On foot: the basis of your stay
The historic centre (Ribeira, Clérigos, São Bento, Aliados, Baixa) fits within a 20 to 30 minute walk, but with steep gradients. The hardest stretches are the climb from the Ribeira to the Baixa and the crossing of the Dom Luís I bridge, which can be walked on the upper or lower deck. The funicular and the metro are there to spare you those climbs.
The Andante card, the key to the whole network
The metro, STCP buses and several CP suburban trains are paid for with the Andante card, bought once (€0.60 for the blue Andante Azul card for occasional trips, valid for one year) and topped up. Tickets are loaded at the machines in metro stations. Zones are counted as "Z": central Porto is in Z2.
| Ticket | Price (January 2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Andante Azul card | €0.60 | Buy once, rechargeable |
| Single trip Z2 | €1.40 | Central Porto |
| Single trip Z4 | €2.30 | Including the airport |
| Andante 24 Z2 | €5.35 | Unlimited for 24 h in the zone |
| Andante Tour 1 | €7.75 | Day ticket |
| Andante Tour 3 | €16.55 | 3-day ticket |
If you buy 10 identical single trips, the eleventh is free. The ticket must be validated on every journey, before boarding the metro and each time you get on a bus: an unvalidated ticket counts as no ticket in an inspection. Check the networks covered by Tour tickets on the official Andante website before buying them.
The Porto metro
Six lines (A to F) serve the city and its suburbs, including line E to the airport. The key stations in the centre are Trindade (the main hub), Aliados, São Bento and Jardim do Morro (across the river, in Gaia). The metro runs roughly from 6am to 1am. Fast and clean, it suits trips to the airport, the Casa da Música or the Dragão stadium.
STCP buses
STCP buses cover districts the metro serves poorly, such as Foz, Boavista or Matosinhos. A ticket bought on board costs €2.50 and can be paid by contactless bank card on the whole fleet since January 2026. That is much more than with an Andante card: load one as soon as you arrive. The trip to Foz can also be made by tram (see below).
Historic trams
Three lines of old wooden-bodied trams still run, operated by STCP: line 1 (Infante to Passeio Alegre, along the Douro as far as Foz), line 18 (Massarelos to Carmo) and line 22, a loop in the centre around Carmo and the Carmo church. These are tourist rides, slow and often packed in summer; tickets cost more than on the bus and are bought on board. For the history of these vehicles, see the tram museum.
The Guindais funicular
This short funicular links the Ribeira (near the Dom Luís I bridge) with Batalha, at the top of the cliff, over about 280 m. It is the simplest way to avoid the climb between the riverside and the Baixa. Expect a few euros per trip depending on the source. For the riverside district, see our guide to the Ribeira.
CP trains
From São Bento station and from Campanhã, urban and regional trains run to Aveiro, Guimarães, Braga and the Douro valley. These trips are paid with CP tickets or, in some zones, with Andante: check the CP website for times and prices. See our excursions Aveiro from Porto and the Douro valley.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt) are common and handy for getting home late, going to the airport with luggage or getting up to the Sé. In town, distances are short and fares reasonable compared with other capitals; always check the meter or the app price before setting off.
Tips
- Buy an Andante card as soon as you arrive at the airport, from the metro machine.
- Always validate your ticket before boarding: inspectors are frequent and the fine is heavy.
- For a short stay in the centre, the single trip at €1.40 or the Andante 24 at €5.35 is enough.
- Avoid the car in town: parking is expensive and the streets are narrow.
Going further
Plan your stay with Porto in one day, a weekend in Porto or our guide to budgeting in Porto. Fares taken from the official Andante price list in January 2026, confirmed in October 2026.
