Survival Kit
Welcome to Porto! A city with undeniable beauty that will easily captivate you! We’re sure you’ll be well received by the Portuguese, who are extremely hospitable, kind and friendly people. Did you know that Portugal is the oldest nation-state in Europe? Get ready for fantastic shopping, excellent food and a very rich history. This will be an unforgettable trip.
Getting to Porto
By plane. The nearest airport is the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport. You can travel to the center of Porto by metro and the trip takes about 30 minutes. The Porto metro system is one of the most modern in Europe and is available between approximately 6:00 AM and 00:30 AM.
By train. Porto has two train stations with excellent national connections: Porto-São Bento and Porto-Campanhã. Right outside the train stations there are bus stops, taxis and metro stations that will take you to any part of the city.
FROM ONE SIDE OF THE CITY TO THE OTHER
Bus. Porto has a quite extensive and well organized bus network that allows you to access any area of the city. Rates vary depending on the area of the city. On the other hand, Yellow Bus has tourist buses (hop ON/hop OFF) valid for 24 hours after the first validation, which travel to the city’s main tourist points..
Taxi. Taxi companies function 24 hours a day and are ready to take you anywhere in the city. At the bottom of the page you’ll find some useful contacts.
On foot. Most monuments and points of interest are located in Porto’s historic center and the best way to see them is on foot. Even though it may be a bit tiring, you can explore a significant part of the city without resorting to any kind of transportation.
Uber. Uber is available in the city of Porto. You can call your driver by using the app, which makes it easy to travel within the city.
Tips
In Portugal, tipping is up to the customer and is not included in the bill. If you want to leave a tip for the service, it’s up to you.
WI-FI
Porto has free WI-FI and almost all establishments have a network that is accessible to everyone. The free and unlimited WI-FI network in Porto is called "Porto Digital". There is also internet access in museums, restaurants and cafés.
Language
Locals speak Portuguese, but the vast majority of the population can communicate in English. In some restaurants, menus are also available in other languages such as French and English, but this is an exception, not the rule.
Electricity
In Portugal, the electric current is 220 volts with a round two-pin socket. If in your country of residence the electricity characteristics are different, you’ll need an adapter and/or transformer.
Currency
Portugal joined the European Union in 1986 and began using the Euro in 2002. No other currency is accepted in the country, but there are exchange points at the airport and in the center of Lisbon, and some hotels also offer this service.
Cool Tip: If you use a different currency, calculate conversions with the help of this site.
Weather
The weather in Porto, which is located in the northern part of the country, is typically Atlantic temperate and, during the winter, it rains a lot. The city has about 11 hours of sunshine per day during the summer months and relatively high temperatures. During the winter, average temperatures range between 2ºC and 14ºC (35ºF and 57ºF), and in the summer these temperatures can reach 37ºC (98ºF).
DISCOUNTS & SAVINGS
Some museums are free or have reduced rates on special days and times. On some Sundays, there are several museums with free entrance until 2 PM.
USEFUL CONTACTS/TELEPHONE NUMBERS
National Emergency Number (Fire Department, Police and Ambulances): +351 112
Police: +351 222 006 821
Airport: +351 229 432 400
Taxi: +351 912 301 252
Tourist Information: +351 300 501 920
São João Hospital: +351 225 512 100
Santo António Hospital: +351 222 077 500
Pharmacies:
Farmácia Central do Porto: +351 22 200 1684
Farmácia Barreiros: +351 22 834 9150
Farmácia Sá da Bandeira: +351 22 207 4040
Farmácia São João: +351 22 549 0975
Fire Department:
+351 222 038 387
+351 225 073 700
Portuguese Red Cross: +351 226 006 353
City Hall: +351 222 097 000