Accessibility
Porto is quite an accessible city with regular flights from all over Europe, including low-cost carriers.
By Air
Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro (Porto) www.aeroportoporto.pt
Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) is located 8 miles (13 km) to the north of Porto, in the locality of Maia. The Airport was originally established in the late 1940s, but has been reformed several times since then and is currently a modern building with a capacity of up to 16 million passengers a year.
It is the third busiest airport in Portugal and in 2010, Porto Airport handled over 5 million passengers. Companies like Iberia, Lufthansa or TAP fly regularly to and from this Airport, as well as low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Clickair and Easyjet.
Getting to and from the Airport:
Taxis are the most comfortable way of travelling to your hotel, but also the most expensive. The journey between the Airport and a centrally located accommodation costs approximately from €25 - €30.
Metro: www.metrodoporto.pt
The cheapest way to get from the Airport to Porto’s city centre is by taking the city’s metro system. You’ll be in the historic centre is approximately 30 minutes (Purple Line – E). ). This line operates daily from 06:00 - 01:00 and from here, getting to the city centre (either Trindade or Bolhão station) takes about 30 minutes. The Andante ticket needed for this journey can be purchased at any of the automatic ticket machines in the Metro station – occasional ticket (Z4). The price of a one-way ticket is €1.85.
Buses: www.STCP.pt
Several buses connect Porto Airport and the city centre. The most useful are 601, 602 and 604. Nevertheless, the ride to the centre costs as much as the metro and takes a lot longer.
Shuttles: www.100rumos.com
If you don’t want to worry about how to get to your hotel after a long flight, you can reserve a transfer service. A chauffeur will be waiting for you at the Arrivals Hall with a sign with your name on it. He will drive you to your hotel in the least possible time. The price is similar to a regular taxi and you can book it online at Introducingporto.com.
A tip: If you plan to purchase the Porto Card for your stay in the city, we strongly suggest you buy it as soon as you land in the Airport, as it includes transportation to and from Porto Airport.
Address details:
Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro, 4470-558 Maia, Portugal
How to get from Porto Airport to the City Center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYYxlHTmANk
By Train
Campanha Station: www.cp.pt
This is Porto's central railway station where trains to Porto terminate. It is the principal entry and exit point for most people who visit the city via the train.
São Bento Station:
São Bento Railway Station is the city's second station which is mainly used for local services and trains heading to the far north of the country.
For more information about traveling by train please visit: www.interrail.eu
Address details:
Campanha Station, Campanha, 4300-173 Porto, Portugal
São Bento Station, Praça de Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal
By Car
Porto is located in the lower north of Portugal. You can reach is via the A20 / A1 (E1) interstate, coming from the North, or via the A44/ A1 (E1) comming from the South (Lisbon).
IMPORTANT: With an estimated population of 1.3 million people in the city and surrounding urban area, Porto, is the nation's second-largest city. As you might expect in a city of this size that happens to be in Portugal, driving can be a bit hectic. Like most large cities, traffic in Porto can get fairly congested. The older parts of the city feature roads that are quite narrow by North European standards.
When driving in Porto, it's important to stay focused and to keep your wits about you. The city has many one-way roads, and they don't always alternate directions, so make sure to read the road signs before making a turn. The last thing you want to do is turn the wrong way down a one-way street.
When leaving your vehicle, parking in a parking garage is often the best choice, as you may find yourself blocked in by other vehicles if you attempt to park on the side of the road. If you're planning on visiting the historic centre of Porto, it may be best to park your car, and then to see the local sights on foot. In general, the oldest parts of the city also have the narrowest roads, many of which are made of cobblestones, and were never intended to handle automobile traffic.
Many hotels provide private parking places. Please consult your hotel website for availability and prices.
Tolls
Electronic Tolls: payment options for vehicles with foreign licence plates
EASYtoll
This system associates the vehicle’s licence plate with a credit card (MasterCard of Visa). The toll amounts due are automatically debited to the card’s account. A receipt (valid for 30 days, which should be kept) is issued at the time of subscription. Licence numbers can be corrected and memberships can be cancelled via Call Centre, or at www.portugaltolls.com.
TOLL CARD
Prepaid cards
Activation and direct association with licence number by the customer via cell phone SMS. Balances can be checked at www.portugaltolls.com. Customers will receive an alert SMS when the balance reaches zero. Available at post offices, service areas and at www.portugaltolls.com.
TOLL SERVICE
3-day prepaid ticket at a fixed price of 20,00€, with unlimited used during its validity period. Can be purchased at www.portugaltolls.com or at “Easytoll” booths.
VIA VERDE
Lease of temporary “Via Verde Visitors” device. “Via Verde Device” membership, with debit from bank account. Via Verde products are valid throughout the nation’s entire road network, and can be purchased at Via Verde outlets and authorized agents, post offices (CTT) and Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) outlets.
Further information on www.viaverde.pt.
Driving documentation:
For those driving in Portugal, the following documentation is required:
- Passport or ID-card
- Driving license
- Valid insurance policy
- Insurance registration certificate
Good to know:
- Traffic moves on the right-hand side of the road.
- A valid insurance policy required.
- After dark, the main headlights must be switched on.
- Electronic tolls:
- Speed limits are as follows, unless marked otherwise:
In residential areas: 30 or 50 km/h
In built-up areas: 50 km/h
Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h
Motorway: 120 km/h