Santarém is served by regular direct trains from Lisbon's Santa Apolónia and Oriente stations. The journey takes about 45 minutes and trains run frequently throughout the day. Santarém train station is at the bottom of the hill below the old town — a 15-minute walk up, or a short taxi ride.
By car from Lisbon, take the A1 motorway north and exit at Santarém. The drive takes about an hour. Parking is available near the old town walls and at the exhibition grounds.
From Porto, the train journey is about 2 hours 15 minutes. Santarém also has bus connections to towns in the Ribatejo including Tomar, Abrantes, and Coimbra.