Overall8.4/10Easier to reach than about 80% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- The metro is the most cost-effective option and the best choice for most travellers. The metro is clean, safe, and reliable. Its only drawback is that the network within the historic centre is limited, which may require an uphill walk to your final destination.
- While the freedom of a rental car can be tempting, it is generally not recommended for visitors whose trip is focused primarily on Porto. Navigating the city's historic centre by car is notoriously difficult, characterized by a web of narrow, one-way streets, steep hills, and extremely limited and expensive public parking.
- Both Porto Campanhã and São Bento station offer luggage storage facilities, making it easy to explore the city without carrying your bags. This is particularly useful if you're arriving by train and want to discover downtown Porto or cross to Vila Nova de Gaia before checking into your hotel.
- Portugal's train system (Comboios de Portugal) is reliable and offers frequent connections to major northern destinations. Regional trains don't require reservations, but high-speed Alfa Pendular trains do.
- The Douro River ferry crossing is a scenic and practical way to reach Vila Nova de Gaia's wine cellars—locals and tourists alike use it regularly.
Airport
- Name
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (airport code OPO)
- Location
- About 11 km northwest of downtown Porto
- Annual Passengers
- Over 14 million passengers in 2023
Ground Transport
Approximately 25 Minutes to Reach the Center City
- Cost
- €2.85
- Details
- Porto Airport is served by the purple line. These are clean, fast, efficient and reliable underground trains that cover almost the entire city and even some of the neighboring towns.
- Frequency
- Every 20 to 30 minutes
- Notes
- Porto Airport is located in Zone 4. You'll first need to purchase an Andante Card paper ticket which costs €0.60, and then add €2.25 to it which is the cost of a one-way journey from Porto Airport to the city.
Usually Takes 20 to 30 Minutes
- Details
- Taxis circulate 24/7 all throughout the city, and are always available at taxi ranks.
- Cost Estimate
- Approx. €20-30 depending on traffic and tolls
- Details
- Porto airport is connected to the city by the 3M night bus route. This hourly service departs the airport 30 minutes past the hour; from 00:30 to 5:30. The 3M bus terminates in the Avenida dos Aliados (central Porto) where it returns to the airport on the hour (00:00 until 5:00). The bus fare is €2.25
Book a transfer for €17
- Cost
- €17
Day Trip Access
- General Public Transport Note
- Guimarães and Braga are the easiest by public transport.
Nearby Destinations
Just 30 Minutes by Metro From Porto City Center
- Transport
- Metro Line B
- Highlights
- next to the Castelo do Queijo, wide Atlantic beaches, and Parque da Cidade, Porto's largest green space at 205 acres
- Destination
- Matosinhos
Just a Short 50 Minute Drive South of Porto
- Highlights
- Known for its canals, Art Nouveau architecture, and emblematic canals. Known as the 'Venice of Portugal,' you can get lost in its canals, stroll, and listen to the city's stories aboard the picturesque 'moliceiros.'
- Destination
- Aveiro
- Public Transport
- Train or bus
Just 45 Minutes From Porto
- Highlights
- One of the best-preserved medieval old towns in the country. Here was born the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, and it was his first capital.
- Destination
- Guimarães
- Public Transport
- Train
Within 1–2 Hours by Car or Train
- Highlights
- Considered the religious center of northern Portugal, its first cathedral was built in 1089, and today it has the highest concentration of religious temples in all of Portugal. One of them is the Portuguese sanctuary Bom Jesus do Monte, famous for its baroque staircase.
- Destination
- Braga
- Public Transport
- Train
About One Hour From Porto
- Highlights
- One of the most historically important cities in Portugal, having served as the country's capital in the past. It's best known for its university, one of the oldest in Europe, which dominates the city skyline.
- Destination
- Coimbra
- Public Transport
- Train
Douro Valley
- Duration
- To get to Pinhao (a village in the Douro Valley) by train, it will take 2 hours and 20 minutes
- Highlights
- A train can whisk you through the middle of the Douro Valley, where vineyards grow in steep terraces
- Note
- Douro Valley requires a car and is better as overnight trips if your schedule allows.
The Drive of Just Over 100 Kilometres Takes Around 1 Hour and 15 Minutes.
- Transport
- As with many outdoor destinations, the very best way to make your own way to Peneda-Gerês is with a hire car.
- Highlights
- The only national park in Portugal and offers a completely different experience from the city. Here you'll find mountains, waterfalls, hiking trails for all levels, and crystal-clear natural pools perfect for swimming in summer.
- Destination
- Peneda-Gerês National Park
Within 1–2 Hours by Car or Train
- Highlights
- Best known for being the convergence point of the Camino de Santiago, the ancient Christian pilgrimage route that dates back to the Middle Ages. The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is believed to house the remains of St. James the Apostle, making it a revered spiritual destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Destination
- Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Public Transport
- A bus or train to Santiago De Compostela from Porto takes about twice as long as driving
Main Stations
Porto Campanhã
- Type
- Primary hub for long-distance and international trains
- Location
- Outside city center
São Bento
- Type
- Main terminus for suburban and regional lines
- Location
- City center
- Cultural Note
- São Bento station in Porto is famous for its extraordinary azulejo tile interior. Approximately 20,000 hand-painted blue-and-white tiles line the entrance hall walls, created by Jorge Colaco between 1905 and 1916. These murals depict scenes from Portuguese history set against a deep blue background — a style unique to Portuguese decorative art. The station is a declared national monument and one of the most photographed buildings in Portugal.
Major Destinations
High-speed Alfa Pendular Services Connect the Two Major Cities in Under 3 Hours
- Destination
- Lisbon
- Departure Station
- Porto Campanhã
Aveiro
- Duration
- Journey time of around 1hr 10mins, or express trains with journey time of around 45 mins
- Frequency
- 1 or 2 x Regional trains per hour
Braga
- Duration
- Journey time of around 1hr 5 mins, or express trains with journey time under 40mins
- Frequency
- 1 or 2 x Regional trains per hour
Journey Time of Around 1hr 10mins
- Frequency
- Typically 1 x Regional train per hour
- Destination
- Guimarães
Douro Line Connects Porto to Pocinho in Approximately 3.5 Hours
- Destination
- Douro Valley (Pocinho/Régua/Pinhão)
- Departure Station
- São Bento
- Notes
- The Douro line is one of the most scenic train journeys in Portugal, following the Douro river through dramatic valley landscapes.
Vigo, Spain
- Details
- International train linking Porto (Campanha) with Vigo (Guixar) in Spain. A cooperation between CP and RENFE of the Spanish railways. A reservation is required (no fee at the railway station).
Booking
www.cp.pt
Ticket Info
Advance-purchase fares start at around €19 in 2nd class or €39 in 1st class. Booking opens 60 days ahead.
Ferry Connections
- Long Distance
- Ferries to Portugal are available with Atlanticoline, Porto Santo Line & Atlanticoline Vehicle. There are approximately 97 daily sailings and up to 383 weekly sailings to Portugal. Note: These primarily serve Portugal's Atlantic islands (Madeira, Azores); no regular international passenger ferries serve Porto to mainland continental destinations.
Douro River Local Ferry
- Cost
- €3.50
- Route
- The quickest way to cross the Douro river to the Port wine cellar district in Vila Nova de Gaia.
- Location
- Douro River Ferry has two piers, which are located on the Cais da Ribeira riverfront and on the Cais de Gaia riverfront.
- Frequency
- Boats sail from either side of the river every 10 minutes
- Operating Hours
- Each boat travels every 15 minutes from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM until sunset.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.portoairport.pt
- 2.porto.travel
- 3.porto-airport.com
- 4.portolover.com
- 5.portugaltrain.com
- 6.cantodeluz.com
- 7.eurail.com
- 8.porto-north-portugal.com
- 9.cp.pt
- 10.douroriverferry.com
- 11.musement.com
- 12.directferries.com
- 13.geekyexplorer.com
- 14.portoalities.com
- 15.lonelyplanet.com
- 16.packthesuitcases.com
- 17.budgettravelwithgabby.com
- 18.xe.com
- 19.investing.com
- 20.tradingeconomics.com
More About Porto
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.