Porto airport is close to the city and joined to it by the Metro, so most arrivals are simple: 27 to 32 minutes by train or 20 to 30 minutes by taxi to seven of our ten hotels. The other three are in the Douro Valley, 85 to 114 minutes by road, and they need a plan. Here is every realistic way, with the operators' own times and prices, and how we would reach each hotel.
The short answer
For the city, Metro line E runs from the terminal to Trindade in 27 to 32 minutes for €2.30 plus €0.60 for the Andante card, about every 15 minutes through the day and until 00:42. With luggage, or for Gaia, Ribeira and Foz, a metered taxi takes 20 to 30 minutes. For the Douro Valley, book a car to Six Senses, and for Pinhão and Quinta Nova take the Metro to Campanhã and the train up the river, 2 hours 15 to 2 hours 21.
Book a private transfer
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A driver meets you in arrivals with your name on a sign, at a fixed price agreed when you book. Booked and paid with Welcome Pickups through our partner Travelpayouts; we may earn a commission.
The best value into the city and the right answer for The One Monumental Palace, seven minutes' walk from Trindade. For the river and Gaia hotels it means a change and a steep walk with bags.
The simple answer for two or more with luggage and for every hotel away from a Metro station: Gaia, Ribeira, Miragaia and Foz. On Rua das Flores, official taxis may drive to the door where app cabs may not.
The way to the Douro Valley without a hire car, and worth it in the city for late arrivals, families with car seats and Rua das Flores, where only licensed transfers and official taxis may drive up.
The night bus is the answer after the last Metro; by day the Metro is quicker for about the same money.
A beautiful arrival for The Vintage House and Quinta Nova, along the river the whole way. Time your flight to the afternoon train, as the last direct one leaves Campanhã at 17:30.
Vila Nova de Gaia
The hotel is on the Gaia hillside, nine minutes' walk from the nearest Metro stop at General Torres after a change at Trindade, so with luggage the taxi to the door is the way.
Baixa, Avenida dos Aliados
The hotel's own directions are Metro line E to Trindade and a seven-minute walk along Avenida dos Aliados, for €2.30, on the flat.
Rua das Flores, Baixa
Rua das Flores is pedestrian: only official taxis and licensed transfers may drive to the door and Uber and Bolt may not, so a booked driver who knows the access is the easy arrival.
Miragaia
The hotel sits on the slope above Miragaia, 18 minutes on foot from São Bento, so the taxi to the door beats the Metro and a walk with bags.
Foz do Douro
The closest of our hotels to the airport, and far from any Metro station, so a 12-minute taxi is the obvious arrival.
Vila Nova de Gaia
On the Gaia waterfront 21 minutes uphill from the nearest Metro station, so the taxi to the door is the only sensible way with luggage.
Ribeira
In Ribeira by the river, with no car park and São Bento about 12 minutes' walk away, so take the taxi to the door rather than the Metro and the cobbles.
Douro Valley, Samodães, Lamego
No train stops close enough to walk, so book a car from arrivals; the hotel's own transfer is €295 per car each way, and the widget shows an alternative fixed price.
Douro Valley, Covas do Douro
The estate collects guests free at Ferrão station, the stop before Pinhão, at check-in and check-out, which makes the river train the best way up; by road it is almost two hours.
Douro Valley, Pinhão
Pinhão station is eight minutes' walk from the door, so the direct train from Campanhã brings you nearly to reception.
Aeroporto station is at the terminal and is the end of line E, the violet line. Buy a rechargeable Andante card for €0.60 and load a Z4 ticket at €2.30, which allows changes for 1 hour 15 minutes. The ride to Trindade, under the city centre, takes 27 to 32 minutes, and some trains carry on to Campanhã. From Trindade, line D runs every four to eight minutes through the day to Aliados and São Bento and across the top deck of the Dom Luís I bridge to Gaia.
The first train leaves the airport at 06:06 on weekdays, 05:58 on Saturdays and 05:57 on Sundays; the last leaves at 00:42 every day. Staying a few days, the Andante Tour at €7.75 for 24 hours or €16.55 for 72 covers the airport and the whole network.
By road, the three valley hotels are typically 85 minutes (Six Senses), 99 minutes (The Vintage House) and 114 minutes (Quinta Nova) from the arrivals kerb. Without a hire car, a pre-booked transfer is the door-to-door answer; Six Senses sells its own at €295 per car each way.
The train is the slower, lovelier way. Take the Metro to Campanhã, where CP's direct trains leave for Pinhão at 07:30, 09:30, 13:30 and 17:30 and take 2 hours 15 to 2 hours 21, for €12.35 one way. The Vintage House is eight minutes' walk from Pinhão station, and Quinta Nova collects its guests free at Ferrão, the stop before. For Six Senses, Régua station is eight minutes from the hotel by car.
The last Metro leaves the airport at 00:42. After that, STCP's night bus 3M runs hourly to Avenida dos Aliados between 00:30 and 05:30 for €2.50 on board, and taxis wait at the rank around the clock. For a flight due near midnight, a driver who tracks the flight and waits in arrivals means you do not race for the last train.
The Metro is cheap, but Porto is a city of hills and cobbles, and most of our hotels are a walk uphill or down from the nearest station. A taxi takes up to four passengers; a family of five or more, or one that needs child seats, should book a larger car in advance.
The airport asks you to be at check-in 90 minutes before a Schengen flight and two hours before a non-Schengen European one such as London. From our city hotels the drive is typically 20 to 30 minutes; by Metro, allow the walk to the station plus about half an hour from Trindade. From the Douro Valley, allow at least the 85 to 114 minute drive on top, or take a morning train back to Campanhã.
Questions people ask
A Z4 ticket is €2.30, loaded on an Andante card that costs €0.60. It covers the 27 to 32 minute ride to Trindade with changes for 1 hour 15 minutes.
00:42, every day. After that, the 3M night bus runs hourly to Avenida dos Aliados until 05:30.
Typically 20 to 30 minutes to our city hotels; Avenida dos Aliados is about 25 minutes. Taxis are metered, with any tolls added.
Yes, STCP lines 601 and 602 run to Cordoaria about every 25 minutes from 05:30 to 00:30, and the 3M night bus to Aliados runs hourly through the night, all at €2.50 on board.
Take the Metro to Campanhã and the direct CP train to Pinhão, 2 hours 15 to 2 hours 21 for €12.35, at 07:30, 09:30, 13:30 or 17:30. By car it is about 99 minutes.
No. Casa da Companhia's arrival notice says only official taxis and licensed private transfers may drive to the hotel on the pedestrian street, and Uber and Bolt are not allowed.
About 85 minutes by road to Six Senses Douro Valley, 99 to The Vintage House and 114 to Quinta Nova.
Image credits: Robot8A (CC BY-SA 4.0)