How to get to Leiria: Best ways for Sunderland fans to travel

Sunderland’s return to European football takes them to the heart of Portugal this October, as Regis Le Bris’s side face Torreense in their UEFA Europa League away fixture in the league phase.

Sunderland won their opening game, a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar thanks to Enzo Le Fee converting from the penalty spot.

The match, scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, won’t actually be played at Torreense’s own ground in Torres Vedras – the 2,500-capacity Estadio Manuel Marques falls short of UEFA’s hosting requirements. Instead, the tie has been switched to the much larger Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria, a Euro 2004 venue roughly 50km away that regularly hosts Portugal’s biggest domestic cup finals.

It’s Sunderland’s first European away trip in over half a century, and Newcastle Airport has already stepped in to help, announcing additional direct flights to cater for an expected 5,000 travelling fans across the club’s opening block of continental fixtures.

Here, Football Ground Guide takes a look at the best ways for Sunderland fans to get to Leiria for their side’s Europa League clash against Torreense.

Getting to Leiria by plane

Flying is comfortably the best option for most Sunderland fans travelling to Leiria, which has no commercial airport of its own.

Lisbon is the popular gateway, and Newcastle Airport has already added direct flights with easyJet specifically to cater for this fixture, alongside existing scheduled services from other UK airports. Lisbon sits around 150km from Leiria.

Porto is a solid alternative, with Jet2 among the carriers offering direct flights from Newcastle, and connections also available from other UK regional airports. Porto is roughly 190km from Leiria.

Fans travelling via other UK airports can also connect through Heathrow, Amsterdam or Paris if a direct route isn’t available from their local airport.

With Sunderland playing on a Wednesday evening, flying out at least a day in advance is recommended, giving supporters time to get settled and make the onward journey to Leiria without the pressure of a same-day arrival.

Getting to Leiria by train

Travelling to Leiria from the UK by train is technically possible but involves a long journey via mainland Europe, with no direct connection from London.

Leiria itself has a train station on the scenic Linha do Oeste line, but services are slow, often require multiple changes, and the station is some distance from the city centre. For fans looking for the quickest and most reliable way to reach Leiria, flying followed by coach travel is by far the better option.

Getting to Leiria by coach

Once in Portugal, coach travel is comfortably the most convenient way to complete the journey to Leiria.

From Lisbon Airport: Head first to Terminal Rodoviario de Sete Rios, Lisbon’s main coach station, a short taxi ride or Metro journey from the airport. Rede Expressos and FlixBus both run frequent direct services to Leiria, with the fastest taking around 1 hour 45 minutes and fares typically between £10-£18 (€12-€21).

From Porto Airport: A direct FlixBus service runs to Leiria’s central bus station in around 2 hours 45 minutes, with fares from roughly £6-£15 (€7-€18).

How to get to Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa

Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa is located right in the city centre, next to the historic Castle of Leiria – just a 10-minute walk from the heart of the city.

It was built for UEFA Euro 2004 and regularly hosts Portugal’s biggest domestic cup finals.
Given its central location, fans staying anywhere near the city centre should find it a simple, walkable trip on matchday.

The stadium sustained significant storm damage in January 2026, but has since passed inspection and reopened for competitive football, so supporters can expect it to be fully operational for Sunderland’s visit.

Getting to Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa by car

Driving is a straightforward option, with the stadium just off the A1 motorway that runs the length of Portugal connecting Lisbon and Porto. Drivers should take Exit 9 (“Leiria”) and follow local signage toward the city centre (Centro) and the ground (Estadio).

From Lisbon Airport, the drive takes around 1 hour 30 minutes; from Porto, closer to 2 hours, depending on traffic.

Getting to Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa by taxi

Taxis are readily available in Leiria and can be a convenient option for supporters travelling in a group, particularly for the final leg from the bus station.

As with most matchdays, traffic around the city centre is likely to build in the hours before kick-off, so it’s worth factoring in extra time – or simply walking in, given how central the stadium is.

Car Parking at Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa

The stadium is well set up for drivers, with ample parking available directly around the ground. The stadium address for satnav purposes is Arrabalde d’Aquem, 2400-137 Leiria.

FGG Verdict: What is the best way to get to Leiria?

Flying into Lisbon and taking the direct coach from Sete Rios bus station is the simplest and most reliable route for the vast majority of travelling fans, offering the fastest journey time at a reasonable price.

Those already looking at flights via Newcastle Airport’s new direct services should factor in the onward coach or transfer time from whichever airport they land at, and given this is genuinely new territory for the club, it’s worth building in some extra buffer either side of the trip – from booking transport in advance to double-checking stadium updates as the tie approaches.