After hours sitting on an airplane, you finally arrive at your destination. But wait! Porto’s airport is 30 minutes away from the city center by car, and that’s on a good day! Therefore, airport transport is needed.
In this article, we talk about Porto airport transfers: do you really need one? What are the options? And how much does it cost?
No time to read a long article? Here’s a summary
- You can take either a Private Porto airport transfer or a shared Porto airport transfer; none of them is very expensive.
- You can also take a cab or call an Uber, but you’ll be subjected to the availability at the spot.
- The cheapest way to get to the city centre is, naturally, by taking the subway. It takes around 35 minutes (+ waiting time…) and the frequency depends on the day & time of the week.
Porto airport transfers: all you need to know
Do I need an airport transfer when I travel to Porto?
Like I mentioned before, Porto’s international airport is far away from the city center so you do need to find a way to get from there to your hotel in Porto.
You can get there using the metro of Porto, but it is more convenient to simply take a Porto airport transfer. There are private transfers but also shared ones, which are very cheap, and I list them all below.
Is it better to call an Uber / taxi or to take a Porto airport transfer?
Both alternatives are available, but I personally like the driver to be waiting for me inside the airport when I arrive, instead of having to waste my time using the Uber app to call a driver and then waiting for him outside. This is the main reason why I prefer a Porto airport transfer over calling an Uber. You can also take a taxi (they are waiting outside for clients), but you need to wait in line for your turn, which might take a while depending on the affluence of people.
So let’s talk about Porto airport transfers…
Private Porto airport transfer: the best option
If you are carrying a lot of luggage or simply prefer some privacy and zero waiting times, then I recommend you to take a private Porto airport transfer. Moreover, another advantage of taking a private Porto airport transfer is that if your flight is delayed, the driver will kindly wait for you (unlike a shared transfer).
This service in particular that I wholeheartedly recommend is called Central de Fretes and it has over 1800 positive reviews!). It provides English speaking drivers (but most of the drivers speak several languages) and premium vehicles with air conditioner, that can accommodate groups of up to 8 people. If it is already sold out, don’t worry! You can book the same service (with the exact same provider) using this link instead.
The more people traveling with you, the better the pricing gets. For instance, a couple will pay 12€ each for the transfer, whereas a group of 4 people will pay 6€ each. All and all, a very affordable option to get comfortably and quickly to your hotel in Porto.
Shared transport: the cheap option
This is the cheapest option of Porto airport transfers as it only cost 11.90€ / person. This is only for those who want to be dropped off at the city center because if you’re staying elsewhere, there’s an extra charge. Each passenger is allowed 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on bag.
Moreover, one of the things I like bout the shared Porto airport transfer is that there is one available every 45 minutes, so you don’t have to wait for long.
This is perfect for solo travelers (even though they do have to pay double the price – 23,80€), minimalist packers and small families (they provide car seats upon request as well). Another plus in this service is that they have drivers that speak English, Spanish and French.
Private transport: my trusted option
I have been personally working with a private transport firm that provides private Porto airport transfers called A Firma. I am very happy with its service because all the drivers are very polite, always on time and eager to help you with any inconvenience.
Besides Porto airport transfers, A Firma makes transfers to any other place (Aveiro, Coimbra, Belmonte, Lisbon, Madrid… just to name a few).
I am so confident in the overall quality of this company that I have partnered up with them to offer an exclusive discount for my readers. If you want to hire their services, simply send an email to a.firma.private@gmail.com and mention the code PORTOALITIES5%, which gives you a 5% discount in any service they provide. How cool is that?! 🙂
Large group transport
PortoAirportTransfersTO is one of the highly-rated Porto airport transfers. The company is not strict to large groups but it’s one of the few who provides transport for groups larger than 16 people.
You can see the car models and prices online on their booking system which is convenient (except for the private coach).
This is great for large groups (max 49) like people traveling for business, conferences or weddings.
Disability transport (wheelchair-accessible option)
We have to admit, Porto needs to do a lot more to accommodate people with disabilities, but we’re getting there.
If you’re looking for a wheelchair accessible transport, Taxis Pinheiro provides a van with a platform that fits multiple people. This is one of the few private Porto airport transfers for people with a wheelchair. You can call them on +351 917 987 172 to speak English with someone and you can also email them on geral@taxispinheiro.com to get a quote.
It’s also important to know that buses and subway stations in Porto are wheelchair accessible.
Your hotel transport service
Some of the best hotels and apartments in Porto provide airport transfers to their clients at an additional fee, so it’s always recommended to check with your hotel before the flight.
Apartments like the stunning Predicados do Douro Palace or Armazém Luxury Housing offer airport shuttles.
You also have hotels like the Art Deco masterpiece Vincci Porto and the romantic Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel, both with Porto airport transfers available upon request.
This option is good for people who don’t want to deal with bookings and want to go straight to the hotel.
Metro of Porto
This might require a bit of learning on your part, but that’s one of the reasons why traveling is fun (at least we think so). We’re very proud of the subway system in Porto as it has been recognized as one of the best in the world on multiple occasions.
You will have to read my guide to familiarize yourself with how the subway works in Porto and then you’ll be good to go.
The subway is conveniently located at the airport so you can go directly to many stations (Casa da Música, Trindade, Bolhão, etc.) without the need to change the subway line or to take a bus. It takes around 30-40 minutes to arrive at downtown Porto, but it’s an enjoyable ride since the subway tracks are not all underground.
When you’re at the airport, make sure you purchase a card from the machine, charge it and scan it on the subway platform before you enter the train. The subway security does random checks on passengers’ cards and if you’re caught, you will pay a high fine.
This option is good for environmentally-conscious people and for those who want to save money as it’s the cheapest of Porto airport transfers. If you’re carrying a lot of bags, maybe look for an alternative because other riders are traveling with their bags as well and it does get crowded.
Uber / Cabify / Kapten
Good news, Uber operates in Porto! And if you don’t have internet on your phone, worry not, Porto’s airport has Wi-Fi so you can order your Uber upon arrival. Uber is one of the best Porto airport transfers thanks to the convenience in ordering a car and paying for the ride through an app.
Just heads up, taxis are not a fan of Uber, so they sometimes get hostile towards the drivers. So always request your ride far away from the taxi stands to avoid any drama.
Moreover, it might be a bit difficult to find your Uber (there are always tons of cars outside, such as taxis, Uber / Cabify / Kapten drivers as well as regular folks picking up their family), which is why I definitely prefer to get a proper transfer service.
Car rental
I don’t really fancy the idea of renting a car in Porto unless you are planning to do road trips to nearby regions like the Douro Valley, Braga, etc. The reason for this is that the city centre is very small, there are plenty of public transport options and it is impossible to park.
However, if you really want to rent a car then use a price aggregator like AutoEurope that allow you to have a hassle-free car booking process and free cancellation.
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