Public transport in Porto

There are several public transport options in Porto, including buses, trams, metros and commuter trains. Tickets can be purchased in advance or on board the vehicles and it is recommended to use a rechargeable ticket called Andante. There are also bicycle and electric bike rental options available throughout the city.It is important to note that service times may vary depending on the line and the day of the week. It is therefore advisable to check service times before travelling.

Guided tour of Porto

Before going into the details of Porto’s public transport options and if you want to be accompanied to discover the city, you will find below my selection of the best guided tours in Porto. I have selected for you only the best guided tours, all of which are conducted by English-speaking guides to get the most out of them and which have received the highest ratings by those who have conducted them.There are guided tours of Porto focused on history, art or gastronomy that you can do on foot, by bus, by Tuk Tuk, by bike or by Segway. These tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance if you change your mind, so you can book with peace of mind.

THE BEST TOURS OF PORTO HERE

Tickets for public transport in Porto

Tickets for public transport in Porto are valid for both the metro and the bus or tram in Porto. They can be purchased at the ticket machines and vending machines available at the stations for the metro or directly in the transport for the bus or tram. It is also possible to use a rechargeable ticket called Andante.There are several subscription options for transport in Porto, each with its own rates and benefits. The most common options include:

• Andante Zapping: This is a rechargeable ticket that allows travel on all modes of transport in the city of Porto (metro, bus, tram, suburban train) for a fixed cost per journey, which varies according to the number of zones crossed. It is possible to recharge this ticket online or at automatic ticket offices in metro stations.
• Andante 24: This is a ticket valid for 24 consecutive hours from the first use. It allows you to travel as many times as you like on all modes of transport in the city of Porto (metro, bus, tram, suburban train) for a fixed price.
• Andante 30: This is a ticket valid for 30 consecutive days from the first use. It allows you to travel as many times as you like on all modes of transport in the city of Porto (metro, bus, tram, suburban train) for a fixed price.
• Andante Tour: This is a ticket valid for one consecutive day that allows users to travel as many times as they wish on all modes of transport in the city of Porto (metro, bus, tram, suburban train) for a fixed cost. It is specially designed for visitors to Porto.

It is important to note that the prices of the passes may vary depending on the options chosen and the number of zones crossed, so it is recommended to check the current prices on the STCP (Transport Company of the Community of Porto) website.

The Porto Metro

The Porto metro is a convenient and affordable way to get around the city. It offers a panoramic view of the city and makes it easy to get to the main tourist sites such as the city’s castle, Aliados Square and Torre dos Clérigos. It is also a good way for the inhabitants to get around for their daily activities.Porto’s metro consists of four lines that cover a large part of the city, including the historical, business and residential areas.

Metro lines in Porto

Porto’s metro lines are easily recognisable by their distinctive colour:

• The red line connects the neighbourhoods of Senhora da Hora to Santo Ovídio, passing through Trindade and São Bento stations.
• The blue line connects the neighbourhoods of Fânzeres and Gondomar, passing through Campanhã station.
• The green line connects the neighbourhoods of Leça da Palmeira and Santo Ovídio, passing through Estádio do Dragão station.
• The purple line connects the neighbourhoods of Senhora da Hora and Fânzeres, passing through Casa da Música station.

Visit the monuments of Porto with the metro

It is important to note that some sites can be reached on foot from the metro station, others may require a bus or tram ride, so it is advisable to check the itineraries for each site before travelling.There are several important tourist monuments in Porto that can be visited using the metro. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• City Castle: Located on a hill overlooking the city, this medieval castle is an outstanding example of the defensive architecture of the time. It can be reached by taking the red metro line to Trindade station, then taking a bus on line 202 to the castle station.
• Aliados Square: This is the main square of Porto, located in the heart of the historic city. It is surrounded by beautiful granite buildings and houses monuments such as the Porto Town Hall and the statue of Dom Pedro IV. It is accessible by taking the red or blue line to Aliados station.
• Torre dos Clérigos: This is a 75 metre high baroque style tower, located in the Clérigos district. It offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. It can be reached by taking the red or blue line to Trindade station and then taking a 501 bus to Clérigos station.
• Livraria Lello: This is a historical bookshop considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. It can be reached by taking the red or blue line to São Bento station and then walking about 10 minutes to the bookshop.
• Stock Exchange Palace: This is a magnificent neoclassical palace located in the Ribeira district. It can be reached by taking the red or blue line to São Bento station and then walking about 15 minutes to the palace.

The bus in Porto

Buses in Porto are one of the most popular ways to get around the city. There are many bus routes that serve the most important areas of Porto, offering fast and reliable connectivity for travellers and residents.Porto’s bus routes are managed by the Transport Company of the Porto Community (STCP), which offers a day and night bus service. Service times vary according to the lines and days of the week, with bus services from 6am to midnight.Here are the 10 most popular bus routes in Porto with some information about their destinations:

• 500: from Campanhã station to Foz beach, passing through Porto city centre
• 502: from Porto city centre to São Bento station, passing through the historic district of Ribeira
• 200: from Campanhã station to Matosinhos beach, passing through Porto city centre
• 207: connects Campanhã station to Francisco Sá Carneiro airport, passing through Porto city centre
• 207E: extension of line 207, connecting Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to Matosinhos beach
• 201: connects Casa da Música station to Matosinhos beach, passing through Porto city centre
• 500M: from Porto city centre to Foz beach, passing through the historic district of Ribeira
• 504: from Porto city centre to São Bento station, passing through the Foz do Douro district
• 301: from Casa da Música station to Miramar beach, passing through Porto city centre
• 303: from Casa da Música station to Granja beach, passing through Porto city centre

The Porto tramway

The Porto tramway is one of the oldest and most emblematic ways of getting around the city. It was inaugurated in 1872 and has become one of the most recognisable symbols of the city. It is managed by the Transport Company of the Porto Community (STCP), which offers a day and night tram service.There are several tram lines in Porto, each serving different parts of the city. The most common lines include:

• Line 1, which connects Porto city centre to the beach at Foz do Douro, passing through the historic Ribeira district
• Line 22, which connects Porto city centre to Miramar beach, passing through the Foz do Douro district.
• There are also tourist tram lines such as Line 18, which connects Porto city centre to Granja beach, passing through the Foz do Douro district.

Service times vary depending on the line and the day of the week, with tram services from 6am to midnight. The service timetable can be consulted on the STCP website or at the tramway stations.

Bike rental in Porto

Porto is a beautiful city, rich in history and culture, and cycling around it can be a great way to discover it. Renting a bike in Porto is easy and affordable, with many places to rent traditional bikes or electric bikes. Here are five must-have places to rent bikes in Porto. They all offer a great selection of traditional and electric bikes, as well as routes to explore the best parts of Porto.

• Porto Bike Rental – Rua do Padrão, nº 99, 4050-503 Porto, Portugal
• Yellow Bike Porto – Rua de Cedofeita, nº 285, 4050-136 Porto, Portugal
• Porto City Bike – Rua de Santo Ildefonso, nº 113, 4050-290 Porto, Portugal
• Porto Electric Bike Tours – Rua das Carmelitas, 144, 4050-164 Porto, Portugal

Renting a bike in Porto allows you to explore the city at your own pace, discovering its cobbled streets, iconic bridges and breathtaking views of the Douro River. Below you will also find a selection of the top 4 rated Porto bike tours. It can be a good idea to visit the city with a guide who can tell you more about its charm, architecture, history or gastronomy.