Getting around · Porto · Portugal
Getting around Porto
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: HombreDHojalata, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Central Porto is compact but very hilly, so walking is rewarding but tiring. The Metro do Porto light-rail network, STCP buses, historic trams, a funicular and a cable car fill the gaps. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- OPO
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Andante card
Ways to get around
Walking
Most sights between São Bento, Ribeira and the Clérigos Tower are within 15 minutes' walk, though the climbs are steep.
Plan routes downhill where possible and use the funicular or metro to go back up.
Metro
Metro do Porto runs six light-rail lines, partly underground in the centre, linking the airport, Matosinhos, Boavista and Gaia; line D crosses the upper deck of the Dom Luís I bridge.
Buy a rechargeable Andante card and validate it every time you board, including when changing lines.
Tram
Historic trams on lines 1, 18 and 22 are slow but scenic, especially line 1 along the river to Foz.
Bus
STCP buses cover areas the metro does not, including Foz and Serralves.
Cable car
The Funicular dos Guindais links Ribeira with Batalha up the cliff, and the Teleférico de Gaia cable car runs along the Gaia riverfront to the upper deck of the bridge.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt and metered taxis are reasonably priced and useful for steep hills and late nights.
Tickets and passes
Andante card
A rechargeable card for the metro, STCP buses and suburban trains in the Porto area, charged by zone.
Andante Tour
A 24- or 72-hour card with unlimited travel on metro, buses and urban trains.
Porto Card
A city card with discounts at museums and attractions, available with or without unlimited public transport.
From the airport
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is about 11 km northwest of the centre. Metro line E (violet) runs directly to Trindade in the city centre in about 30 minutes, and taxis and ride-hailing take about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
Do you need a car?
No. The centre is walkable and served by public transport, and parking is difficult. A car is useful only for exploring the Douro Valley's wine estates at your own pace.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Douro Valley | About 2–2.5 hours by train | Train from São Bento to Régua or Pinhão; or a tour or car |
| Guimarães | About 1 hour 15 minutes by train | Urban train from São Bento |
| Braga | About 1 hour by train | Urban train from São Bento |
| Aveiro | About 40 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes by train | Train from Campanhã or São Bento |
| Coimbra | About 1–1.5 hours by train | Train from Campanhã |
| Viana do Castelo | About 1.5 hours by train | Train from Campanhã or São Bento |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Porto?
No. The centre is walkable and served by public transport, and parking is difficult. A car is useful only for exploring the Douro Valley's wine estates at your own pace.
+How do you get from the airport to Porto?
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is about 11 km northwest of the centre. Metro line E (violet) runs directly to Trindade in the city centre in about 30 minutes, and taxis and ride-hailing take about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
+What is the best way to get around Porto?
Walking: Most sights between São Bento, Ribeira and the Clérigos Tower are within 15 minutes' walk, though the climbs are steep.