Portuguese · Getting around · Beginner

How to buy a train ticket in Portuguese

At the ticket office, say where you’re going, “Para Coimbra, por favor”, then “só ida” (single) or “ida e volta” (return). Ask “De que linha parte o comboio?” for the platform. For daily travel, ask “Quanto custa o passe mensal?”. In Lisbon and Porto, trips go on a rechargeable card.

Try it · about two minutes

At the station ticket office you buy a single or return ticket and ask about a monthly pass.

You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

Ticket clerk
Para onde vai?
Where are you going?
You
Para Coimbra, por favor.
To Coimbra, please.
Ticket clerk
Só ida ou ida e volta?
Single or return?
You
Um bilhete de ida e volta, por favor.
A return ticket, please.
Ticket clerk
Paga com cartão ou em dinheiro?
Card or cash?
You
Com cartão.
By card.
Ticket clerk
Aqui tem o seu bilhete.
Here’s your ticket.
You
De que linha parte o comboio?
Which platform does the train leave from?
Ticket clerk
Mais alguma coisa?
Anything else?
You
Quanto custa o passe mensal?
How much is the monthly pass?
Ticket clerk
Preencha este impresso, por favor.
Fill in this form, please.
You
Pode ajudar-me, por favor?
Can you help me, please?

Key phrases

Um bilhete, por favor.
One ticket, please.
Um bilhete de ida e volta, por favor.
A return ticket, please.
Onde compro o bilhete?
Where do I buy a ticket?
De que linha parte o comboio?
Which platform does the train leave from?
Tenho de mudar de comboio?
Do I have to change trains?
Quanto custa o passe mensal?
How much is the monthly pass?
Há uma opção mais barata se viajar todos os dias?
Is there a cheaper option if I travel every day?
Queria carregar o meu cartão de transportes.
I’d like to top up my travel card.
Tenho de validar à entrada e à saída?
Do I have to validate on the way in and out?
Valide o cartão no leitor, por favor.
Please validate your card on the reader.

Good to know in Portugal

At the ticket office

1
Say where you’re going, then single (só ida) or return (ida e volta).
Um bilhete de ida e volta, por favor.A return ticket, please.
2
Pay by card or in cash.
3
Check the platform, the linha, on the departures board.
De que linha parte o comboio?Which platform does the train leave from?

Rechargeable cards

In Lisbon and Porto, metro, bus and many local train trips go on a rechargeable card that you top up at machines or ticket offices.

Queria carregar o meu cartão de transportes.

I’d like to top up my travel card.

Monthly passes

A monthly pass usually goes on a personal card in your name, which you apply for with a form and ID.

More situations in Portuguese

All situations in Portuguese

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.