Getting Around Porto: A Local’s Guide to the Andante Card (2026)
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The Andante Card is Porto’s public transport pass for the metro, buses, and suburban trains — and if you’re getting around the city, you’re going to need one.
We first used it as tourists back in May 2022, before Porto became home. Now that we use Porto’s public transport regularly, we can tell you exactly which card makes sense for your trip, what things cost in 2026, and the mistakes worth avoiding before you tap in for the first time.
Consider this your no-fluff guide to Porto’s essential transport pass — and how to use it like a local.
What is the Andante Card?
The Andante Card is Porto’s official public transport pass — think of it as the city’s metro card for the entire transport network, covering metro, buses, and suburban trains across the city and surrounding area. Instead of buying individual tickets for every journey, you load your card once and tap in wherever you go — simple, cashless, and genuinely convenient.
A few things worth knowing upfront:
- Each person needs their own card — you can’t tap for multiple people at once, so make sure everyone in your group has one
- Children under 4 ride free — no card needed for little ones
- Not valid on the Funicular dos Guindais or the historic trams — those require separate tickets
- The card works across zones — your fare depends on how many zones you travel through, not which mode of transport you use
There are a few different types of Andante Cards depending on how long you’re staying and how often you’ll use public transport — we’ll break them all down below.
Types of Andante Cards
There are a few different Andante Card options, but if you’re visiting Porto as a tourist, the choice is pretty straightforward. Here’s what you need to know:
Andante Tour 1
The Andante Tour 1 is the go-to card for a single day of exploring. It gives you unlimited travel across the entire Andante network for 24 hours from the moment you first validate it — no zone restrictions, no counting trips.
- Valid for: 24 hours from first validation
- Covers: Metro, buses, and suburban trains across all zones
- Price: €7.75
- Note: Cannot be topped up — it’s a one-and-done card
Perfect for a day of intensive sightseeing, or if you’re arriving by plane and just need one day of transport before switching to walking. (And trust me — Porto’s city center is very walkable once you’re in it!)
Andante Tour 3
The Andante Tour 3 is the best value option for most tourists. Three days of unlimited travel across the entire network, covering everything from the airport run on arrival to day trips to Matosinhos or the beach.
- Valid for: 72 hours from first validation
- Covers: Metro, buses, and suburban trains across all zones
- Price: €16.55
- Note: Cannot be topped up — use it within your 72-hour window
If you’re staying in Porto for 2-4 days and plan to use public transport more than a couple of times, this is almost certainly the card you want.
Andante Azul — For Longer Stays
If you’re staying in Porto for a week or more — or you just want a flexible pay-as-you-go option — the Andante Azul is the card locals use. It’s a rechargeable blue card that you load with individual trips or 24-hour passes as needed.
- Card cost: €0.60
- City center trips (Z2): €1.40 per trip
- Airport trips (Z4): €2.30 per trip
- Bonus: Buy 10 trips in the same zone and get 1 free
- Valid for: 1 year from first use
- Recharge at: Andante machines, Andante shops, or the Andante app
For most short-stay tourists, the Tour cards are simpler and better value — but if you’re on a longer trip or visiting multiple times, the Azul gives you more flexibility.
Which Andante Card is Best for You?
Not sure which card fits your trip? Here’s the quick version:
Staying 1-2 days? → Grab the Andante Tour 1. One day of unlimited transport is plenty for a short visit, and Porto’s city center is walkable enough that you may not even use it much beyond the airport run.
Staying 3-5 days? → The Andante Tour 3 is your best bet. It covers your airport arrival, gets you through a full 2-3 day Porto itinerary, day trip destinations like Matosinhos, and gives you three full days without thinking about fares.
Staying a week or more? → Go with the Andante Azul. The pay-as-you-go flexibility makes more sense for longer stays than buying multiple Tour cards.
Planning to visit museums and attractions too? → Pair your Andante Card with the Porto Card Walker for free museum entry and discounts at 130+ attractions across the city. Together they cover everything the old combined Porto Card used to offer — and honestly, it’s a pretty great combo.
💡 Not sure if you need the Andante Card, the Porto Card, or both? We break down exactly which combination makes sense for your trip in our Porto Card vs Andante Card Comparison Guide.
Where to Buy the Andante Card
The good news — you don’t need to sort this out before your trip. The Andante Card is easy to pick up as soon as you land.
At the Airport
The fastest option is to grab your card at Porto Airport the moment you arrive. Look for the Andante machines in the arrivals area, or head to the tourism office if you need help. Since the airport is in Zone 4, the Andante Tour card is your best bet here — it covers all zones without having to worry about calculating fares for the journey into the city.
Not sure how to get from the airport to the city center? We cover all your options — metro, bus, and taxi — in our Porto Airport to City Center guide.
Andante Shops (Lojas Andante)
You’ll find dedicated Andante shops at most major metro stations, railway stations, tourist offices, and some hotels throughout the city. Staff can help you choose the right card and load it for you — handy if the machines feel overwhelming on your first day.
Ticket Machines
Available at every metro station platform. Just follow the prompts, select your card type, and pay by card or cash. Quick and straightforward once you know what you’re getting.
📱 Android user with an NFC-enabled phone? The Anda app lets you use your phone as your Andante Azul card — no physical card needed. Note: this only works with the Azul card (not Tour cards) and is Android-only.
How to Use the Andante Card
Using the Andante Card is straightforward once you know the one golden rule: always validate before you travel.
Validation — The Most Important Thing to Know
You must validate your card:
- At the start of every journey
- Every time you change lines or switch transport modes
- Up to 10 minutes before your journey begins — so you can validate and then walk to the platform
Forgetting to validate is the most common tourist mistake — and yes, inspectors do check, and fines are real. When in doubt, just tap.
How to validate: Hold your card less than 10 cm from the black circle on the yellow validator machine. A green light and a beep means you’re good to go. A red light means something went wrong — hold the card steady for a few seconds to read the message on screen.
- Metro and trains: Validate at the machines in the station before entering the platform
- Buses: Validate at the reader when you board
One Card Per Person
This one catches families off guard — each person needs their own card. You cannot tap for multiple people at once. If you’re traveling with kids, make sure everyone has their own card loaded and ready before you board. The only exception is children under 4, who ride free without any card.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Andante Card
A few things that’ll save you time, money, and that sinking “did I validate?” feeling mid-journey:
- Activate your Tour card strategically. Like the Porto Card, the Andante Tour runs on a 24 or 72-hour clock from first validation — not calendar days. If you’re arriving late at night, consider waiting until morning to validate so you get a full day of use.
- Use Google Maps or Moovit for route planning. Both apps work brilliantly in Porto and show real-time schedules, connections, and which lines to take. You can also use the Andante trip planner to map your journey in advance.
- Travel off-peak when you can. Porto’s metro gets crowded during morning and evening rush hours. If your schedule is flexible, aim for mid-morning or early afternoon — much more comfortable, especially with kids.
- Heads up — Porto’s metro is expanding. A new pink line connecting Casa da Música to São Bento through the city center is currently under construction. You may notice some works around those areas, but the existing lines are running normally.
- Remember: not valid on the funicular or historic trams. Both require separate tickets. Don’t get caught out — it’s an easy assumption to make.
- Monitor your Tour card’s expiry time. Your 24 or 72 hours start the moment you first validate. Keep track so you don’t assume you have more time than you do.
- Using the Andante Azul? Check your remaining balance at any metro station machine or Andante shop before you travel. Running out of credit mid-journey is a headache easily avoided.
- Pair it with the Porto Card Walker for sightseeing. The Andante Card covers transport — but if you’re planning to visit museums and attractions too, add the Porto Card Walker to your trip. Together they cover everything you need.
Porto’s public transport is one way to get around the city. It is genuinely one of the easiest things to figure out once you have the right card in hand. Grab your Andante Tour card at the airport, validate before every journey, and you’re set — no faff, no stress, no fumbling for change at the ticket machine.
Ready to plan the rest of your trip? Here’s where to go next:
