A university town, Leiria is a small but beautiful destination that continues to grow in stature as a blossoming tourist destination as well. It is surrounded by a stunning Portugese countryside and is just one of several hidden gems in the central part of Portugal. It is best reached via road, with a highly efficient and affordable bus system connecting Lisbon, Porto and other major cities to Leiria. Travel via train is the next best option, but tends to be a bit more expensive and makes for a longer journey. International travellers will have to fly in to Lisbon Airport which is the closest airport to the city. Getting around locally is recommended via foot or by local taxi. All in all the city is relatively easy to navigate in a couple of days. To learn more about how to reach check out the article below. 

Having no airport of its own, the closest stop off for visitors travelling internationally is to disembark at Lisbon Airport and then catch a train or bus to get to the city of Leiria. The airport is well-connected to most of the significant cities in and around Portugal and other European capital cities as well. There is a very high flight frequency and there are wonderful transit services to get to smaller cities like Leiria. 

This is the best way to reach Leiria, as the bus station is located right in the city centre and is well connected to majority of the major cities in and around Portugal. Lisbon is about 2 hours away and Porto is just over 2.5 hours from the city. There private and public transportation services to choose from. Lisbon Airport itself offers fantastic transit services to Leiria. Bus timetables and tickets are both available online and in-person as well. Driving down is an equally viable option if desired. 

Lisbon's Oriente Station has nearly 5 daily trains to Leiria. There is a lower frequency of trains and the journey time is approximately 3 hours totally. Additionally, visitors would be required to switch trains atleast once or twice. This makes the overall journey quite cumbersome for most visitors who don't enjoy the hustle and bustle of travel. It is recommended to stick to the road to get to Leiria locally. 

Being such a small city, Leiria is best explored locally on foot. There are stunning walkways, giving visitors a deeper look into the sights and sounds of the city. Alternatively hiring a local bike or scooter or even using the taxi services is an efficient way to get in and around the city. For visitors who have driven down, using your own personal car is a viable option as well.