One of the interesting things about the Porto area was getting around. I don't mean that it was hard to do, which it wasn't. I also am not saying that it was expensive, because it wasn't. It was simply the variety of ways to get around that amazed me and how they all work together to make an incredible system for the residents and the visitors if the visitors give it a try. It's all about the know, and this know is for anyone who wants to visit this incredible area.
Let's start with the Metro. Not only does the metro get you around town pretty well to a lot of areas, but you can take it to and from the airport. A lot of places and companies offer airport transfers, but they tend to be for a fee and if your budget is tight, you can just take the metro.
https://en.metrodoporto.pt/pages/378
The Metro will cost you anywhere from 1,40 to 3,20 Euros for a single ticket. That being said, they are normally sold at the machine in two rides purchases. Unlike American metro systems, you must tap your card each time, including transfers. There are also several different ways to buy tickets. There are several different multi passes to buy. Some involve different zones, some involve multiple zones. There are different passes for daily up to monthly. Some of them are a very good deal. The monthly 40 Euro pass covers buses, trams and metro. That's a good deal and it gets you all around the city. You can check the website for the stations where you can purchase various passes.
Then, there's being a traveler. That opens up some other doors. We decided to get a three day travel pass for all the buses and metro. There's a single day pass for 8 Euros per person. The three day pass is 16 Euros per person. There is a catch though. We found it hard to find. The website said you can get it at any official tourist office. So we went to the tourist office at the Porto Cathedral, because we were visiting the cathedral at the time.
When we stopped in, they told us that they don't sell the passes. We found out through that exchange that the only place you can get them is at Sao Bento Train Station at a special ticket window. It was Tuesday, and we walked right down the hill to the train station and got our passes. We used them and they were terrific. We went anywhere we wanted to and didn't have to worry about having a ticket.
We discovered that while buses had drivers to make sure you were tapping your card or pass, the metro seems to be the honor system. It's different from what we're used to here in America with the doors and turnstiles. In Porto you just tap the machine with your card and walk away. To be honest, I saw a lot of people who just walked by and onto the metro without paying. At any rate, the cards are great to have and only available for tourists. All others must buy the regular pass cards.
Three days later, it was Saturday, and we wanted another three day pass. When we got to the train station, the window was closed. It wasn't open on the weekends. So, we went on our way to suffer with the regular prices. As we were waiting for the bus across the street, it occurred to me how welcomed we'd been by everyone in town. I couldn't help but think there had to be a weekend solution. We went back to the train station where the line for train tickets was out the door into the street. I thought that we might be able to get the tickets at a regular ticket window, but I wasn't sure.
We stopped into the customer relations office and asked the gentleman there if we could get the passes at a regular ticket window. He told us that we could. We stood in line and got our three day passes renewed. So, that's the tourist trick. Go to the train station and on the weekends go to a regular ticket window. You'll have a pass that gets you unlimited rides on all buses and metro for 72 hours from the first time you tap that card. Easy.
Another way to get around is by bus. If you pay when you get on the bus, you will pay cash. At various metro stations and of course, the train station, you can buy passes up to a month pass. The bus will cost you 1,40 to 4,55 for a bus ticket depending on where you go. An individual monthly pass costs 30 euros and a family monthly pass is 80 euros. Once again, you can get a 40 euro a month pass that covers all buses, trams and metro. This allows you the most mobility. And the tourist pass covers all metro and buses. Also a good deal.
https://www.stcp.pt/en/travel/tariffs/prices/
The good news is that the metro runs seven days a week from 6 am to 1 am. That will get you around pretty well. The buses in Porto run from 6 am to 9 pm every day. Just know that the buses will run a different schedule for holidays and weekends. Simply check the schedules at the bus stop and you will see what that day's schedule is. Just know that there are great buses for tourists. The 500 bus goes out along the shore. the 900's tend to go to Villa Nova de Gaia. The 200 bus goes to some amazing spots and ends at the Atlantic Shore. Good stuff and worth bussing it around.
