Porto travel essentials: your first hours sorted
The practical things that make a Porto arrival easy — the cheap Metro straight from the airport, getting online, the right ATMs, and getting around a beautiful but seriously steep city. Porto is warm, affordable and a gentler, quieter alternative to Lisbon — a lovely solo and 50+ choice.
Porto, Portugal 🇵🇹 · Written & reviewed by Wavvia · Last reviewed June 2026
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Plan my Porto tripGetting from Porto airport into the city
Porto airport (OPO) connects straight to the centre by Metro Line E (the violet line) — cheap, simple and about 30 minutes to the central stations. Bolt and Uber are inexpensive alternatives, and official taxis are metered. The Metro is the easy-value option for most arrivals.
If you’re carrying heavy bags or staying somewhere steep (much of Porto is), a Bolt/Uber or pre-booked transfer to the door saves you hauling luggage up hills from the Metro stop.
Pro tip: Buy a rechargeable Andante card at the airport Metro machine and load the airport-to-centre trip onto it — you’ll reuse the same card for trams and buses all trip.
Getting online in Porto
An EU eSIM set up before you fly gets you connected instantly, with good coverage across the city and out to the Douro. If you have an EU roaming plan, Portugal is included; otherwise a travel eSIM is the simple fix.
ATMs: Multibanco over Euronet
As across Portugal, use the bank-network “Multibanco” (MB) ATMs for fair rates and low fees, and avoid the bright-blue standalone “Euronet” tourist machines, which give poor rates and push currency conversion. Always choose to be charged in euros. Porto is card-friendly otherwise, with cash handy for small cafés and tips; tipping is modest.
Walking, the Metro & those hills
Porto is compact and made for walking — but it is steep, dropping sharply from the cathedral down to the riverside Ribeira and across to the Gaia side. The Metro, buses, the historic tram and the Funicular dos Guindais help with the climbs. If you’re travelling at a gentler pace, plan routes that go downhill to the river and ride back up, and pack comfortable, grippy shoes for the cobbles.
LGBTQ+ travellers in Porto
Portugal is among Europe’s most LGBTQ-friendly countries, with full marriage equality. Porto is relaxed and welcoming — lower-key than Lisbon’s scene but entirely comfortable, and same-sex couples travel openly.
Port cellars, Livraria Lello & the Douro
Porto’s signatures: the port-wine cellars across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia (most offer tours and tastings — book the popular ones ahead), the ornate Livraria Lello bookshop (which now requires a timed paid ticket bought in advance to manage the crowds), and a Douro Valley day trip or river cruise through the terraced vineyards. Book the standouts ahead, especially in season.
Can you drink the tap water?
Tap water is safe to drink across Portugal.
Source: US CDC / WHO drinking-water guidelines · last verified 2026-04-01
Emergency numbers to save now
Save these in your phone before you go, and write the main one somewhere offline in case your battery dies.
Emergency (all services)
Verified against official government / emergency-service sources · last checked 2026-04-01.
Before you go to Porto: cover the what-ifs
A lost passport, a clinic visit or a delayed bag are the practical emergencies that actually happen. Standard trip insurance covers all three — and it’s the one thing every solo trip should have.
Single-trip cover, high medical limits
Flexible family & group cover
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This is general practical guidance, not legal, medical or financial advice. Local laws, prices, apps and transport change — always check official sources and your government’s current travel advice before you travel. Emergency numbers and tap-water guidance above come from verified datasets, but confirm them on arrival.
Porto essentials: FAQs
What’s the best way from Porto airport to the centre?
Metro Line E (violet) runs straight from the airport to the central stations in about 30 minutes for a few euro — cheap and simple. Bolt/Uber and metered taxis are alternatives; for heavy bags or a steep address, an app ride or transfer to the door is easier.
Which ATMs should I use in Porto?
Use the bank-network “Multibanco” (MB) machines for fair rates, and avoid the bright-blue standalone “Euronet” tourist ATMs, which give poor rates and push currency conversion. Always choose to be charged in euros.
Is Porto very hilly?
Yes — it drops steeply from the upper town to the riverside and across to Gaia. The Metro, the funicular and the historic tram help with the climbs. Plan downhill-to-the-river routes, ride back up, and wear comfortable, grippy shoes for the cobbles.
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