The Porto Metro is one of the best ways to get around in Porto, the second largest metropolitan city in Portugal. The metro opened its first line about twenty years ago in 2002. Today there are six lines with about eighty working stations that go over seven different areas: Porto, Gondomar, Maia, Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, and Vila Nova de Gaia. Porto Metro’s light rail runs underground in the Porto area and above ground in the suburbs.
Keep in mind, if you are planning on using the metro as your only means of transportation while in Porto, be prepared to do a little bit of walking. But that’s not a bad thing – Porto (though a little hilly) is a walkable city and you will find yourself spending less money on transport than you do in Lisbon.
Porto Metro Operating Times
Porto Metro is open every day with the first train leaving at 6am and the last train at 1am. Depending on the time of day and which line, the metro can stop at a station every 4 minutes to 15 minutes.
Different Ticket Options & Prices
There are a few ways that tourists can pay for the metro. The first way is buying a single ticket and the second is buying a pass. There are two separate options for passes.
- A single ticket runs about €1.20 or equivalent to $1.40.
- A Porto Card is another option, which gets you into six different museums, offers 50% off on the entrance to 14 other landmarks, and allows tourists to hop on and off the metro an unlimited number of times. You can buy this card for one day all the way up to four days. A 1-day card will cost €13 or about $15 as a 4-day will cost €33 or about $38. This is a great deal if you plan on seeing a lot of the city.
- If you plan on taking more than just the metro, like buses and some of the trains, then the Andante Tour Card might be the best option for you. This card does not get you into museums, but it does allow you unlimited travel on any of the transportation systems for a full 24-hours. You can buy a 1, 2, or 3 day pass. A 1-day pass will run about €7 or a little over $8, and a 3-day card will cost about €15 or about $17.50.
Porto Metro Map
You can plan your trip on the Porto Metro website here.
Different Lines
- Line A (Blue): This line runs from Estádio do Dragão to Senhor de Matosinhos, and is about 40 minutes from the first point to the last. Trains on Line A run every 10 minutes. After 9pm trains only run from Senhor de Matosinhos to Trindade, which you can then catch another train to your destination.
- Line B (Red): This line runs from Estádio do Dragão to the seaside resort of Póvoa de Varzim and takes about 60 minutes from start to finish if you are on the B and about 53 minutes if you are on the Bx. These trains run every half hour.
- Line C (Green): This line runs from Estádio do Dragão to ISMAI. It takes about 40 minutes to get from the first station to the last, and trains depart every 15 minutes.
- Line D (Yellow): This line runs from João de Deus in the south of the city, crosses the River Douro, passes through central Porto, and ends at Hospital São João in the north.
- Line E (Purple): This line runs from Estádio do Dragão to the Airport. If you are coming from the airport it takes about 25 minutes to get from the Airport to the main station of Trindade. Trains usually depart every 30 minutes.
- Line F (Orange): This line runs from Fânzeres to Senhora da Hora. This train takes about 39 minutes of travel time and runs every 15 minutes.
Four of the lines (A, B, C, and E) all start in Estádio do Dragão and branch out from there. All six lines stop at Trindade, the main central station.
Where to Catch the Metro to and from the Airport
Line E, or the purple line, will take you directly to the airport. If you are starting on Line D or the yellow line, you will have to transfer to Line E at Trindade; however, if you are on any of the other train lines, you can transfer at either Trindade or Senhora da Hora. The Airport will be the very last station on the E line.
Coming from Porto airport to the city center is quite easy. The metro can be caught directly at the airport. You would stay on this line for about 25 minutes until you get to Trindade, the city center’s metro station.
Where to Catch the metro to get to Porto’s Historical Centre
The Historical Centre does not have a metro station itself, but São Bento metro station that is off the D line is just a short walk away. If you are on the A, B, C, or E train, you would simply transfer at Trindade to the D train heading towards D. João. São Bento should be the second stop once you get on at Trindade.
Leaving the historical city center is just as easy. Unless you are south of the river on the D train, then you would head North towards the Hospital and you can always transfer at Trindade to hop on any of the other metro lines.
If you found this article helpful, you may want to read this Lisbon Metro Guide and How to Book Portugal Train Tickets
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