How to use the Porto Metro – Practical guide to get everywhere
How to use the Porto Metro - Practical guide to get everywhere
you’re visiting Porto for the first time, unraveling the metro lines may seem like a daunting task. However, understanding the system is easier than you think, and to prove it, we’ve prepared this practical guide to navigate Porto’s metro lines, making your travel experience smoother.
At the end of the article, you’ll also find a map with the city’s main tourist attractions and the respective metro lines that pass through them.
Porto Metro Map
The Porto Metro is an efficient network that takes you to multiple points in the city and its surroundings. Currently, there are six lines, identified by distinct colors:
Line A (Blue): From Senhor de Matosinhos to Estádio do Dragão.
Line B (Red): From Póvoa de Varzim to Estádio do Dragão.
Line C (Green): From ISMAI to Campanhã.
Line D (Yellow): From Santo Ovídio to Hospital de São João.
Line E (Purple): From the Airport to Trindade.
Line F (Orange): From Fânzeres to Senhora da Hora.
Currently under construction is Line G (Pink), which will connect Boavista to Baixa, serving health, education, culture, and arts hubs.
Trindade Station: The convergence center to explore the city
Trindade Station is the heart of the Porto metro system. All lines intersect here, facilitating the transition between different destinations and modes of transportation. If you’re unsure where to catch the metro line you need, opt to enter Trindade, the central point that will take you anywhere in the city.
How to buy a ticket
To purchase a metro ticket, you’ll need to acquire an Andante, a rechargeable card that allows you to travel on various public transportation modes.
This card with occasional titles can be loaded with 1 to 30 trips of the same type (Z2, Z3, etc.). If you load 10 identical titles, you get one free. The cost of the card is €0.60.
The purchase of Andante and its corresponding ticket can be done at the machines at the boarding location. However, note that these machines may not always function properly, and you may have to wait in line.
To make the purchase more convenient, use the Anda mobile app. This app provides real-time information about schedules, disruptions, and helps plan your route effectively. It’s a valuable tool for those choosing to explore the city as it allows you to load the Andante.
Occasional Tariffs: Flexible options for your trip
In addition to the previously mentioned Andante Azul, there are also options for those who want to make multiple trips in a day, namely the Andante Tour:
Andante Tour 1 (24 hours): €7.50
Andante Tour 3 (72 hours): €16.00
Remember to check the zones required for your journey at the boarding station. These tariffs are in effect from January 1, 2024, and include VAT at the current legal rate.
How to choose the zone
Buying tickets may initially seem confusing due to the choice of the zone, but there’s a small trick not to miss.
Next to the ticket machine, you’ll find a list of stations with the zone indicator that you should load onto the Andante to reach that destination. Simply look for your destination station on the list, even if you have to change transportation or lines in between; that’s the one that matters.
Don't forget to validate the Andante!
Validation is an indispensable part of the process, even if you have purchased the journey. If you don’t validate it before boarding, you’ll be considered a passenger without a ticket and will have to pay the appropriate penalty. You just need to touch your card to the devices at the metro station entrance, and if the ticket is in order, a green light will appear, allowing you to board in that zone.
Don’t validate too far in advance, a maximum of 10 minutes before the journey. From the first validation, your ticket is active for all trips you make within the selected zone.
Maximum travel duration Z2: 1h00 min
Maximum travel duration Z3: 1h00 min
Maximum travel duration Z4: 1h15 min
Maximum travel duration Z5: 1h30 min
Maximum travel duration Z6: 1h45 min
Maximum travel duration Z7: 2h00 min
Maximum travel duration Z8: 2h15 min
Maximum travel duration Z9: 2h30 min
So, if your journey requires a change of transportation or line, if the time limit since the first validation hasn’t passed, you don’t need to buy a new ticket, but you should validate the Andante again whenever you transfer.
Which metro station should I exit to reach Bruval Premium Apartments?
If you are staying with us, access will be quite simple, just take Line D (Yellow). The Premium Apartments Porto are a 5-minute walk from São Bento station, and the Premium Apartments Gaia are a 5-minute walk from Jardim do Morro or General Torres station, you can exit at your preference.
Just be aware that this line is expanding, so it’s always a good idea to check for schedule disruptions due to construction.
Metro itinerary for the main tourist spots in Porto
From impressive monuments to renowned museums, iconic buildings, vibrant local commerce, to the best restaurants and lively nightlife spots, everything is within your reach through the metro network. Strategically distributed stations across the city allow you to reach the most emblematic destinations every day of the year, between 6:00 AM and 1:00 AM.
The main points of interest are just a metro ride away, providing an unforgettable experience in the city. What are you waiting for to visit us?
