Porto Metro Map: Lines, Stations, Zones and Fares Explained

TLDR: The Porto Metro covers 70 km of double-track and 85 stations across seven municipalities. Six lines are running (A, B, C, D, E, F) with a seventh, Line G, in construction. Tickets work on the zonal Andante system. Validate your card on the yellow validators or face a €95 fine. From Villa Almada, Trindade is your home station and the natural starting point for almost every metro journey.

Reading the Porto Metro map for the first time can feel like staring at a colourful tangle of spaghetti. There are six lines running, a seventh due, eighty-five stations, and four zones. Once you crack the pattern, though, it becomes one of the most useful pieces of city kit you have, and the fastest way to reach the airport, Matosinhos beach, and the wine cellars across the river.

I have been guiding our Villa Almada guests through this map for years. This is the version of the metro guide I would have wanted on my first trip, with all the practical bits — fares, validation, where each line actually goes, what the zones mean for your wallet — written for visitors rather than for transport planners.

The six active Porto Metro lines and what they connect

There are currently six lines in service. Line A (blue) runs from Senhor de Matosinhos through Trindade out to Estádio do Dragão. This is the one you will use most for the beach, the football stadium and central interchanges.

Line B (red) branches north of Trindade out through Vila do Conde to Póvoa de Varzim. Line C (green) heads from Campanhã up to ISMAI through Fórum Maia. Line D (yellow) is the cross-river spine — Hospital de São João through São Bento, across the upper deck of the Dom Luís bridge, to Vila Nova de Gaia and Santo Ovídio.

Line E (violet) is the airport line. It runs from Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro to Campanhã via Trindade and is the easiest way to get to the villa. Line F (orange) runs from Senhora da Hora out to Fânzeres. Line G (pink) is under construction and will link Casa da Música through Cordoaria to São Bento, giving the city centre a much-needed western loop.

Reading the zones and what they mean for the price

The Andante system divides Greater Porto into concentric zones. Z1 covers central Porto. Z2 reaches the inner suburbs and most of the bridges. Z3 picks up Matosinhos, Vila Nova de Gaia and the airport. Z4 takes you out to Vila do Conde and Maia.

Single trip prices vary by zone, from around €1.20 within Z1 up to €2.50 for the outer reaches. The clever bit of the system is that the zones are based on how many you cross rather than the actual distance, so a journey that crosses three zones costs the same whether you ride for ten minutes or twenty-five.

For a four-day stay, the Andante Tour 72-hour at €15 almost always works out cheaper than buying single tickets. For a one-day airport day-trip, single Z4 tickets are fine. Always check the zone count for your specific journey on the touch screens at the ticket machines — they show the correct fare before you pay.

Validating, refilling and avoiding the €95 fine

Buying the card is half the job. The other half is validating it before every metro journey. The yellow validation machines sit at every station entrance and on the platform. Tap your card flat against the reader, wait for the green light, and walk through. There are no physical gates on the Porto Metro, which makes it tempting to skip — do not. Inspectors travel the lines and a €95 fine is the standard penalty for an unvalidated card.

On buses and trams, the validators are inside the vehicle near the door. Same drill: tap the Andante and wait for the green confirmation.

Refilling the Andante is straightforward at any metro station ticket machine, in English. The machines accept cards and cash. You can also use the Andante app on a phone with NFC to top up on the go, which is what most of our regular guests do by their second visit.

Which station is closest to Villa Almada and where each line takes you

Trindade is the home station for Villa Almada. From our garden gate it is around 8 minutes uphill, and Trindade is the only station on the network where four lines (A, B, E, F) meet. That makes it the best base for almost any journey across Porto.

São Bento is 10 minutes downhill and serves Line D and the regional trains, so it is the right station for a day trip to Guimarães or Braga. Aliados is 9 minutes away and serves the same line. Bolhão, on Line A, is 12 minutes from us and lands you straight at the Mercado do Bolhão for breakfast pastries.

For the airport, take Line E from Trindade direct to Aeroporto. Journey time around 30 minutes, fare €2.45 with Andante. For Matosinhos beach, Line A from Trindade direct to Senhor de Matosinhos, around 25 minutes. For the Gaia wine cellars, Line D from São Bento across the bridge to Jardim do Morro and walk down.

• Andante card: €0.60 reusable plastic card, top up with single trips or daily passes.
• Andante Tour: €6 for 24 hours unlimited, €15 for 72 hours unlimited. Best deal for most visitors.
• Validation: Tap on the yellow validators before every journey. €95 fine for an unvalidated card.
• Operating hours: Roughly 6am to 1am every day. Trains every 5 to 10 minutes daytime, longer gaps after 11pm.
• Accessibility: All stations have step-free access via lifts. Trains are level-boarding for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
• Apps: Andante app for top-ups and live timetables, Google Maps for routing — both work in English.

Frequently asked questions

If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Porto travel blog for restaurants, walking routes and seasonal tips.