Public transportation Porto
CategoriesPorto By Pieter Janssen

Transportation in Porto

Transportation in Porto

Porto has an efficient public transport system. Unless there happens to be a strike.

Metro

Porto Metro (Andante) – Quick Guide

  • The metro is the cheapest way from the airport to the city.
  • Use Google Maps; main transfer station is Trindade.
  • Buy tickets at the metro machines (the metro is a 2–3 min walk from arrivals).
  • Find your station on the yellow board and note the zone. To central Porto this is likely Z4.

Zones
Porto public transport fares are zone-based. The city centre is Z2. From there:

  • South: Santo Ovídio Z2, Vila d’Este Z3, Espinho Z4 (train change at General Torres)
  • West: Matosinhos Z3
  • North: Airport Z4, Póvoa de Varzim Z6
  • East: Fanzeres Z3

Fares (2025):

  • Z2 → €1.40 per ride
  • Z3 → €1.80
  • Z4 → €2.25
  • Z5 → €2.75
  • Z6 → €3.20
  • 24-hour passes: Z2 → €5.15, Z3→ €6.65 etc.
Porto metro map

Cards:

  • You get a reusable Andante card.
  • Airport tip: Load two rides if returning to the airport.
  • One card per person.
  • Max load: 10 rides (+1 free) per card.
  • Different zones = separate cards (mark them to avoid confusion).

Validation:

  • Always scan before boarding and when changing lines.
  • No scan = no valid ticket.
  • Fine without valid ticket: €95.

Coverage:

  • North: Póvoa de Varzim (~28 km)
  • South: Espinho (~18 km)

Long stays:

  • Monthly unlimited: €40
  • Buy a card at Trindade office, left of the main entrance (€6)
  • Valid until end of the calendar month. And then you just recharge every month.

Bus

This chapter is short. The andante card is also valid for buses within the Porto Metropolitan Area, so you already have all the info you need.

Taxi

There are several types of taxi services in Porto: regular street taxis, Uber, and Bolt. Uber and Bolt are usually the cheapest and most convenient.

To use them, download the app, enter your details, and add your bank card. When you request a ride, you’ll see the price upfront. Confirm the booking, your card is charged automatically, and when the ride ends, you’re done. I personally use Uber and have never encountered any problems.

Airport taxis

Airport taxis are worldwide a different breed. It’s best to avoid unlicensed taxis and never accept rides from drivers who approach you inside the terminal claiming to be a taxi. This can lead to severe overcharging. You can easily book an Uber.

Transportation to cities further away

Bus:  https://global.flixbus.com/

Train: https://www.cp.pt/en

Learn Photography While Exploring Porto

Porto is full of stunning sights, and exploring the city with someone who knows it well can make all the difference. A photography tour with Kiki Photo Tours helps you capture the best shots while learning photography techniques from a local photographer.

Isolated woman on Ponte Luis I bridge, Porto
CategoriesPorto By Pieter Janssen

Souls Of Porto

Souls of Porto

Stripped of identity and possessions, people become ghostlike figures. Their presence and movements are temporary. Against them stands the permanence of the buildings, the walls, the streets. Unmoving witnesses to countless such moments. People are disconnected. From each other and from the surroundings.

Each image is unique.

Porto’s atmosphere and human stories are part of what make this city so compelling to photograph. Experiencing these kinds of moment-rich details with a local guide can help you see light, contrast, and composition in new ways. Joining a photography tour with Kiki Photo Tours lets you capture these fleeting scenes while learning photography fundamentals from a photographer who lives here.

Street art Porto - By Pieter Janssen
CategoriesPorto By Pieter Janssen

Street art in Porto

Street art in Porto

Street Art in Porto: A City Painted in Colors
Walking through Porto, you’ll quickly notice that creativity spills onto the streets. Walls, doors, corners, and even abandoned houses become open-air canvases. From large-scale works like those of Brazilian-Japanese artist Mura to something as simple and charming as a painted cat, the city’s street art is always evolving, transforming Porto into a living gallery.

Where to Find Street Art in Porto
The artworks are scattered across the city, often in unexpected places. The best way to discover them is simply to wander with your eyes wide open. Look up, down, and even behind you. Some murals are so well hidden that you might walk past them countless times before noticing. (It took me over a year to spot the giant cat tucked between two buildings!)

Exploring Porto’s street art is like going on a treasure hunt. Enjoy the surprises along the way and, most importantly, have fun!

Are you ready for a photography tour in Porto?

Porto’s vibrant street art is a highlight for many visitors, but finding the best murals and capturing them well can take local insight. If you want to explore these creative corners with guidance and improve your photography at the same time, a photography tour Kiki Photo Tours is a great way to discover hidden artworks while learning how to frame and shoot them like a pro.

The best parks in Porto
CategoriesPorto By Pieter Janssen

The best parks in Porto

The best parks in Porto

There are many parks in Porto. Some of them are quite big and you can spend a lot of time there. I want to mention a few that I like most. The bigger ones are excellent for running, as they are flat, unlike most of Porto. If you are traveling with children there is one you should not miss.

Parque de São Roque

Looking for a park that’s perfect for young kids? Look no further, as this is the one. Just 800 metres west of Dragao Stadium, this is a very quiet suburban gem featuring woodland trails, an Art Nouveau grotto, a labyrinth and some swings and slides. Perfect for some peace and quiet and certainly perfect for children. They will love the labyrinth.

Parque de São Roque Porto

Parque Oriental da Cidade do Porto

East of Dragão Stadium lies a great area for running and cycling. From only about 150 metres north of the Douro River, the paths extend for roughly 4 kilometres straight north. Completely uninterrupted. And unlike much of Porto, the terrain here is flat!

Parque Oriental da Cidade do Porto

Parque da Cidade do Porto

Its name may sound similar to the first park, but the experience is completely different. Bordering Matosinhos to the south, it invites you to explore a maze of winding paths. Perfect for long walks or runs into all directions. Serious runners can extend their exercise (without traffic interruptions) for another 3 kilometres via the coastal road and go south to Foz. Or even on to the centre of Porto, an additional 5 kilometres, all flat.

Locals like to play volleyball (on the northeast side), have picknics or just go on a stroll. 

Do a sweaty workout, and finish your day with a plunge into the adjacent ocean.

The best parks in Porto

Parque Infantil da Quinta do Covelo

Stroll the shady paths, and when the little ones need more action, head to the family area, complete with slides, tunnels, bridges, swings and sand areas. It will keep kids of various ages entertained.

Parque Infantil da Quinta do Covelo

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

This park combines peaceful garden walks with stunning views. On its southern edge, you’ll overlook the Douro River, while the Superbock Arena offers an even higher perspective from its rooftop, if you’re willing to splurge on a ticket. Afterwards, grab a drink downstairs and enjoy it outdoors, whether basking in the sunshine or relaxing in the shade.

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

More to follow!

Are you ready for a photography tour in Porto?

Porto’s parks offer more than greenery. They’re full of light, natural frames, and scenes that change with the weather and the hours of the day. Whether it’s morning dew in the gardens or golden hour light over river views, experiencing these places with local insight can help you take better photos. A photography tour with Kiki Photo Tours can show you how to make the most of your time in these spaces while learning practical photography skills.

Porto half day tour
CategoriesPorto By Pieter Janssen

Things to Do in Porto – Porto Bucket List: Sights, Secrets & Surprises

Porto

Looking for the best things to do in Porto? This bucket list of sights, secrets, and surprises will help you.

Porto is a city I’ve come to know with curiosity and an abnormal dose of wanderlust. According to Strava (just in case: an app that shows all recorded routes), there are almost no streets I haven’t been. Walking through its cobbled streets, I’ve found peaceful gardens, stunning murals, lively markets, and breathtaking viewpoints that never get old. So which things to do in Porto? I made a list for you.

All of the places on this list I’ve experienced myself (except for one) and can truly vouch for. They’re the ones that made me slow down, look around, and fall in love with the city. However, there is one I haven’t yet set foot in (the crowds and the queues alone made me turn away!), but it is such an icon of Porto that excluding it would feel like cheating you of the full picture. Eh, yes, it is Livraria Lello.

So, what follows are the must-sees that define Porto for so many travelers. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a week, you’ll find the city’s spirit in its tiled churches, riverside strolls, buzzing markets, and even in a few quieter corners where only locals go. So here they are, the best things in Porto.

Monastery of Serra do Pilar

This is the master of all views. From here you have a 270 degree view over both Porto and Gaia, with the river in the middle. It’s an excellent spot for sunset admirers. In case you expect to be thirsty, bring some drinks, as there are no facilities.

Construction began in 1538 and finished in 1672. Although it was built to house Augustinian monks, the monastery played a key strategic role during various battles.

Luís I Bridge view, Porto

The Half Rabbit

This is a work of art, made by Bordalo II (Artur Bordalo). It is entirely made from trash, scrap metal, and recycled materials collected locally (Bordalo II’s signature style).

If you pay closer attention you will see one side of the sculpture is colourful, while the other is painted in grayscale. It symbolises the contrast between waste and nature.

The rabbit in Porto

Largo da Pena Ventosa

This is a place you would not want to miss. A nice little peaceful square, surrounded by colourful buildings. There are two little cafes, one of which also serves food. It is my favourite spot to sit down, enjoy a drink, while observing people passing by.

Usually the two cafes are only open daytime.

Porto half day tour

Ribeira

Stroll through the lively colourful district of Ribeira along the Douro river. It may seem very touristy, but often you will find yourself alone. There are many narrow alleys which will lead you up or down, depending on your route. If you are up for it, you can go all the way up to Porto Cathedral (Sé). Or down of course, which is what I would do

Colourful Porto

Dom Luís I Bridge

This double-deck arch bridge connects Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. Needless to say, the views on the top deck are breathtaking. Watch out for the metro though. Very frequently trains come from both directions.

People passing Ponte Luis I bridge in Porto

Porto Cathedral (Sé)

This is a spot easy to get to. Take the southern exit of Sao Bento metro station and head for the cathedral, which will be on your right. There are views on the river and the city.

Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto)

Clérigos Tower

Completed in 1763, The Clérigos Tower is a Baroque bell tower in the historic center of Porto, and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It was originally built as the bell tower for the Clérigos Church, used to call parishioners to service and mark the time.

For sweeping cityscape views, climb the 220 steps of this Baroque bell tower — well worth the effort. Whether it is also worth the money is up to you. Admission is 8 euros (2024 price).

Clérigos tower standing tall, Porto

Murals / street art

Porto has quite a lot of street art, with fantastic murals There are some real gems. The best ones are quite spread out, and when you’re just walking around you need a bit of luck finding them. They can be anywhere. If you’re on a mission, check out https://streetartmap.com/porto for a few samples with clues regarding locations.

Soon there will be a page dedicated to just street art.

Street art Porto
Street art Porto - By Pieter Janssen

São Bento Station

São Bento is not just an ordinary train station. It’s a masterpiece of tile art. Over 20,000 azulejo tiles, crafted between 1905 and 1916 by renowned artist Jorge Colaço, line the main hall. These beautiful blue-and-white narrate pivotal moments in Portuguese history. Gaze closely at the tiles to really experience it.

It attracts quite a few tour groups, so if photography is your main reason to be here you must visit early in the morning. Having mentioned photography, it depends on the type of photography you are interested in. Personally I want it to be as busy as possible..

Sao Bento railway station, Porto

Jardim do Morro

Jardim do Morro is Porto’s go-to sunset stage. As the sun drops, locals and travelers spread out across the grassy slopes with picnic blankets, vinho verde, and the occasional guitar. All eyes turn west as the skyline and the Dom Luís I Bridge glow in golden light. With each passing minute the crowd thickens, until the sun finally slips behind the horizon, or vanishes into the clouds.

Usually there are live bands and all sorts of artists. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Sunset at Jardim do Morro, Porto

Bolhão Market (Mercado do Bolhão)

Housed in a majestic 19th-century neoclassical building completed in 1914, Bolhão Market is all charm and bustle. Its open-air courtyard is ringed by two levels of galleries, each lined with vibrant stalls. From fresh fish, meats, cheeses, fruit, and vegetables to wine, port, and local delicacies, you’ll find it all here. A few tables and chairs are scattered around, perfect for watching people and enjoying your market haul on the spot.

Bolhão Market, Porto

Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls)

If you can stand all the selfie-taking people, this is a beautiful building covered entirely in blue tiles, (azulejos, the Portuguese word for painted ceramic tiles) depicting the lives of saints.

It is just a cobbled stone’s throw from Bolhão Market.

Capela das Almas, Porto

Livraria Lello

Often hailed as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, Livraria Lello feels like something out of a fantasy novel. Reportedly, as I haven’t visited it myself, mainly because of the long queues and the crowds inside. It’s impossible not to mention, given its immense popularity.

It is recommended to book tickets in advance. Pick your date and time slot. Once you’re there, join the queue which shows your time slot. https://www.livrarialello.pt/

No photo, as I haven’t been there and so I haven’t taken one.

More to follow!

Are you ready for a photography tour in Porto?

Porto’s must-see sights are begging to be photographed, and exploring them with someone who knows the light, angles, and best times of day can elevate your experience. For visitors who want both local insight and photography guidance, a photography tour with Kiki Photo Tours is an excellent way to capture Porto’s highlights while improving your camera skills.