adminPorto is a large city in Portugal, but on a European scale it is a medium-sized city, making it relatively easy to get around Porto, using its extensive public transport network. In this post, we will explore what options are available to get around Porto, with all the tips and practical information and weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. The most important thing is that you arrive in Porto prepared and informed and don’t let the logistics of how to get around Porto give you headaches and ruin the pleasure of visiting one of the most beautiful and interesting European cities.
Check out our post with all the tips on how to get to Porto.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BEST WAYS TO GET AROUND PORTO
There are great ways to get around Porto, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Here are the best options.
1. Get around Porto in your own car
The center of Porto is compact enough, and the connections between different parts of the city are good enough, that it is not necessary to have your own vehicle to get around Porto. Traffic in the center of Porto is sometimes intense, especially during rush hours (8.00-10.00 and 17.00-19.00), so it always pays to use the public transport network, such as the Metro and buses (which run on their own lanes) . However, if you want to explore the outskirts of the city or the north of Portugal, the best option to get around Porto is to have your own vehicle.
Book your rental car in Portugal, at the best prices.
2. Get around Porto on foot
Let’s be clear, the best way to get around Porto is on foot, allowing you to absorb the environment and feel the pulse of the city and its inhabitants. The historic center of Porto is very compact and allows it to be explored on foot without having to travel long distances. However, you should bear in mind that, from the riverside area to Avenida dos Aliados, where the City Hall is located, the climb is somewhat steep. If you want to travel to neighborhoods further away from the center of Porto, such as Antas or Foz, you should only consider to get around Porto on foot if you are a fan of physical exercise.
3. Get around Porto using the Metro
The Porto Metro is an excellent way to get around Porto, as the existing lines cover a significant portion of the city, both in the historic center and outside the center. You can check here a Porto Metro Touristic Route.
You can check out here the Porto Metro Network Map and the Porto Metro Timetables.
NOTE: Work is underway in the city of Porto to increase the Metro network, at least until the end of 2024. The Pink Line (G), with a length of 3 km and 4 underground stations (two adjacent to the existing São Bento and Casa da Música), will ensure the connection between S. Bento and Rotunda da Boavista.
There are different cards that can be used to get around Porto using the Metro network as well as the bus network. Let’s look at the options.
3.1. Get around Porto with the Porto Card
The Porto Card is the official sightseeing pass of Porto and offers youfree and unlimited use of public transport for 1 to 4 days, and it is a great tool to use when you get around Porto. This includes the Metro (including the airport), STCP city buses and the suburban railway (until Paredes, Vila das Aves, Espinho and Lousado), with the exception of historical trams, and with free or reduced admission to attractions, sights and museums in Porto.
NOTE: The Porto Card can be collected at the following locations and at the following times: – Sé Posto de Turismo, at Calçada D. Pedro Pitões, nº15, daily from 9am to 6pm – Interactive Tourist Office at the Airport, located on Floor 0 (public area of disembarkation), daily from 8am to 6:30pm
3.2. Get around Porto with the Andante Card
For regular titles the most used card is the blue “Andante Azul” ticket, a non-personalized paper ticket, rechargeable with any kind of travel title (it can only contain one type of titles, but several titles of the same type). The regular titles are valid for the zones around the zone your journey started (the zone where you validate your ticket). The titles allow you to travel a certain time, according to the areas they include.
With “Andante Tour” ticket you can get around Porto during 24 hours or 72 hours after the first validation within the zones you choose. These cards also entitle you to get around Porto on STCP buses, CP urban trains (stations between Espinho, Valongo and Travagem) and other bus lines in the Andante system, allowing an unlimited number of journeys during the respective validity period.
4. Get around Porto by bus
Although the Porto Metropolitan Area has had a new bus network since December 2023, which is still causing some problems, the urban bus network remains under the responsibility of STCP (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto).
You can check here the STCP bus lines in Porto.
You can use, as in the Metro, the “Andante Azul” tickets, as well as the “Andante Tour” cards to get around Porto by bus. Andante Tour cards can be bought at Andante shops, CP ticket offices selling Andante and Tourism Information Offices at the Airport.
NOTE: Please be aware that you must validade the AndanteTour Card before every boarding! Lack of validation is subjet to heavy penalty.
5. Get around Porto using the vintage trams
In 1872, the first line of “American cars” in the city of Porto was inaugurated. Today, the network of vintage trams is one of the most beautiful ways to get around Porto Currently there are two lines of the Porto Tram City Tour that run through emblematic areas of the city:
- Line 1 makes the route between the historic centre of Porto and the garden of Passeio Alegre on a single path along the banks of the River Douro;
- Line 18 runs between Massarelos (near the Tram Museum) and the Carmo on a path that connects the riverside, the historic parish of Massarelos to Clérigos Church and its surroundings;
NOTE: Since November 2021, line 22 of the Porto Tram has been suspended, due to work to expand the Porto Metro lines. It is estimated that it could return to operation at the end of 2024.
A single ticket (adult) costs 5.00 €, and is only available on board. It is worthwhile to get a 2 days ticket (adult, 10.00 €), entitling you to get around Porto on all trams over a 2 day-period from the first trip. It is available on board, but also in Porto Tram Museum.
OTHERS FUN WAYS TO GET AROUND PORTO
Besides the main options to get around Porto, there are other ways, in which you can have lots of fun and enjoy Porto.
1. Guindais Funicular
Although walking down the winding alleys of the Guindais neighborhood is a great way to get to know a traditional neighbourhood in Porto, don´t forget you can come up using the Guindais Funicular. and admire the magnificent views of the city, including the Fernandina Wall.
2. Gaia Cable Car
The Serra do Pilar Monastery, on the Gaia side, overlooking the D. Luís I Bridge, is probably the best viewpoint for the Douro River and historic areas of both cities. Right next door, you can take the Gaia Cable Car, and enjoy a short but unforgettable trip, with unique views over Porto and Gaia pier, where the trip ends. A great way to get around Porto (in this case, across the river, on Gaia side), with fantastic views of the city.
3. Train ride between São Bento and Campanhã
The Porto suburban train network is great to connect Porto with its metropolitan area, as well as other cities in the north and center of Portugal, such as Guimarães, Braga and Aveiro, but you can still get aroun Porto by train and do a beautiful small train ride inside Porto city centre.
Check out our post with all the tips on how to get to Porto, including by train.
Take any urban train (direction Aveiro, Braga or Guimarães) at São Bento Station (don’t forget to admire the beautiful blue tiles), and take the short section to Campanhã Station. You will pass through centuries-old tunnels and, between them, you will have surprising views over the Douro and Gaia Rivers, and the D. Maria Pia Bridge. An activity not to be missed when visiting Porto.
4. Bridges river cruise
One of the must-do experiences when visiting Porto is taking a short boat trip along the Douro River, and getting a unique perspective of the city of Porto and its bridges. Try a traditional rabelo boat and pass by the road bridges of D. Luís I, Arrábida, Infante and Freixo, and the railway bridges of D. Maria Pia (closed since 1991), and São João.
Book your six bridges cruise in Porto.
5. Douro River taxis
You can cross the Douro river using, of course, one of the several bridges connecting Porto with Gaia, but there is another option and a much interesting one. Douro River Taxi runs a service across the river between the quayside of Vila Nova de Gaia and the Ribeira on the Porto side. The trip takes only five minutes and the boats used are replicas of Rabelos, the traditional vessels which once transported port wine from far upstream.
