You'll do most of your sightseeing on foot, as most of the main sights are within walking distance.
You won't therefore need to use much public transportation, but when you do, the best, easiest, and
most common means of transport in Oporto is the metro.
The only time you'll have to use a bus is for
Serralves Museum
or the Foz district. A taxi will be the best choice if you want to
check out one of the restaurants or clubs away from the center at night.
All of these choices are inexpensive and reliable.
METRO
Oporto's state-of-the-art metro opened in 2002 and has expanded over the years after that. It covers most of the city both under and over ground, all the way to the surrounding suburbs. Trains run from 6AM to 1AM, and stations are marked with a wavy blue "M".
Tickets (or in Oporto's case, cards) are bought at vending machines and must be validated before you board the train and every time you switch lines.
The very first time you use the metro when you arrive in Oporto, you must purchase the metro card called "Cartão Andante" at those vending machines. That card is your "ticket" that is recharged in future journeys.
Visit www.metro-porto.pt for the map of the network and additional information.
BUSES
Oporto has an excellent and extensive bus service (called STCP) that operates from 6AM to 9PM. After 9PM the service is less frequent and after 1AM it is reduced to the principal routes. You may purchase tickets from the driver, which must then be validated on the machine behind him or her.
Buses show their number and final destination on the front, as do the bus stops, where there are also details of the routes.
www.stcp.pt is the website for Oporto bus information.
TRAMS
There are two short tram routes still in operation in Oporto, No. 1 and No. 18.
No.1 is a pleasant ride, as it goes through the riverfront all the way to Foz. Tickets are bought from the driver.
TAXI
Taxis in Portugal are inexpensive when compared to the rest of Europe. Most are beige, but there are also some older black and green ones.
There are taxi stands by most of the main squares in Oporto, or you may call the following numbers to have one pick you up at a certain
location at a scheduled time:
Raditaxis: 22 507 3900
Taxis Invicta: 22 502 2693
Taxis Unidos: 22 502 9898
