Porto has an extensive public transport network consisting of rapid transit trams (known as the metro), buses, cable cars and historic trams. You can use integrated tickets, which will pay for multiple modes of transport.
Public transport tickets
For metro, STCP bus and train journeys within Porto and the surrounding area, use Andante cards. The ticket is not valid on the historic tram lines.
Official information can be found, for example, on the website of the transport company SCTP or on the Porto Metro website.
The price of the card itself is 0,60 eur, then you will buy individual tickets for it, again only through a machine. If you buy an Andante Tour tourist ticket, the €0.60 fee does not apply.
You can upload more than one ticket to the card, but only the same type of ticket (so you can, for example, upload 2x 24-hour tickets in advance, but not 1x60-minute + 1x24-hour tickets).
Only one single ticket can be active on the card, so each passenger needs their own card.
Tickets can be reloaded on the card repeatedly.
Where to buy tickets?
You can buy "Andante" tickets for public transport at all metro/tram stations and also at the most important bus stops, always from a machine.
The machines accept coins, banknotes and credit cards, but are not yet equipped with contactless technology.
Cards can also be bought at selected newsagents, especially at metro stations or train stations. In contrast, the Andante card is not sold by bus drivers.
Andante Tour tickets can be bought at the kiosk at the airport or at selected newsagents in the centre.
How much do tickets cost in Porto?
For tourists, day tickets will be the most advantageous:
- Andante Tour 1 - 24-hour ticket valid for all zones including the airport - 7,50 eur
- Andante Tour 3 - 72-hour ticket valid for all zones including the airport - 16 eur
- Andante 24 for 2 zones - always valid for the zone in which the ticket was marked + 2 follow-ups - 5,15 eur
The Andante 24 Z2 ticket (for 2 zones) is enough for all the attractions in Porto and the neighbouring town of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Individual fares are calculated according to the zones travelled:
- 2 zones (Z2 - e.g. going from the centre to the other side of Vila Nova da Gaia) - 1,40 eur
- 3 zones (Z3 - for example, the journey from the centre to Matosihnos) - - 1,80 eur
- 4 zones (Z4 - for example, the route from the centre to the airport) - 2,25 eur
- 6 zones (Z6 - for example, the route from the centre to Póvoa de Varzim) - 3,20 eur
Porto Card
If you are planning on sightseeing, it may be worth getting a Porto Card, which gives you 50% discounts on admission to various museums, churches and monuments, as well as on selected cruises on the Douro River. You can choose from several options:
- The 24-hour Porto Card, which includes all-day metro and bus fares: 15 eur
- 48-hour Porto Card with all-day metro and bus fares: 27 eur
- 72-hour Porto Card with all-day metro and bus fares: 32 eur
- Complete information about the Porto Card on the official website
Metro Porto (rapid transit tram)
The backbone of transport in Porto is the rapid transit trams, known locally as the regular metro. In the centre, they run on two main lines:
- From the stadium through the main station and the centre to the north-west towards the airport (lines A, B, C, E, F).
- The north-south main line, which crosses the bridge over the Douro River and ends in the opposite town of Vila Nova da Gaia (line D)
- Porto Metro official website: en.metrodoporto.pt
Intervals are short, on the spine sections they are 3-5 minutes maximum during the day, up to 10 minutes in the evening. However, the intervals are longer on the end sections towards the north, for example to the airport or to Póvoa de Varzim, where they are up to 30 minutes.
Vehicles run on their own tracks along the entire length of the network, so they do not suffer from traffic jams, and even in the centre in the tunnel.
The airport can be reached by the E line every 20-30 minutes, see details.
The first services leave the line from the terminus around 6:00, and the last before 0:30.
You must always mark your ticket before entering the platform, it is no longer marked on exit. You mark it by simply attaching it to the validator, and a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket must also be marked each time.
Buses
The bus network is extensive and can be used wherever the metro doesn't go.
Bus stops are well signposted, including posted timetables, which is not always the norm in southern Europe.
In addition to the Andante tickets mentioned above, but far from being bought at every bus stop, you can buy a ticket from the driver for one ride (not valid for transfers) for 2,50 eur, regardless of the distance travelled.
Otherwise, Andante cards work in a similar way to trams, except that you always mark it with a "beep" at the validator when you board the bus.
Timetables and maps of bus routes can be found on stcp.pt.
Historic trams
The centre of Porto is served by three tram lines, which are staffed exclusively by historic cars. The ride through the narrow and steep streets is an unforgettable experience. These trams can be taken on lines 1 and 18 every day from about 9:00 to 20:30.
Take a look at the overview map of historic tram lines in Porto.
None of the above tickets are valid on the trams, even the 24-hour ones.
Tickets are always purchased from the driver or conductor inside the tram, payment is cash only and the following options are available:
- 1 ride for 6 eur
- 2 rides for 8 eur
- 2-day ticket for unlimited number of rides for 12 eur
For official information about the historic tram lines, including detailed timetables, visit stcp.pt/porto-tram-city-tour.
Cable cars
If you like unconventional means of transport, head to the Luís I Bridge.
On the Vila Nova Gaia side of town, take a ride on the suspended cable car that runs from the "Jardim do Morro" tram station over the rooftops of the wine cellars and down to the Douro River with stunning views of the opposite Porto.
You always have to buy a ticket for 7 eur, or 10 eur return, separately; the all-day Andante doesn't apply here. The cable car runs daily from 10:00 to 20:00, in winter only until 18:00. Official information can be found at gaiacablecar.com.
On the other side of the river, already in Porto, there is a funicular railway from the foot of the Luís I bridge (Ribeira station) to the Batalha stop . From this cable car you can also enjoy beautiful views of the bridge, the Douro River and the Serra do Pilar Monastery on the opposite side of the valley. The cable car runs about once every 10 minutes:
- November-March: 8:00-20:00, Friday and Saturday until 22:00,
- April-October: 8:00-22:00, Friday and Saturday until midnight.
Again, the Andante all-day ticket is not valid here, you must buy a ticket for one ride at 5 eur.
Night transport
During the night, 7 night bus lines ply the streets of Porto, always marked with a number and the letter M. All but one start their journeys at the central transfer stop on Avenida Aliados in the heart of the city. All night lines depart from the terminus every hour on the hour, and the same fare applies as the daytime lines.
Due to the late start of the metro (as late as 6:00am), you will often use the 3M night bus when travelling to the early morning departure from the airport. The bus journey takes approximately 35 minutes.
Look for timetables at stcp.pt/timetables.
