon emissions: 10 .95kg (flight would be 251.59kg)*

Train tickets provided by Trainline:

What's the journey like?

You have to change trains twice - in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, which can take about half an hour on the Paris metro (though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer) - see our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris ; and then change trains at Irun on the French/Spanish border to take the overnight sleeper to Lisbon Estação do Oriente.

Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris

If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare Montparnasse. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations:

Hotels near Gare du Nord

Hotels near Gare Montparnasse

Miss your connection?

Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow).

Bem-vindo a Lisboa! Lisbon offers a complete, comfortable transportation network. Probably the most common way to get around the city is the Lisbon metro . The outstanding work by the artist Maris Keil represented on the walls of the underground stations revived the Portuguese of the "azulejo" (glazed painted tile) and is considered a touristic attraction itself. Lisbon's underground train network is constantly evolving towards a fully accessible service, currently providing full accessibility in 36 stations out of 56, excellent attention to customers that need it and technologies and carriages adapted to visual disabilities. The metro runs from 6.30 am and 1 am daily.

Don't miss the Trams, a Lisbon's iconic transport that is part of the city's identity and a must activity for everyone that visits the Portuguese capital. Tram 28 consists of a network of fifty wooden, vintage cars with capacity for 20 seating and 38 standing people. Their route is a 40 min journey through some of the main monuments, sights, and the old, narrow streets in Lisbon. Check the route and plan the places you'd like to stop at during the journey, you can get off the car and get in the next one (every 15 mins). If you are visiting Lisbon during peak season, consider the alternative option for sightseeing by Tram as Tram 28 carriages are likely to be full: Lisbon Tram Tour .

There is a local bus service provided by Carris company, which can be the best way to get to different places around the city. Check bus timetables, fares, and accessibility .

Hotels near Lisbon train station (Estação do Oriente)

For destinations outside Lisbon, one of the best options is Express buses , which offer cheap journeys from and to many destinations around Portugal.

Another comfortable, relatively cheap way is to take the train. There are ten railway stations in Lisbon: Gare do Oriente (modernist station at the east of the city with connections to the other stations and a metro line), Santa Apolonia (the oldest station, ideal for a number of attractions in Lisbon and long distance trains to Madrid and Paris), Sete Rios (north location, good for long distance buses and trains to Faro, Setubal and other destinations, and with a metro line), Rossio Station (centric and connected to city bus, metro and tram), Cais do Sodré station, Sintra station (connects to Rossio Station, Oriente, Entrecampos, Sate Rios and Campolide), Campolide, Cascais and Roma-Areeiro stations.

You can get a Lisboa Card which provides free use of the metro, trams, buses, and Elevadores, plus discounts and free entry to many sights, museums, and tours (includes a free guide to Lisbon).

Tenha uma boa jornada!

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London to Lisbon without flying

‘Life is a journey , not a destination .’ Ralph Waldo Emerson

As far as we’re concerned here at One Tiny Leap, the best holidays are the ones where getting there is half the fun! We love road-tripping for the opportunities it gives you to take the less-travelled route, because you never know what’s around the next corner.

When our annual trip to Portugal was approaching last year we decided to give Easyjet a miss for once, and travel by train from London to Lisbon instead. Although we had to change our route at short notice due to the heat of central Spain in August, it turned out to be one of the best travel decisions we’ve ever made.

If you’re planning a similar adventure then for this guide I’ve included  four itineraries to help you make it from London to Lisbon without flying.

The fastest and easiest way to get from London to Lisbon by train is by taking the Eurostar to Paris, followed by a train to Irun, and an overnight train to Lisbon. All together the journey can take just under 24 hours, making it the quickest way to get there.

07:01 London to Paris by Eurostar (journey duration 2h25)

This is the easy bit. Eurostar has fantastic deals from London to Paris , and if you keep an eye on the website, or subscribe to their newsletter you can get a really good Eurostar deal, which can be as low as £29.99 one way.

Check train times and buy your Eurostar ticket

12:16 pm Paris to Irun (journey duration: 6h12)

The Eurostar arrives at the Gare du Nord, and you’ll want to make your way to Montparnasse to catch the TGV to Irun. If you’ve opted for the early riser 7:01 train you’ll have plenty of time to get there. If like me you like to make the most of your morning in bed and decided to go for the 7:55 you may need to catch a taxi to make it to Montparnasse on time.

Once in Montparnasse, pack up on food and drink as you won’t have enough time in Irun to get supplies for your overnight train.

The fastest route from Paris to Irun takes just under 6 hours, with a stop in Toulouse. You can also opt for the direct train that takes 6h12.

Buy tickets:  Check train times and buy your Paris to Irun TGV ticket

18:45 Irun to Lisbon (journey duration: 13h35)

You’ve made it to the last leg of your journey! You’ve got just over 15 minutes to change platforms for your overnight trip to Lisbon. As they say, relax and enjoy the ride…and get ready for your first café and pastel de nata – you’ll be in Lisbon at 7:20 am!

Buy tickets:  Check train times and buy your Irun to Lisbon tickets

Leg 1: London to Paris by Eurostar (journey duration 2h25)

Follow the guide above on getting the best deals on Eurostar, and also how to make the most of your day. You can either spend a few days in Paris, but if you’re not bothered about spending time in Paris, you can also buy a Eurostar ticket direct to Biarritz , which is what we did, and saved a fair amount of money that way as well.

When Paris, change over at Gare Montparnasse to the SNCF TGV train. We only had an hour to make it over to Gare Montparnasse from Gare du Nord, so opted for a taxi to avoid missing our train. It took under 30 minutes and cost approximate €35, but of course if you have a bit more time you can take the metro.

Buy tickets:  Check train times and buy your Eurostar ticket

Leg 2: Paris to Biarritz by TGV (journey duration 5h35)

The Paris to Biarritz train takes around five and a half hours, in a comfortable, modern train making it a lovely journey overlooking the scenic French countryside.

TIP: if you’re going in summer, even on an air-conditioned train it can get stuffy, so don’t forget to bring enough bottled water along.

From the Biarritz train station to the centre takes around 10 minutes by taxi. We timed our arrival so we had a few hours of sunlight left to stretch our legs on the beautiful seafront.

Buy tickets:  Check train times and buy your Paris to Biarritz ticket

Leg 3: Biarritz to San Sebastián by bus (journey duration 1h02)

We were happy to find out that it only takes an hour to reach San Sebastian from Biarritz on the bus. We caught a scheduled service in the afternoon from the centre of town, and had a very comfortable (and cool) ride in. The bus station in San Sebastian is right in the centre of town, so if you travel light you may not even need to get a taxi to your accommodation.

Buy tickets:  Check timetables and prices for the bus from Biarritz to San Sebastian

Leg 4: San Sebastián to Madrid by train (journey duration 5h30)

If you can bear to leave San Sebastian (we couldn’t and ended up staying a week) then it’s another six hours or so to Madrid by rail on a modern, air-conditioned Alvia train that takes you through the foothills of the Pyrenees. Train travel in Europe is very good-value compared to the UK, and you can expect to pay somewhere in the region of just 15 Euros per person for this section of the journey – amazing!

Buy tickets:  We always start with Rail Europe to search timetables and fares on European train travel  and try to book direct as more often than not it will save you some serious money.

Leg 5: Madrid to Lisbon by train

The final leg of this route takes just under 10 hours direct by train, so I recommend staying at least a day or so in Madrid to build up your energy (or if you haven’t got kids, go out the night before so you can sleep through the day!). The best way to travel from Madrid to Lisbon is on the overnight train that gets you in around 8.30am to Lisbon – the perfect time for a café and a pastel de nata.

Buy tickets: Your Madrid to Lisbon train ticket

Granted, this isn’t the fastest way to get to Lisbon overland, but is it the prettiest? without a doubt. This is the route we ended up taking last August though, and we absolutely loved every pintxo bite, asturias hikes and idyllic beaches.

Leg 1: London to Paris by Eurostar

London to Paris by Eurostar is a breeze and the best way to travel to the French capital. Sign up for their newsletter for the latest offers. I suggest getting an early train to arrive in Paris around lunchtime, which gives you some time to explore Paris should you want to stay overnight.

Leg 2: Paris to Biarritz by TGV

Also as above. You could easily spend a half-day and evening in Paris if you wanted, to break up the journey though.

Leg 3: Biarritz to San Sebastián bus

The San Sebastian bus was a breeze. After all the travelling we’d done a few days earlier, just an hour on a comfortable bus towards our new favourite city felt like nothing.

Leg 4: San Sebastian to Vigo by car

We decided not to go through central Spain in the end, as the heat looked so oppressive in August. So we hired a car in San Sebastian and drove, via a day in Bilbao, to the gorgeous Asturias region. We hired our car through Enterprise but there’s plenty of choice in central San Sebastian. I’ll have a blog about this beautiful region coming soon, but if you’re interested I recommend a read of my friend’s PODtravels posts about Asturias . If you want to really get away from it all in the Spanish countryside, I highly recommend it. After a relaxing week in Asturias, we drove to Vigo via a few hours in Santiago de Compostela, which is of course well-worth a detour.

Leg 5: Vigo to Lisbon by train

We spent a few days in Vigo, exploring the city and the insanely beautiful (and apparently Europe’s most beautiful beach) Cies Islands . We left our car in Vigo, as to drop a Spanish hire car off in Portugal would have been very expensive. From Vigo to Lisbon was the trickiest and least comfortable part of our journey. You have three options, all of which involve a change: Seville, Madrid or Porto. We chose to change in Porto, a short connection later and we were in Lisbon!

Buy tickets: Check timetables and buy Vigo to Lisbon tickets from CP

Leg 1: London to Plymouth

Take a direct train from London Paddington to Plymouth, then a taxi from the station to the ferry terminal. We always buy our UK rail tickets through The Trainline . We’ve recently bought a family railcard too which saves us quite a bit so long as our son travels with us.

Leg 2: Plymouth to Santander

We’ve never taken the Brittany Ferries crossing before but I’ve always wanted to try it. You can also go from Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander. It’s an overnight route so you’ll probably want to book a cabin as well. This is definitely the most expensive way to go, but a lovely and relaxing journey at the same time. You can go as a foot passenger, if you’re planning to continue by rail, or with a car.

Leg 3: Santander to Lisbon

If you are driving, then it’s about eight hours by road to Lisbon from Santander. If you want to go by rail then I again recommend the super-efficient Trainline.eu  for schedules and tickets. The journey is around 13.5 hours, and has one change, so definitely you’ll want to spend at least a day or so in Santander before continuing on.

Have you ever considered travelling from London to Lisbon by train? If you’ve done this trip, I’d love to hear your recommendations, and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Maria Belfort

I am a mum, marketer, travel blogger & photography enthusiast. I love slow travel, finding detail in cluttered environments and trying new foods. Currently living between Brighton and Lisbon, follow me for blog updates & travel inspiration ✈

Keeping it simple: Minimal jewellery when travelling

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kremlin responds to US shift on military aid; deadliest strike in weeks claims more victims

Follow our Ukraine war live page for all the latest developments and analysis of the conflict. Listen to a Daily podcast episode on the notion of the UK putting troops on the ground in Ukraine as you scroll.

Thursday 18 April 2024 16:59, UK

• Deadliest strike in weeks claims more victims
• Kremlin responds to US shift on aid to Ukraine

Two arrested in Germany on Russian spy charges

• Ukraine launches attack on Russian airfield in Crimea
• Mark Stone: Ukraine funding vote is a curious twist in America's political chaos
• The big picture: What's happening with the war this week?
• Your questions answered: How long will it take for any aid to turn the tide militarily?
• Live reporting by Guy Birchall

That's it from our live coverage of the war in Ukraine for today. 

We'll be back again with more updates, but here's a round up of a day that saw the death toll from the worst Russian strike in weeks rise to 18.

Another 78 were wounded when three missiles slammed into the northern city of Chernihiv, causing a building to collapse.

The strike redoubled Volodymyr Zelenskyy's calls for further air defence munitions, and forced that issue high up the agenda of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy.

It even seemed to spark some progress in Washington, where funding for Ukraine has been tangled up in political squabbles for more than 40 months.

Two men were arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting sabotage attacks, including on American military facilities, in an effort to undermine support for Ukraine, according toGerman prosecutors.

Authorities searched the homes and workplaces of the two suspects, both German-Russian nationals, who are accused of working for a foreign secret service.

Berlin's foreign ministry later summoned the Russian ambassador following the arrests.

Other key facts from the day include:

• Ukraine launches attack on Russian airfield in Crimea;
• Kremlin claims US aid won't help Ukraine;
• Russia claims Ukraine strike the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Ukraine needs $42bn (£34bn) in budgetary support this year as it continues to fight the Russian invasion, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said Russia's war against Ukraine needed to end, calling it both a human tragedy and a drag on growth prospects for the global economy. 

She added that she saw global support for Ukraine remaining firm. 

G7 members are considering using nearly $300bn (£240bn) in frozen Russian assets as collateral to provide loans to Ukraine.

European Commission executive vice president Valdis Dombrovskis made the revelation at a meeting of the group's foreign ministers in Italy.

He added that different options were also under consideration, and the discussions were ongoing. 

Mr Dombrovskis said he hoped the EU - where the bulk of the frozen assets are held - would approve a separate EU measure in coming months to use the profits or interest earned on the assets to help Ukraine. 

NATO is working to send more air defence systems to Ukraine, secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said.

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7, he said: "We have compiled data about the different air defence systems we have in NATO and focused on the Patriot systems. 

"And we are working with allies to ensure that they redeploy some of their systems to Ukraine.

"I am encouraged by the commitment and the determination by NATO allies to stand up for Ukraine." 

Mr Stoltenberg added that he was seeing encouraging signs that the US Congress might soon pass an aid package for Ukraine.

Here are the latest pictures from the front and from behind the lines as the war in Ukraine rages on.

Ukrainian strikes in Russia

A couple stand near a house damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack in Voronezh, Russia.

Several structures were destroyed in the strike.

G7 foreign ministers meet in Italy

Ukraine's air defences is a key issue for ministers gathered on the Italian island of Capri, following a German appeal on Wednesday to the European Union and NATO to do more to help Kyiv. 

German president inspects troops

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Bundeswher troops training in Munster, Germany.

Much of the tank training Ukrainian troops have undergone has taken place near the western German city.

Prague protest

Protesters carry wooden crosses in the colours of the Ukrainian flag and place them in front of the US embassy in Prague in protest at the lives lost due to "American hesitancy" during a rally called "Defend Ukrainian skies" in the Czech capital.

G7 foreign ministers have warned that Ukraine risks being defeated by Russia unless it receives more air defences.

More than two years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv is facing an ammunition shortage, with vital American funding still tied up in political wrangling on Capitol Hill and the EU failing to deliver sufficient munitions promptly.

The ministers began a second day of talks on the Italian island of Capri by discussing the Middle East crisis and were expected to turn to Ukraine in the afternoon, when they were due to be joined by the head of NATO and Ukraine's foreign minister.

The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who attends G7 gatherings alongside his American Italian, German, French, British, Japanese and Canadian counterparts, urged EU nations to hand over air defence systems to help Ukraine protect its cities from Russia, which is targeting key infrastructure.

"Otherwise, the electricity system of Ukraine will be destroyed. And no country can fight without having electricity at home, in the factories, online, for everything," he told reporters.

Russian air defences shot down what they described as five Ukrainian balloons overnight, according to the Kremlin's defence ministry.

Neither Moscow nor Kyiv have provided details about the balloons, which Russian authorities reported appearing on the battlefield in recent weeks.

According to Russian news reports, the Ukrainian balloons are equipped with a GPS module and carry explosives.

They are allegedly are harder to detect and could carry larger payloads than conventional, smaller drones.

It is not clear if the balloons are lifted by helium, hot air or something else entirely.

They aren't controllable once in the air, with the GPS module likely being used to co-ordinate the release of explosives if the balloon floats over a specific area.

Three Ukrainian balloons and one drone were downed over the Voronezh region, which borders the occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine.

Two others were intercepted in the Belgorod region of Russia next to Ukraine, according to the Russian defence ministry.

As well as the balloons, Russia claimed it intercepted two Ukrainian tactical missiles, 19 rockets and 16 drones during the night.

A Russian missile attack on Dnipropetrovsk region this morning damaged an infrastructure facility and a business, a local official said. 

Two people were injured and taken to hospital, according to the regional governor, who added that the attack caused fires at two sites. 

Ukraine's air force issued a warning of a ballistic missile threat ahead of the strike.

Moscow has stepped up combined missile and drone strikes targeting Ukraine's power grid in recent weeks, resulting in significant damage. 

The Kremlin has also increased its use of harder-to-intercept ballistic missiles. 

The Kremlin claims that any new American military aid for Ukraine (see 9.36 post) won't change the situation at the front, which it described as "unfavourable" for Kyiv's forces.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov then said US aid, would, however, help the US defence industry and leave Ukraine in debt. 

Assuming a bill in the House of Representatives passes, Ukraine will be the recipient of more than $60bn (£48bn) of lethal aid from Washington. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been calling on Ukraine's allies to provide more support, particularly air defence weapons, in light of increased missile bombardment by Russia.

Berlin's foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador following the arrest of two German-Russian nationals on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on US military facilities, in Germany Bild reports.

Germany has become one of Kyiv's biggest suppliers of military aid since the war began and is a major target for Russian spying operations, according to authorities in Berlin.

"Our security authorities have prevented possible explosive attacks that were intended to target and undermine our military assistance to Ukraine," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said earlier. 

"It is a particularly serious case of alleged spy activity for Putin's criminal regime." 

The Kremlin earlier denied knowledge of the arrests.

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