Getting to Portugal by plane
Canadian citizens can fly to Portugal from Toronto. The fastest way to reach Portugal from Canada is by plane, which takes 10h and costs around C$1400. Multiple companies run services between the two countries, the most commonly known being SATA, AirCanada, TAP Portugal, and Lufthansa.
Getting to Portugal by train
The train ride is undeniably one of the most European experiences you can get. There are two main routes: through London or Paris, or via Spain. It takes approximately 24 hours to travel from London to Lisbon. First, take the Eurostar to London St Pancras. Then go to Paris by high-speed train (TGV), and then to Paris by Irun on Spain’s border. Finally, take the Sud-Express overnight “train-hotel” to get you to Lisbon around 7.30 am. The overnight Lusitania Trenhotel from Madrid (Chamartin Station) takes 10 hours and 30 minutes to Lisbon (change at Entroncamento, Portugal, for Coimbra or Porto). Prices start at EUR60 for one-way, EUR96 for return; for a second class seat or EUR84 one way, EUR134 back; for the cheapest four-bed berth, there are singles, doubles, and first-class cabins (gran classe). Tickets are available in Madrid at Chamartin through the Spanish ( Renfe.es) or Portuguese ( Cp.pt) railway companies’ websites.
Getting to Portugal by car or coach
The distance between Spain and Portugal is 273 km. The road distance is 1247.5 km. That means that if you are planning to stay in Spain before reaching Portugal, it’s entirely possible to rent a car and drive to Porto or Lisbon from cities like Madrid, Santiago, Granada, or Seville. Coach services are operated by Rodoviaria de Lisboa, ALSA, Avanza Grupo, or Union Ivkoni. These coaches can take as few as 7 hours to reach Portugal and are considered one of the cheapest options to travel to the country. At the same time, the possibility of a road trip from Spain to Portugal is fascinating for Canadians as it allows you to stop in many places you wish to visit.
Getting to Portugal by sea
One of the best routes to travel to Portugal is to fly to London, rent a car, and then book a ferry from Plymouth or Portsmouth to Northern Spain. The fastest way to cut down on driving time is to take a ferry to northern Spain. However, this leaves you with a 6- to 8-hour drive to Portugal. Brittany Ferries sails from Plymouth to Santander (every week; 20hr), Portsmouth (3 weeks; 24-32hr), and Bilbao (2 weeks; 24hr). A one-way fare starts at PS430 between Plymouth and Santander and PS424 between Portsmouth and Santander. However, prices can rise in summer and on school holidays. Brittany Ferries offers winter specials. Foot passengers are often cheaper, but everyone must book cabin accommodation or seating.
How will ETIAS affect travel to Portugal?
ETIAS, the visa waiver system for Portugal and other European countries, is expected to increase travelling numbers to Europe by 15%. Up to 18% of the world population will be eligible for ETIAS, including Canadians. Canada is also expected to be the country with the most ETIAS applications once the system goes live. ETIAS has been pushed back but will be operational from 2025, meaning millions of Canadians travelling to Portugal in 2025 should get notified and apply for ETIAS as soon as possible.
The ETIAS application shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete. Once you receive your visa waiver, you’ll be able to travel to Europe as many times as you wish for no more than 90 days within 180 days. You can go to Spain and then Portugal as long as your trip doesn’t last more than 90 days. Then, with the same ETIAS, after 180 days, you will be able to travel again to Portugal or to another ETIAS country.