Porto, Portugal’s second largest city, has a light rail system that is very similar to a tram. However, it differs from trams in that it has its own dedicated routes and exclusive access to roads.
The system serves seven municipalities within the metropolitan area, with 6 lines covering 67 kilometres (42 miles) and 81 stations, 14 of which are underground. The municipalities served by the Porto Metro are Porto (zone C1), Gondomar (zone C8), Vila Nova de Gaia (zone S8), Póvoa de Varzim (zone N3), Matosinhos (zone C3), Vila do Conde and Maia (both in zone C5).
The Porto Metro operates continuously for 18 hours, from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. The frequency of the trains varies between 4 and 15 minutes, depending on peak and off-peak times.
The fare structure is zone-based, with ticket prices varying according to the number of zones crossed during the journey. The minimum fare for a 2-zone journey is €1.20 ($US1.36), rising to €5.20 ($US5.85) for a 12-zone journey. Prices are reduced when multiple journeys are loaded onto the Andante Metro Card.
The Porto Metro provides a convenient link to and from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, with a dedicated line to the city centre.
The operating partners of the Porto Metro are the Metropolitan Region (39.99% share), the Portuguese State (40%), the Public Transport Company of Porto (16.67%), CP Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses E.P. (3.33%) and the Municipal Councils of Porto, V.N. Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia, Vila do Conde, Póvoa de Varzim and Gondomar (together holding a 0.0005% share).
This metro system, also known as Metro do Porto, serves approximately 150,000 passengers per day. The system operates on an honour system for fares, with a cost of €1.1. The metro does not operate 24 hours a day, but does operate from 6:00am to 1:00am from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays the metro is open 24 hours.
The trains are air-conditioned and passengers are allowed to walk between platforms. The trains are not driverless and the platforms do not have screen doors.
The metro trains, operated by Via Porto, run at an average speed of 6mph and can reach a maximum speed of 100mph.
Porto Metro Map
Map of Porto Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Porto Metro map in PDF format.
Lines and Stations
The Porto Metro system consists of six lines, identified by different colours and letters, with a total of 81 stations. All lines pass through the main hub, Trindade station. Here’s a closer look at each line:
Line A (Blue): Estádio do Dragão – Senhor de Matosinhos
Line A, marked in blue, runs from Estádio do Dragão to Senhor de Matosinhos, crossing the city centre via Trindade station. It covers 23 stations over a distance of 15.6 kilometres in about 40 minutes, with trains arriving every 10 minutes.
Line B (Red): Estádio do Dragão – Póvoa de Varzim
Line B, coloured red, connects Estádio do Dragão to Póvoa de Varzim and crosses the Do Condo region. This line has 35 stations over a distance of 33.6 kilometres (20.9 miles), with a total journey time of around 61 minutes.
Line C (Green): Campanhã – ISMAI
Line C, marked in green, runs between Campanhã and ISMAI. It has 24 stations along a 19.6 kilometre route, with a total journey time of approximately 41 minutes and a train frequency of every 15 minutes.
Line D (Yellow): Hospital São João – Santo Ovídio
Line D, coloured yellow, runs from Hospital São João to Santo Ovídio, crossing the river from north to south. This line has 16 stations along a 9.2 kilometre (5.7 mile) route, with a total journey time of about 25 minutes and trains arriving every 6 minutes.
Line E (Violet): Estádio do Dragão – Aeroporto
Known as the Airport Line, Line E is violet in colour and connects Estádio do Dragão station to the airport. It is 16.7 kilometres (10.4 miles) long, has 21 stations and the whole journey takes about 35 minutes, with trains arriving every 30 minutes.
Line F (Orange): Fânzeres – Senhora da Hora
Line F, known as the Gondomar line and distinguished by its orange colour, runs from Fânzeres to Senhora da Hora. It has 24 stations along a 67.4-kilometre route, with a total journey time of approximately 39 minutes and trains running every 15 minutes.
Porto’s metro system, with its diverse network of lines, allows passengers to travel comfortably to various parts of the city and surrounding regions, including the airport and major points of interest.
Funicular dos Guindais
The Guindais funicular offers a scenic journey from Batalha to Ribeira. There are only two stations along the 300 metre (0.186 m) route. Despite the short distance, it offers passengers stunning views of the city. The total journey time is just 3 minutes and the service frequency is every 4 minutes.
Stations: Batalha, Ribeira
Schedule and Frequency
Porto Metro operates from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., Sunday to Monday. On Fridays and Saturdays, in collaboration with the Move Porto programme, services on lines A (blue) and D (yellow) are extended to run 24 hours a day. Trains usually run every 4 to 15 minutes, depending on demand.
Connections
Connections Between Lines
Porto’s metro system offers convenient transfers between its various lines at several interchange stations, allowing passengers to navigate efficiently throughout the city and surrounding areas.
Interchanges for Line A (Blue):
- Estádio do Dragão station connects to Lines B (Red), E (Violet), and F (Orange).
- Campanhã station offers a connection to Line C (Green) and Comboios de Portugal (CP), the national railway system.
- Trindade station provides a connection to Line D (Yellow).
- Senhora da Hora station connects to Lines B (Red), C (Green), E (Violet), and F (Orange).
Other lines offer similar interchanges at key stations, ensuring comprehensive connectivity across the entire network.
Connections to Other Systems
Several of Porto’s metro stations offer connections to other transport systems, making it easy to travel outside the metro network. Campanhã, São Bento and General Torres stations connect to the Comboios de Portugal (CP), while the Airport station provides direct access to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
Prices, Tickets, and Passes
The Porto Metro ticketing system is versatile and provides access to all public transport in the city. The ticket is a contactless chip card, which allows easy access at entry points – you can just keep it in your pocket without having to scan it manually. A basic two-zone ticket costs €1.20 (about $1.37 USD).
This comprehensive ticketing system, along with the metro’s extensive network, ensures that whether you’re a local commuter or a tourist exploring the city, getting around Porto is efficient and hassle-free.
Occasional Trips
- Blue Andante Card : Ideal for occasional travellers, the cost of this reloadable metro card varies according to the number of zones travelled. It can be recharged for 1 to 30 journeys. The card costs €0.60 (approx. $US 0.69), with fares ranging from €1.20 ($US 1.37) for two zones to €5.20 ($US 5.94) for twelve zones.
- Andante Tour Card: The blue Andante card also offers unlimited travel for 24 hours for €7 ($US 7.99) or for 72 hours for €15 ($US 17.12). The Tour Card is available at Metro and STCP (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto) stations, Andante shops, the airport and the Tourist Office.
Frequent Trips
Monthly Subscription – Andante Card: This personalised card is designed for frequent travellers and can be recharged according to the number of zones used regularly. It can be recharged at both terminals and automatic machines. The system also offers reduced-price tickets to low-income families, senior citizens and students from primary to higher vocational schools.
Metro Parking
The Porto Metro offers a daily Park & Ride service, which can be used for up to 12 hours with an Andante ticket.
Parking fees vary at the Metro Park/Estádio del Dragáo Park & Ride station. The charges are as follows:
- Occasional Andante Park & Ride – €0.95/12 hour day ($US 1.08)
- Signature Andante Park & Ride – €17.00/month [12hr day] ($US 19.4)
Without using public transport, parking is €0.30 ($US 0.34) per 15 minutes. If the daily limit of 12 hours is exceeded, there is an additional charge of €0.30 ($US 0.34) for every 15 minutes.
While the Metro Park gates are open from 5.30am to 1.00am, 24-hour parking is available and customers can enter and exit at any time using the intercoms at the entrance ramps. On football match days, the Metro Park Estádio do Dragáo gates close 3 hours before the match on weekdays and 4 hours before on weekends and public holidays, and access to the car park is prohibited during this time.
Rules, Tips, and Warnings
- Tickets must be purchased before boarding the metro. Failure to do so may result in a fine of €77 ($US 87.86).
- Trains and platforms are designed to facilitate use by disabled and partially sighted passengers, including those with colour blindness.
- Bicycles are allowed in designated areas of the train so as not to disturb other passengers.
Notable Facts
- The Porto Metro system is electric and uses energy-saving braking technology, resulting in energy savings of 30%.
- The maximum speed of each vehicle is 80 kilometres per hour (49.7 miles per hour), with newer models reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 miles per hour). The trains are 35 metres (114.8 feet) long and can accommodate up to 80 seated passengers, with additional space for wheelchair users.
- The trains are equipped with air conditioning, a public address system and destination and station information displays both inside and outside the vehicles.
- Conductors use overhead cameras in the cabins instead of rear-view mirrors.
- In 2017, Porto Metro set a record by accommodating more than 60 million customers.
Future Expansions
In January 2018, plans were announced to extend the Pink Line (G) by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) and add four new metro stations. An extension of the Yellow Line is also in the works, which will connect the Santo Ovídio and Vila d’Este stations and reach the Hospital de Gaia. This extension will add 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) to the line and introduce 3 new stations.
Construction will start in early 2019 and is expected to be completed by 2022. These new lines will meet significant demand on both sides of the city and are estimated to serve 33,000 people daily. The total investment for this phase of the project is approximately €290 million.
Airport Connection
The Porto Metro conveniently connects the city with the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
Getting to the Airport
Since 27 May 2006, the Violet Line (E) of the metro has provided a direct and fast link between the city centre and the airport, with direct and indirect connections to all destinations in the system. The journey from the airport to Casa da Música station takes 22 minutes and to Trindade station 27 minutes. These trips require the Andante Z4 card, which costs €1.85 (approximately $2.10).
The service operates every day of the year. It operates from 6:00 am to 1:00 am, with trains running approximately every 20 minutes, depending on the schedule and passenger flow.
Sightseeing via the Porto Metro
The Porto Metro is an excellent way to get around the city. Many of the city’s major attractions, including monuments, museums, concert halls, iconic buildings, traditional shops, top local restaurants and nightlife spots, are easily accessible by metro.
Some of the notable attractions accessible by metro are São Bento Station, Porto Cathedral, Clérigos Church, Pálacio de la Bolsa, Museum of Contemporary Art, Serralves Park, Matosinhos Beach, Porto Shopping Centre and Lello and Irmao Bookshop.
Milestones of the Porto Metro Construction
The Porto Metro has seen consistent growth since its inception in 2002. Some major milestones include:
- Public tender for design and system construction launched in 1994.
- The first official shipyard installation completed in 1999.
- Blue Line inaugurated in 2002.
- Commercial operation on the Blue Line began in 2003.
- Construction on the Yellow Line began in 2003.
- Trindade/Bridge and Salgueiros/Trindade tunnels completed in 2003.
- Blue Line marked its second year of operation in 2004 with a record of 9.8 million riders.
- Construction began on Line E to connect the airport in 2005.
- The Yellow, Green, and Red Lines were opened in 2006.
- The Porto Metro received the “Best New Light Rail System” award in 2007.
- New D. João II station on the Yellow Line inaugurated in 2008.
- Construction began on the Orange Line in 2009.
- The Subconcession contract was signed for the operation and maintenance of the light rail metro system in 2010.
- The Santo Ovídio station was opened on the Yellow Line in 2011.
- The Orange Line was inaugurated in 2011.
- Approval for new connections on the Pink Line and the expansion of the Yellow Line announced in 2017.