Overview
Porto's metro is a modern light rail system, known locally as Metro do Porto, and it is the quickest and most efficient way to get around the city and its suburbs. It runs underground through central Porto and comes up to ground level or onto elevated track as it heads out into the surrounding municipalities, using low-floor tram vehicles. The first sections opened in 2002, and the network is still being expanded.
Riding it end to end is straightforward. You buy or recharge an Andante ticket before you travel, then validate it by touching it to the yellow sensor machines at the station entrance or on the platform. There are no ticket gates, so you simply board and ride; fare inspectors check tickets at random with hand-held scanners. Announcements on board are made only in Portuguese, but most ticket machines and directional signs are bilingual in Portuguese and English. Trindade is the main interchange, where all lines meet.
The network
The Porto Metro is the backbone of the system, with 6 lines and 85 operational stations across 70 kilometres (43 mi) of double track. It reaches seven municipalities: Porto, Gondomar, Maia, Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde and Vila Nova de Gaia. Most of the network is at ground level or elevated, with 8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi) underground. It is run by ViaPORTO.
- Line A (Blue Line) – Senhor de Matosinhos to Estádio do Dragão. The oldest line, opened in 2002, and the second busiest. Services run every 12 to 15 minutes, with an end-to-end journey of about 40 minutes.
- Line B (Red Line) – Estádio do Dragão to Póvoa de Varzim, replacing the old narrow-gauge Linha do Porto à Póvoa e Famalicão.
- Line C (Green Line) – Estádio do Dragão to ISMAI, built partly along the old Guimarães line.
- Line D (Yellow Line) – the north–south line through the city centre, running from the Hospital de São João area down to Vila Nova de Gaia; it was extended southwards in June 2024 with three new stations.
- Line E (Violet Line) – connects Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport and Campanhã, extended on to Estádio do Dragão.
- Line F (Orange Line) – Senhora da Hora to Fânzeres, linking the city centre with the Gondomar region to the east.
Beyond the metro, the following systems make up the rest of the region's public transport:
- Suburban rail (CP Urbanos) – commuter trains run by CP from São Bento and Campanhã stations towards Braga, Guimarães, Caíde and Aveiro, plus regional and inter-regional services. Long-distance Alfa Pendular and Intercidades trains use Campanhã, about 3 km east of São Bento.
- Heritage trams (Elétricos do Porto) – about a dozen vintage trams on three remaining lines: Line 1 (Infante–Passeio Alegre), Line 18 (Massarelos–Carmo) and Line 22 (Carmo–Guindais Batalha), which is currently suspended. These are scenic rather than practical, and tickets are sold on board.
- Buses (STCP) – the city bus network, useful for areas the metro does not reach well, including the Vila Nova de Gaia wine cellars. Routes 900, 901 and 906 run from Trindade, and 904 from Batalha and Praça da Liberdade. Buses generally run from about 06:00 to 01:00.
- Ferries and boats – there is no commuter ferry across the Douro, but scenic tour boats run along the river from the Ribeira in Porto and from the Vila Nova de Gaia wharf. The port of Leixões, in neighbouring Matosinhos, handles cruise ships and has a light rail station nearby.
Tickets & fares
The whole region uses one ticketing system called Andante, which lets you use multiple modes and operators within a set time period. The metropolitan area is divided into fare zones, and the number of zones you need depends on your starting zone: a Z2 ticket covers all adjacent zones, and a Z3 ticket covers those plus the zones adjacent to them. Prices and single-ticket durations vary with the number of zones. All fares below are approximate and change, so check current prices before you travel.
- Blue Andante (Andante azul) – a rechargeable paper card bought and topped up from machines in stations. It can be loaded with single trips or 24-hour tickets.
- Silver Andante (Andante prateado) – a personalised PVC monthly pass with the holder's name and photo, bought at Andante Shops and recharged at Multibanco ATMs. The card itself costs €6. It is free for students aged 4 to 18, with discounts for families, seniors, veterans and lower-income households. Each card can hold two monthly titles (current and following month) and one regular title.
- Andante Tour – a tourist ticket valid on STCP buses, selected bus lines, the metro and CP urban trains. Andante Tour 1 gives 24 consecutive hours from first validation for €7.00; Andante Tour 3 gives 72 consecutive hours for €15.00. Buy it at Andante shops, CP ticket offices, metro station vending machines or airport tourism information offices.
- Anda App – an app for Android, and contactless card payments are accepted on some readers (on Line E, VISA and MasterCard work at the validation sensor, but not on all other lines).
- Children – under 4 years old travel free when accompanied by an adult.
Single metro tickets cost around €1.20, and single bus tickets around €1.85. A 24-hour metro and bus pass covering the airport zone (Z4) costs around €7.55. The Porto Card also gives unlimited travel on buses and the metro.
The system runs on proof of payment. You must validate your ticket before every boarding by scanning it at the yellow machines in stations; a flashing green light and a sound confirm it. Fare inspectors check tickets at random, and the penalty for travelling without a validated ticket is €95 (as of October 2024).
From the airport
Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), also known as Aeroporto do Porto or Aeroporto de Pedras Rubras, sits about 15 km from the city centre. It is Portugal's second-busiest airport and a hub for flights to Brazil, North America and across Europe.
- Metro Line E – the fastest and most peaceful option, running directly into the heart of the city. A Z4 ticket costs about €2.15, plus €0.60 for the rechargeable paper card; a 24-hour Z4 metro and bus pass costs about €7.55. Trains run roughly every 15 to 30 minutes from around 06:00 to 01:00. Validate your ticket at the yellow sensor before boarding.
- STCP buses 601, 602 and 604 – connect the airport with the city centre, running roughly every 25 minutes between about 05:30 and 00:30.
- Night bus 3M – runs between Av. Aliados and the airport every 60 minutes between 01:00 and 05:00.
- Ride-hailing – Uber and Bolt will take you to the city centre for roughly €10–25.
Etiquette & customs
Portuguese public transport is generally calm and orderly, and a few simple habits will keep you in step with locals.
- Queue politely at stops and let passengers off before you board. There is no shoving, even at busy times.
- On escalators, stand on the right and leave the left side clear for people walking past.
- Priority seating near the doors is reserved for the elderly, pregnant passengers and people with reduced mobility; give it up without being asked.
- Eating and drinking on board is not customary, and there are no bins or cup holders on the trains. Finish your snack before you board.
- Keep phone calls short and your volume low. Announcements are in Portuguese only, so watch the displays if you are unsure of your stop.
- At rush hour, move down the carriage rather than blocking the doors, and keep backpacks in front of you or on the floor.
- Always validate your ticket, even on a short hop. Inspectors appear without warning, and the fine is steep.
Official links
Survival terms
- Metro / subway – metropolitano (meh-troh-poh-lee-TAH-noo), often shortened to metro
- Ticket – bilhete (bee-LYEH-teh)
- Line – linha (LEE-nyah)
- Entrance – entrada (en-TRAH-dah)
- Exit – saída (sah-EE-dah)
- Transfer – transbordo (tranz-BOR-doo)
- Single fare – bilhete simples (bee-LYEH-teh SEEM-plish)
- Day pass – passe diário (PAH-seh dee-AH-ree-oo)
Buy your Andante card on arrival, load it with a little more than you think you need, and validate it every single time you board, because a few seconds at the yellow machine is far cheaper than a €95 fine.