Porto Airport to the City Centre: Metro, Uber, Taxi or Transfer

Porto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro airport is about 15km north of the city, and getting into town is refreshingly simple. The metro runs straight from the terminal to the centre, and Uber, Bolt and taxis are all easy to find.

Quick answer: the metro (violet line E) takes about 30 minutes and costs under €3. With lots of luggage, kids or an early or late flight, take an Uber/Bolt or taxi (roughly €20–30).

Your options at a glance

Option	Rough cost	Time to centre	Best for
Metro (line E, violet)	€0.60 card + €2.30 Z4 ticket	About 30 min	Most travellers
Uber / Bolt	About €15–25	20–30 min	Couples, groups, luggage
Taxi	About €20–30	20–30 min	No app needed
Private transfer	From about €30	20–30 min	Families, late arrivals, Douro trips

Prices checked October 2026. Fares change, so treat these as a guide.

1. The metro

The Aeroporto metro station is a short walk from arrivals. Follow the “M” signs. Line E (violet) runs into the city every 20–30 minutes from roughly 6am to 1am.

• Buy a blue Andante card (€0.60) from the machine and load a Z4 ticket (€2.30). The airport is in zone 4, so a cheaper zone ticket won’t cover it.
• Tap (validate) your card on the yellow reader before getting on, every single time, including when you change lines. Inspectors do check, and fines are steep.
• Get off at Trindade for the centre (Aliados, Bolhão) or change there for other lines. For the Ribeira riverside, go to São Bento (change at Trindade for the yellow line D).
• One card per person. Keep your card. You can top it up for the rest of your stay.

Like Lisbon, Porto is very hilly. If your accommodation is down in the Ribeira, the walk from the station can be steep.

2. Uber and Bolt

Both apps work well at Porto airport and are usually the simplest option with bags. Follow the airport signs for the ride-hailing (TVDE) pick-up area. Expect around €15–25 to the centre, more at busy times. Have both apps and compare. See Uber vs Bolt vs taxi.

3. Taxis

The official taxi rank is outside arrivals. Taxis are metered and cost roughly €20–30 to the centre, a bit more at night or with lots of luggage. Ask before you set off if you want to pay by card.

4. Private transfer

A pre-booked driver is ideal with kids, if you’re landing late, or if you’re heading straight out to the Douro Valley or further north. Several drivers on our local guides page are based in Porto and do airport transfers as well as Douro and Braga day trips.

Which one should you pick?

• Solo or couple, light luggage: metro, the easiest and cheapest.
• Group of three or four: Uber/Bolt often costs about the same as four metro fares, door to door.
• Family with small children: pre-booked transfer with car seats.
• Going straight to the Douro: transfer, or a hire car from the airport. See our car rental guide and Douro wine tours.

Before you land

• Get mobile data sorted first. See our eSIM guide.
• Questions about Porto? Ask the 12,000 members of our Porto Travel Tips group.
• Our free Portugal trip checklist covers everything else.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.