Hi I need HELP! I’m last-minute (I had a rough itinerary before but reality is setting in...) planning my travel pass to travel from Lisbon (more specifically, I’m in Alcabideche right now) to Bruges, leaving tomorrow Nov 19th and arriving *ideally* late-night Nov 20th. I have 2 days left on my Eurail Global Pass that I want to use, but this route seems so complicated with its many options/side-routes, expensive seat reservations, and lack of night train (my preference/ideal) options with my timeline. It seems it may be better to bus into France, which I am willing to do if it is inexpensive, but ideally I’d use my remaining 2 travel days with minimal additional expenses on seat reservations and overnight accommodation. Has anyone done this route or a similar one (Portugal to Belgium) with success recently??? Should I just take the L and take a bus somewhere into France and then train to Bruges from there?! I will accept any and all suggestions, thank you!!
Hello
Please note that a strike is planned in France from Nov 20th 7 pm until Nov 22nd 8 am.
Hi, thank you for your reply and information!
There are a few options, see e.g.:
https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm
And you can also go via Badajoz - Madrid - Hendaye. From Paris, you can go via Lille - Kortrijk.
I don't have time to do more research now but fast trains in Portugal, Spain and France all need reservations.
Thanks so much for the provided info and link!! 
I was looking before at the Lille - Courtrai links to avoid seat reservations; that’ll be the plan once I get to Paris, thank you!
From a quick but thorough look I found 2 options. :)
Option 1: get to Lisbon Oriente station by 6:15 am. Perhaps you can get to a station on the Sintra Line.
- Flixbus Lisbon (Oriente) - Sevilla 06:25 - 14:05 (incl. 1h time difference) 48€
- break in Sevilla
- direct AVE Sevilla Santa Justa - Barcelona-Sants 16:34 - 22:36 10€
Day 2:
- AVE Barcelona-Sants - Lyon Part-Dieu 08:19 - 13:20 10€
- TGV Lyon Part-Dieu - Lille-Europe 14:00 - 16:58 20€
- Lille-Flandres - Kortrijk - Bruges, etc.
Option 2: train via Madrid, the route via Badajoz. You can make it to Barcelona but right before midnight (8pm out of Madrid is too risky in my opinion).
I wish there weren’t so many seat reservations, but it is what it is :/
You’re welcome! Yes sadly Spain and France are the 2 most “reservation-heavy” countries… I don’t really see alternatives. At least you avoid the annoying (and often stressful) Paris transfer.
Alternatively you could do this: 3h faster but it’s a longer bus ride.
- Flixbus Lisbon - Madrid 09:35 - 19:05 39€
- 1 station by Cercanias suburban train (included in Interrail/Eurail)
- AVE Madrid-Atocha - Barcelona-Sants 20:00 - 22:30 10€
I guess I’d do that. Later departure too. Lately there seems to be issues booking passholder reservations online for Spanish trains. If it doesn’t work, try at a counter in Lisbon or in Madrid.
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