Porto tips – know before you go

Last Updated on February 17, 2022

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Porto in the second largest city in Portugal and it’s often overlooked in favor of Lisbon. While both cities are great, Porto is definitely the more authentic and traditional one. A combination of great architecture, history, delicious food and world famous Port wine make Porto a perfect European destination. After spending 3 days in Porto, I can assure you, that the city should not to be missed. Here are some of the practical information and Porto tips to help you plan your trip.

Porto tips – know before you go

Best time to visit

Porto’s climate is considered to be temperate, which means the temperatures can change significantly from summer to winter. It’s definitely not hot year round as many assume. Porto’s location on the Atlantic Coast means, that it’s much cooler than Lisbon and the Southern coastline.

If you want the most favorable weather, best time to visit Porto is between May and October. Late spring means the temperatures rise and days are getting longer. Porto is not too busy yet, so you will be able to enjoy the city before the peak tourist season starts.

Summer months bring the highest temperatures, although it doesn’t really get too oppressive due to Porto’s location. It’s also, like much of Europe, the high tourist season in Porto. Even though the city does not get as crowded as Lisbon, it’s during June, July and August when it’s at its busiest. It’s during those months that the prices will be the highest, both flights and accommodations, and it’s important to plan ahead.

September and October equal lower temperatures, but still very pleasant. The city is less busy, and you have a better chance of scoring good deals on flights and hotels. September is especially a great month to visit Porto, if you plan to take a trip to Douro Valley. This is when the harvest season starts, making September one of the most exciting times to visit the stunning wine region.

Best area to stay in Porto

Porto, even though extremely hilly, is very walkable. Picking accommodations in a central location would be one of my main Porto tips. The city is very compact, so if you base yourself in one of the central areas, you will be able to get to most places on foot. Some of the best neighborhoods are:

• Ribeira – this riverfront neighborhood is very picturesque and the most popular area in Porto. If you stay there, you will be very close to many attractions i.e. Luis bridge, wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia as well as night live. A lot of accommodations in Ribeira will offer views, that cannot be beat. Just keep in mind, that this is the busiest part of the city, so you have to be OK with crowds and possibly noisy nights. Some of the great hotels in this area are House Ribeira Porto, 1872 River House, Descobertas Boutique Hotel Porto .
• Baixa – this neighborhood is considered to be ” the downtown ” of Porto. A lot of the main sights are in the area, so it’s a perfect choice for a first time visit. Some of the hotels are Porto Charming Hotel, Porto A.S 1829

A good number of accommodations offered in Porto are lofts and apartments, which is a great alternative to hotels. If you’ve never used Airbnb before and would like to try, sign up using this Airbnb code to get $40 off your first booking of $75 or more.

How to get from the airport to the city center

Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is located 11 km ( 6.8 miles ) from Porto’s city center. Here are your 3 options to get to the center of Porto, from the least to the most expensive.

• by Bus – you can get from the airport to various points in the city by one of the local buses operated by STCP. The lines 601, 602 and 604 leave from in front of the Arrivals hall and a single ticket costs €1.95. You can pay on board or use your Andante card ( more on that below ).
• by Metro – taking metro from the airport into the city center is by far the best way to get from the Airport to the city center. It’s very easy, cheap and it’s one of my best Porto tips. The purple line E will get you there in under 30 minutes. The journey requires a Zone 4 ticket, which costs € 2 ( + the cost of Andante card ).
• by taxi – this is the most convenient, yet most expensive option. Porto’s taxis are metered and the ride will be 20-30 minutes ( depending on traffic ) and should cost € 23-25

Metro

Porto has a great Metro system consisting of 6 lines: A ( Blue ), B ( Red), C ( Green ), E ( Purple ) and F ( Orange ). It’s a very affordable and easy way to get around, that covers all the important points and attractions in the city.

Porto’s metro system is divided into Zones, and traveling to a certain Zone will determine the cost of your ticket. Naturally, the further away from the city center you travel, the more expensive it will be. If you just plan on getting around Porto’s center, Zone 2 will most likely cover that. In order to use Porto’s metro, you first need to purchase Andante card and load it with as many trips as you’ll need.

IMPORTANT! You must validate your ticket before each trip, even if you change the line. Validation machines are the yellow boxes before the platforms.

Andante card

In order to use the Metro, you must first purchase Andante card from the ticket machine. You can find them at every Metro station, train stations and some smaller stores. The card itself costs € 0,60, which you then load with the amount of trips you will need. Each trip costs € 1.20. If you decide to purchase 10 trips at once, you get one for free.

Porto’s metro has 4 zones, and you need to choose in which zone you will be traveling when you purchase your Andante card. If you are staying in the center and plan on using metro around the city, the Zone 2 will most likely cover all that. To charge the card with a different kind of trip, you must first use up all the rides you already purchased.

If you plan on using the Metro a lot in one day, it might be a good idea to purchase Andante 24. This ticket gives you unlimited trips for 24 hours from the moment you validate your ticket.

You can use your Andante card on buses as well, but NOT the trams nor the Funicular.

Language

The official language is Portuguese, but English is widely spoken, especially in the hospitality business. Having said that, learning a few basic words and bringing a small phrase book is always a good idea. It’s not only one of my main Porto tips, but a tip for any country you visit. This Lonely Planet Portuguese Phrasebook and Dictionary has all the basics covered, and is perfect for traveling due to its small size.

Currency

The official currency of Portugal is the Euro. If you don’t have Euros on you when you arrive, you can get some at the Currency Exchange at the airport. Just keep in mind, that they offer some of the worst rates. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to have enough to cover the transportation from the airport to the city.

Your best bet is to withdraw money from an ATM. Look for one of the many Multibancos, there are plenty all over the city. The maximum amount for each withdrawal is € 200 and € 400 per day. Try to avoid Euronet ATM at all cost, as they have very high fees. You usually see them at the airports and in the most touristy areas.

Cash or credit cards

While most major credit cards are widely accepted in Porto, it’s always a good idea to carry some cash. Smaller stores and cafes might only accept cash, or require a minimum purchase of € 10 before you can charge it to a credit card. Also, some banks charge international and conversion fees each time you swipe your card, so if you make a lot of smaller purchases, these fees will quickly add up.

Tipping

Tipping in Portugal, much like in most Europe, is always appreciated, but not expected. This will be very different, if you are used to the tipping culture in the United States. If you are really happy with the service in a restaurant, leaving a 5-10 % tip is acceptable. Rounding up to the nearest Euro is also very common, especially in cafes and bars.

Supermarkets

There are plenty of supermarkets to be found in Porto, with Pingo Doce, Lidl and Minipreço being the most popular ones. Stocking up on some basics at a supermarket is one of the great ways to save money while traveling, especially if you are staying in an apartment with a fridge and ability to make some meals.

Train stations

Porto has 2 main train stations and São Bento and Campanhã. São Bento is right in the city center, while Campanhã is a little further away. Traveling by train in Portugal is very easy and extremely affordable.

One of the great things about Porto is that it’s a great base for exploring some interesting towns nearby. The cities of Aveiro, Coimbra or Braga make for perfect day trips, if you can spare an extra day during your time in Porto. They are easily reachable by urban trains, that run very frequently throughout the day and are extremely cheap. The ticket you purchase is valid all day, and there’s no need to commit to the exact train you want to take. For more day trip ideas, read Best day trips from Porto, Portugal.

If you plan on traveling from Porto to Lisbon, this is also easily done by train. The North Line connects both cities, and you can reach Portugal’s capital in just 3 hours. Note: the North Line departs only from Campanhã train station.

Luggage storage

If you need to check out of your hotel, but have a few hours to spare in the city, there are a few option to store your luggage.

• Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport – There are 2 options of storing your luggage at Porto’s airport: lockers ( 1st floor ) and baggage deposit area ( 3rd floor ). The size of your luggage and the amount of time you want to store it for, will determine which is the best choice. The lockers are open 24/7 and you pay for 4 hr periods ( € 1.50 – 2.50, depending on the size of your luggage ). Baggage deposit is a better choice for larger items and if you need to store it for longer. The fee is per day, and is anywhere from € 2.41 – 10.15, depending on the luggage weight.
• São Bento train station – there are 3 different size locker rooms located to the left as you walk through the main entrance of the station. The price depends on the size of locker you choose and how long you leave your luggage for. You pay for the first hour, after which you receive a receipt with your code. When you return to collect your luggage, you insert your receipt and pay the remaining balance.
• Campanhã train station – similarly to São Bento, Campanhã also has different sized, coin-operated lockers.

READ NEXT:

• Best things to do in Porto, Portugal in 3 days
• Best day trips from Porto
• 10 days in Portugal – the perfect itinerary by train

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