What do you think when you hear port wine, picturesque streets and street music? Your heart starts to beat faster? Then is a Porto holiday just the right choice. The “Baroque city” impresses in every possible way with its southern flair and the modern influence of the young inhabitants. What makes Porto so special, are the hills on which the city is built and which one must overcome on the sightseeing tour. The best way to explore the city is by walking, but to be on the safe side we have here an overview of the transport in Porto.

Exploring Porto without burning feet

Metro

The metro in Porto is still relatively new, as reflected in the stations and trains; the first line was opened in 2002 and the net has been extended to 6 lines so far. The special feature of the metro in Porto is that it runs underground in the inner city area and then at ground level a bit further out of town. You can download the metro map here. Except for the yellow line D all lines run through the entire city center; because of this all sights are easily reached but pay attention to the display panel in the stations to catch the right line. The price for a single trip by metro is € 1.10, thus we recommend the Andante Card or Porto Card. More information about these cards later in the article.

Tram

In Porto they still exist, the good old trams, as we know them from old movies. Overall, the city has three tram lines on which only historic trams run. The old trains are mainly used by tourists because a rumbling ride through the narrow streets of the romantic city is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience.

Line 1 runs from Passeio Alegre to Infante; along the northern shore of the Douro from Infante via Alfândega and Massarelos to the stop Passeio Alegre in Foz do Douro. Line 18 connects Massarelos with Carmo and is perfect for those who want to know more about the history of the tram that has been operating in Porto since 1872 because the Massarelos stop is located near the Tram Museum in Porto. The third line, number 22, is a circuit from Carmo via Batalha. A single trip by tram costs € 3 (and can only be bought when boarding), a 2-day ticket costs € 10 for adults and € 5 for children, which can be purchased on the tram or in travel centers.

Sightseeing tip: We recommend to take line 1 along the Douro. From here you have a wonderful panorama of the port wine cellars on the opposite side of the river and you drive past the lighthouse São Miguel-o-Anjo, the Jardim do Cálem, under the Ponte d’Arrábida and with final stop at the Museum “World of Discoveries”.

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Busses

The bus network in Porto is very well developed and a nice way to see much of the city in a short time, because the busses reach really every corner of Porto. In total there are 88 bus lines and 11 night bus lines.
Proper traveling by bus in Porto may be learned, so here are a few tips:
– If you see the right bus coming give him a hand signal, otherwise he just drives past without stopping over.
– The purchase of single tickets is not recommended, because on the one hand you will delay the onward journey of the bus and on the other, the price is much higher. Which tickets are a good option, we explain shortly.
– Entering and exiting are very disciplined, jostling is frowned upon by the locals. So take a ride on the public transport as relaxed and harmonic, as the rest of the holiday.

Tourist tip: Hop on hop off buses
If your feet are already burning, but you can not get enough of Porto, then just hop on a sightseeing bus. Some of them even have a guide telling exciting stories about the main attractions. There are different lines and different buses; One of our favorites is the yellow hop on hop off bus, as it includes free use of regular city buses. More information about the tours and the prices can be found here.

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Cable car

A wonderful opportunity for a breathtaking panorama and conquer at the same time 61 meters from the river bank to the Batalha district without much effort is the cable car “Funicular dos Guindais”. The ride on the cable car lasts about 2 minutes, which went into operation in 1891. Not only is it popular among tourists, locals also use it as a normal medium of transport to get to work or home. A ride costs 2.50 € and is worth every penny.

Recommended tickets for your Porto vacation

Porto Card
The Porto Card is a wonderful way to use public buses and metro while saving on entry to most attractions. The ticket currently costs 13 € for 1 day, 20 € for 2 days, 25 € for 3 days and 33 € per person for 4 days. The card includes 11 free entries to museums, as well as many other discounts and offers. The best thing about the ticket is that it can be purchased in advance without any extra costs to save you from having to queue and recharge during your vacation. You can find more information about the Porto Card here.

Andante Card
This rechargeable card is valid for bus and metro and is available in two versions, whereby for tourists only the “Blue Andante Card” is important. It costs 60 cents once and can be charged with various tickets at the machine. For example, with one-way tickets valid for one hour in three zones for € 1.55 (when the 10th ticket is purchased, the 11th is for free) or with the day ticket “Andante 24”, valid in 4 zones for 24 hours and costs € 6.75. The use is quite straightforward: simply board, validate at the yellow machine and the ride can start.

From the airport into the city center

The metro line E takes you in 26 minutes into the heart of the center (Trindade station). It runs every 20 minutes from 6 am until 1 am. A single ticket costs 1,95 € (plus 60 cents for the rechargeable Andante Azul Card). With the bus of the company STCP many corners of the city center can be reached via the lines 601 and 602 (at night the line 3M). Taking a taxi to Porto is quite expensive; between € 25 and € 30 costs a ride, with an extra charge for large suitcases.

Where to spend great summer nights

The last big question that remains is where to stay and take a break from the many delicacies during long sightseeing days in Porto. We recommend this chic apartment in the district of Bolhão with 3 bedrooms and that can accommodate up to 12 people. Look at the spacious modern kitchen … a dream!

For those who prefer a bit more privacy and a huge terrace, this house in Arrabida, near the riverbank, is the ideal choice. With 2 romantic bedrooms and a modern interior design, the property promises a Porto experience that will not be forgotten soon. We love the mix of wood and white at least as much as the romantic terrace.

Now that you know how to avoid long walks and how to intensify your sightseeing trip, nothing should get in the way of your Porto vacation!