Transport and Taxy System in Porto: What You Should Know

Commuting in a new city can be a nightmare if you don’t know how things work. Even the most excellent few months living in a lovely place can be spoiled by taking ages to get where you want to be.

This is why we put together this list of public transportation info as well as taxi services to better orient you in Porto. All you will need to do after is to relax in your new mid-term rental and enjoy your stay.

While you can get around Porto on foot, your destination will be too far most of the time. Porto’s metro is a quick and easy way to travel. It has six lines (A to F, blue, red, green, yellow, purple and orange, respectively) and more than 80 stations marked with a large blue “M” on the ground level.

Most of the time, the metro stations will be next to recognizable landmarks and sights, so it’s also a great way to get around Porto if you’re visiting. The metro runs from 6 am to about 1 am, with no night-time connections.

Buses have over 75 stops all across Porto, with some overlapping with the metro stops. Buses run from 6 am to 9 pm, after which they switch to a limited schedule that runs throughout the night. You can use unique cards to pay for your bus ticket (more below), but buses also let you buy a single paper ticket for about €0,60.

Tams and the Funicular in Porto Tramlines are more of a historical relic than a full-on means of transportation in Porto. Line 1, which runs along the coast, and Lines 18 and 22, which are on a circular track around and across the city, are only three lines.

Similarly, the funicular is mainly a tourist attraction, but some people still use it for their daily commute. It goes up the side of Porto's Ribeira area to the Batalha square.

There are some differences between the two cards that are worth knowing about. The Porto card lets you have unlimited access to the metro, buses, and the funicular, but not the tram. It is essentially a pass that costs around €25 to €33 for one to four days.

It also gives you free access to museums and galleries and even some discounts in a few restaurants. The Andante card is a rechargeable card that lets you use the metro, buses, and trams (but not the funicular). The card itself is very affordable, only about €0,60 and a one-way fare you can charge on your card begins at about €1,20.

In public transport, you will find so-called validator machines for paper tickets and the Andante cards. If you want to have a hustle free day, you can charge €7 for a 24-hour pass or €15 for 72-hour access.

Taxis are a reliable way of getting around the city. Still, in comparison with public transport, it is anything but cheap. The rate starts at €2,50 per kilometre and increases for every other kilometre.

Most taxi drivers speak English, but even then, it is recommended to have the address of your destination written down. If you feel like you want better rates or a more car-sharing feel, you can Always use Portuguese Uber.