Getting to Porto

There is a wide variety of transportation options for getting to the city of Porto. Most people choose to fly into Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, while others take the train or the bus. While flying is the quickest and most convenient option, it is also the most expensive. Buses and train services provide access to the city for those on a tight budget.

By car

Driving to Porto is easily achieved because of the excellent network of roads. You must however be aware that there are different rules of the road and most of the road signs will be in Portuguese. To reach Porto from northern Portugal or Spain, follow the IP5 highway. This will lead you directly into Porto city centre. If you are travelling from Lisbon or other areas in central Portugal, you need to follow route E90, and if you are driving from Faro or the Algarve, take the E1 highway.

By rail

If you are visiting Portugal as part of a tour around Europe, you may find it economical to travel by train and buy a European Rail Pass. There are numerous passes available, covering different groups of countries and regions as well as individual countries.

It is possible to travel from London to Lisbon via the Channel Tunnel. The journey takes over 24 hours, so be prepared to make yourself comfortable. There are two main rail routes into Portugal: from Paris via Bordeaux and Biarritz to Lisbon and from Irún to Madrid, arriving into Portugal via Marvão-Beirã.

It is possible to take internal trains to Porto from other destinations. Rapidos are the fastest and most expensive of all trains. They run from Lisbon to Porto regularly. The Intercidades are an inter-city service which can only be booked in advance, while the inter-regional trains do not need to be booked and stop at all the main stations throughout the different regions. Regional trains are the slowest of them all and stop at every stop in their particular region. For more information please visit: www.cp.pt.

By bus

If you are travelling from the UK, Eurolines offer return fares to Lisbon, with a change in Paris; there are six buses a week. From Lisbon, it is very easy to reach Porto. Eurolines have numerous routes from all over Europe as well as from North Africa, so journeys into Portugal and on to Porto can be booked from many cities.

There are a variety of options for travelling to Portugal from Spain by bus. Buses travel to numerous cities in Portugal, including Porto.

Similar to train passes, it is possible to buy international bus passes that allow unlimited travel on buses for a set number of weeks. Expressos are the quickest inter-city buses, which only stop at limited stops en-route. The Rapidas are regional buses, which stop at main stops, allowing them to make the journey fairly quickly, while Carreiras are much slower local buses.

By ferry

It is possible to travel by ferry into Portugal. There are many ports, such as Lisbon and Aveiro, which are a simple drive away. Ferry routes, however, are usually local such as the Santander to Lisbon route. Most people who travel by sea arrive in Spain before transferring to Portugal by land or air.

By air

Most people arrive in Portugal by plane. The Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is the largest airport in the region, providing links to over 30 international destinations and seeing millions of passengers every year. There are various scheduled and charter airlines serving Porto’s airport from many European capitals such as London, Madrid, Rome and Paris.

The airport is conveniently located just 11kms outside of Porto and is easily reached by public transport. Facilities are good and include ATMs, eateries, shops and business services.

Porto International Airport

Located just 11kms from Porto’s city centre, Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is the largest airport in the Iberian Peninsular. It is extremely modern and functional, and is one of the major gateways into Portugal. It is a single terminal facility which caters for all domestic, international and intercontinental flights.

Once you are inside the terminal, you will see that there are many facilities on offer. Banks, bureaux de change facilities and ATMs can be found dotted across the airport and a post office is on hand for last-minute postcards or letters which need to be sent. An information desk can be found in the airport and several smaller postal booths are spread throughout the airport.

An excellent selection of restaurants can also be found at the airport as well as duty-free shops. Products on sale include local handicrafts, delicatessen items, clothing, electronics, books and music, perfect for a spot of last-minute gift buying. There are also 10 travel agencies on-site to assist you with any further travel plans. Conference facilities are also available at the airport, but must be booked in advance.

Those passengers travelling with disabilities and who may require assistance at the airport should notify their airline when booking their flight. The airport has adapted toilets, ramps and lifts. There are also dedicated parking spaces which are available in the car park situated directly opposite the terminal.

Porto International airport transportation

The airport is located just 11kms from Porto’s city centre, so it is easily accessible by private and public transport. Local buses connect with numerous destinations throughout the city and leave from directly outside the terminal building. Timetables can be found at the main information desk.

Shuttle buses, also known as Aerobuses, provide direct services to the city’s main hotels and city centre. Services leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. These buses, however, are more expensive than local services, but you will reach your hotel with minimal fuss.

Taxis depart from outside the terminal building 24 hours a day and will take you to central Porto and beyond. Taxis are metered, so always ensure that the driver puts the meter on. There is a 20 per cent rise in fares at evenings and weekends.