Porto is the center of a metropolitan area that includes 17 municipalities and is home to nearly 1.8 million people. It is one of Europe’s oldest cities, with its historic Old Town entirely listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 under the name “Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar.”

Porto is divided into 15 districts: Bonfim, Campanhã, Paranhos, Ramalde, Aldoar, Foz do Douro, Nevogilde, Cedofeita, Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, Nicolau, Vitória, Lordelo do Ouro, and Massarelos.

The city is also on the route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James 🦪, which starts either in Lisbon or Porto. This is the second most popular route after the Spanish one, measuring 227 km (141.05 miles) for those starting from Porto or 610 km (379.04) miles.for pilgrims from Lisbon.

In 2014 and 2017, Porto was selected by Best European Destinations Agency as the best European destination.

Getting to Porto 🧳

Besides the pedestrian pilgrimage 🚶🏻route of the Way of St. James, you can reach Porto by:

🛫 Airplane

Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto is located 10 km (6.21 miles) from the city center and has been operational since 1945. Since the 1990s, it has been named after the Prime Minister from Porto, Francisco de Sá Carneiro, who founded the PSD (Social Democratic Party) and was a significant political figure in Portugal after the 1974 Carnation Revolution. He died in a plane crash three days before the presidential elections in December 1980, most likely due to an assassination.

The fastest way from the airport to the city is by metro. Between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM, when the metro is not running, you can take the 3M municipal bus. The well-marked terminal station of the purple metro line is directly connected to the airport hall.

🚆Train

Traveling by train in Portugal is comfortable and quick. The most expensive trains are the express Alfa Pendular (AP), while the cheaper ones are the intercity trains (Intercidades). For example, the journey time between Lisbon and Porto is about three hours. The fleet is complemented by regional and urban trains, which make it easy to explore the nearby areas.

Porto has two main train stations:🔗 Sao Bento and Campanhã. Sao Bento is located in the historic part of the city. Campanhã is the largest transfer hub in the north of the country, where long-distance trains terminate. To get to the historic city center from Campanhã station, take one stop on the suburban CP  train to Sao Bento station.

🚆 CP Trains

A very convenient option for getting to Porto and traveling around the area is by CP (Comboios de Portugal) train. Trains depart directly from Sao Bento station, and within about an hour, you can reach Guimarães or Braga. Many locals use these trains, making them frequent and reliable for planning trips around the area.

Buying Train Tickets

• Purchase Locations: Train tickets can be bought directly on🌐operator’s website, at station machines, or at ticket offices. The🌐website also provides the current train schedule.
• Reusable Card: The first transaction includes the cost of a reusable card. Each card is valid for one passenger, including children over four years old.
• Discounts: 50% discount for children up to 12 years old and for seniors.

Ticket Activation

• Timing: Tickets must be activated at the platform validator up to 15 minutes before the train departs.
• Activation Confirmation: The display will show your travel direction and a green light, indicating you can board the train.
• Ticket Inspection: Tickets are likely to be checked during the journey.

Public Transport

The public transport network in the Porto metropolitan area is one of the most developed in all of Portugal. It includes:

🚇 Metro Network and 🚌 Bus System

The metro network in Porto consists of 68 stations covering nearly 60 km (37.28 miles) of lines, with only 8 km (4.97 miles) underground.

Andante Ticket System 🎫

The Andante ticket system operates in Porto and its outskirts. If you plan to stay in Porto for a few days, you should purchase a reusable card with your first ticket. Here are the key details:

• Card Cost: 0.60 Euro (added to the first purchase).
• Validity: Non-refundable, valid for one year from the date of purchase, and can be reloaded multiple times.
• Rule: One card per passenger, including children over four years old.
• Purchase Locations: Available from machines at metro station entrances, including at the airport.

Ticket Activation

Note that there are no typical turnstiles for the metro; the ticket zone is marked by validators where you must activate your ticket. After each change of metro line or mode of transport, the ticket must be validated again.

Zone System

Porto is divided into zones, where ticket prices vary slightly. You can check the zone list 🌐 online. Within the zone, you can change your mode of transport, but after each change, tickets must be validated again. For example, the airport is in zone Z4, so choose this ticket when making your first purchase upon arrival.

• Journey Area: Includes the station where we board the train and the station where we disembark.
• Ticket Validity: Must be active for the respective zone and within its time frame (counted from the first validation).
• Activation Timing: Possible no earlier than 10 minutes before departure and remains valid in the vehicle we are traveling to our destination, even if the ticket’s time limit expires during the journey.

Types of Andante Cards

• Standard Andante Card: Navy blue, can load up to 10 rides, with one free ride if bought in bulk.
• Andante Tour Card: Available for 24h or 72h, cannot be reloaded, must be validated each time.
• Silver Monthly Card: Commonly used by residents.

🚌  Tram and 🛗Funicular dos Guindai

Neither the navy blue Andante card nor the Andante Tour card allows travel on the historic trams or the Funicular dos Guindais lift. Only a monthly ticket encoded on a silver Andante card permits this.

Tram Tickets

• Purchase: Directly on the tram.
• Round-Trip Tickets: Available and popular among tourists who often return on the same tram shortly after arrival.
• Children: Under four travel for free; older children receive a 50% discount.

Funicular dos Guindais Tickets

• Purchase: At a ticket window before boarding.
• Discounts: 50% discount for children aged 4-12.
• Round-Trip Tickets: Available for same-day use.