How to Navigate Porto's Metro and Trams
Porto's metro runs on 6 color-coded lines covering the city and suburbs, while historic trams serve the city center and waterfront. Buy an Andante card for €0.60, load it with zones, and validate before boarding.
- Get an Andante card. Buy the reusable card at any metro station machine or ticket office for €0.60. This works for metro, trams, and buses.
- Load your card with zones. Porto uses a zone system. City center is Z2 (€1.30). Airport to city is Z4 (€2.00). Load multiple trips or a day pass (€4.15 for unlimited Z2 travel).
- Validate before boarding. Tap your card on yellow validators at metro station entrances and inside trams. Yellow light means valid. Red light means insufficient credit.
- Learn the metro lines. 6 lines: A (Blue) to airport, B (Red) to Póvoa, C (Green) to Campanhã, D (Yellow) to Vila d'Este, E (Purple) to Estádio do Dragão, F (Orange) to Fânzeres. All lines pass through central stations like Trindade or Campanhã.
- Use trams for sightseeing. Line 1 runs along the Douro River to Foz. Line 18 climbs to Carmo. Line 22 circles the historic center. Same Andante card, same validation rules.
- Time your travel. Metro runs 6am-1am (2am on Fridays/Saturdays). Trams run 6:30am-8pm. Rush hours are 8-9:30am and 5:30-7pm. Avoid if possible.
- Can I use contactless payment instead of Andante card?
- No. Porto's system requires the Andante card. Contactless payment isn't accepted on metro or trams.
- What if I forget to validate?
- €150 fine if caught by inspectors. They do regular checks, especially on trams. Always validate, even if gates are open.
- Do trams get crowded?
- Line 1 to Foz gets packed on weekends. Line 22 fills up mid-morning with tourists. Line 18 is usually the quietest option.
- Can I bring luggage on metro?
- Yes, but avoid rush hours. Large suitcases are awkward on trams. Use metro for airport connections with heavy bags.