We’ve literally just arrived to Porto (and Portugal) for the first time to scout it out for retirement. Took us three flights to get here from Alaska. You have no idea how much we appreciate this video, it’s helping us navigate the Porto Metro. Thank you!
My biggest confusion was... you cannot just load up the amount of Euros and then use it. You have to know exactly what zone you're travelling to. In London, we tap in and out so the system knows your starting point and endpoint. It's just different. I understand they're experimenting with Visa cards? Buses - we found it a little difficult as we couldn't find stores selling trips close by to the stops for buses.
Yea, it's a bit of a pain and way too confusing with the different zones. It would be much nicer if it was simplified. However, we do like the prices here better than the Tube. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
I agree, one of the things that I loved the most about getting around in London was that I never had to worry about having the right ticket. It felt a lot more like stress-free exploring when you didn't have to worry about such things
The last time I was in Porto was in 1985 when I was in the military and I believe they didn’t had the metro yet because some terrain difficulties and that’s way is mostly outside and not underground. Good to see the cars not vandalized with graffiti like here in Philadelphia and New York City.
What you saw in 85 was the old tram system which in its heyday was 150 km long, so more than twice the length of today's metro. Now there are only 3 looping tram lines in the centre, being 8 km long, only useful for tourists... 😕
The metro do Porto started in December 2002, and uses what was the train line Póvoa de Varzim-Trindade, with a tunnel to Campanhã station, plus the yellow line perpendicular, conecting Gaia, Trindade to Hospital de São Joao. There is "before metro" and "after metro" way to move around Porto. It works great and is now being extended.
@@portugueseeagle8851 keep in mind that it's most college students main method of transportation as well, along with buses, which makes it a lot more useful and important in my opinion
In Lisbon traveling outside from Lisbon to Cascais one needs to buy a new ticket if you change the zone, for example, you travel 2 short stations, it is zone 1. Further out it is Z2 or 3. You can’t load your z ticket and add zones to it. I have to carry 5 different tickets and label them at home with the zone number to keep them apart. Then they also expire at some point. Bureaucracy at its finest for just using the metro… suspect in Porto it is similar.
I should also mention that you can get a 24 or 72h full-zone card for a slightly higher price, but it pays off for tourists that want to venture further out from the city center, as it's relatively cheap for an unlimited 24h card.
@@Jogibabuuu hey, I am actually not sure. I know you can get 24h cards on the machines, but I think for the 72h ticket you have to go to one of the Andante store counters and ask for a "Andante Tour 3 day" ticket.
This is great info! I always find navigating public transit pretty daunting in a foreign country, but this video certainly made me feel like I could actually do it without much issue. Much love to you guys!
That's so awesome to hear! We appreciate the love and love you back. ❤️ Porto's metro is fairly easy. The prices/zones could be simplified but it's all good. Luxembourg is great...it's free! - Josh & Kalie
Great video! When someone asks if the metro stops at Trindade, you know is not a local person. The Andante shop i like most is at São Bento central train station. Queues are sometimes big, but there are more people working so it tends to be fairly quick. And the building itself is wonderful to look at, so it never gets boring for me.
Loved this video guys and especially that moving metro timeline thing haha. So basically the paper card only holds one type of "zone"? And you are able to transfer from the metro to the bus on the same fare within the hour? Thanks again!
I would add, do not get on a metro without scanning your ticket/card at an Andante (yellow) terminal machine. If you change trains you must do it before boarding the next train. Because they do not have turn-styles, the ticket compliance is managed by random checks by metro security on the metro or in the station leaving the metro, and they do this quite often. They will want you to present your ticket/card and they will check it with their handheld scanners, if it wasn't validated within the past hour you will get fined (120 € or about $127 USD) regardless of whether you are holding a valid ticket/card. Just think of the yellow Andante machine as a turn-style and be sure to verify your ticket/card before each time you step on the metro.
That was very helpful! One question, we just moved to Porto but don't have our permanent address yet (staying in an Airbnb so can't get mail yet) and want to get the monthly personal card, do they mail it or give it to you on the spot?
Great video! I can't wait to move to Porto & I will definitely use the metro since I want to walk more & not rely on a car so much like I do here in California.
Perfect timing! Thanks for doing this video... headed out to my first trip in Porto and plan on using this as our primary method of urban travel. Great info, simple, to the point... you nailed it (as always)! :)
Hey, Bud. We're glad the timing was right for you! We look forward to you all getting here. Most places that you'll go, you'll need a Z2 ticket. If you do go to Matosinhos, get a Z3. You can use the machine to "change" your "title". - Josh & Kalie
nice video but did not get the instructions on obtaining the card prior to loading it :) and is there any unlimited card that u top up yearly for all zones and forget it to load up again ?
Cards are provided in the machines themselves. If you don't have a card to top up, you pay for a paper ticket at purchase (€0.60). You can get a PVC card made, which you can then choose all zones and pay on a monthly basis. - Josh & Kalie
Hey guys, thanks for this video! Every time I watch it I learn something new. I was hoping you could clarify the process of initially getting your card if you are arriving at the airport and need to take the purple line to Trindade station. After purchasing your initial card, is it best to put a single title (trip) onto the card for Trindade station? Then, when we want to use the metro again, add more titles specific to each zone we are going to visit. Thanks again for all your help and advice.
Hey Kevin, because the Andante card and zoning system is overly complicated we would get in the weeds really quickly trying to explain it. Your scenario sounds fine. When moving here to live, the easiest thing to do would be to get your single journey ticket from the airport into the city, get a temporary (paper) card and load it with 10 Z2 journeys assuming that's the area that'll cover your trips on a regular basis, track your usage for a week or so and then at the end of the month or very beginning of the next month, go to an Andante shop when it's off peak and buy your card. Load the card for the month ahead because it is currently on a monthly basis and not a 30 day basis for the monthly pass. Alternatively, if your usage is low, get a PVC card or keep your paper one and just load 10 at a time. 😅 - Josh & Kalie
Hi Guys (and Gals) I have slipped off the radar a minute as I just moved to Long Beach, Cal and started a new part time job. I am still planning to move to Porto as soon as I can. Hope all is well. Much Love, Your Driver and friend Rich
Hi MrBswede, we had to check on it directly for you. Sorry our reply took 4 days. I tried to do a senior discount at the machine and I didn't find the option for kids or seniors so it must be that you need to get the PVC card for that age group at the Loja Andante. Hope that helps. - Josh & Kalie
Hi - great video, thanks. I'm probably being dim but could you clarify something for me. I get the zoneing and that I need to buy the Andante card to start with but how does this link to the non-personalised paper tickets purchased for occasional travel? Which do I use for validation - the Andante or the paper ticket. How is the Andante card updated with my ticket purchases. Bit late but hopefully you will see this
The Andante card and the paper card are separate. You can use either. We know residents that haven't gotten the PVC Andante card yet and still use their paper ticket. They need to be handled as separate things though. - Josh & Kalie
How do you calculate what zone ticket you need? Is there a certain number of stops for each zone, like Z2 is between 2-8 stops, Z3 is between 9-16 stops, etc? And I know the Andante Metropolitan card let's you ride (unlimited) all forms of Porto's public transport... but how far out does that extend? And if you go past the limit, does the card discount the rest of the ride? IE: Let's say I have the card. I get on the train to Aveiro. Aveiro is outside the max limit of the Andante card. Let's say the limit is to Espinho. Does that mean, using the Andante card, a train ride to Aveiro only costs the price of a ticket from Espinho to Aveiro? Or would a rider have to get off at Espinho and then board the next train to Aveiro to see that fare?
We really wish we could tell you there's an easy answer, but the reality is, there isn't. At the station is probably the easiest to tell. At the station's ticket machine, there's a small "table" where you can look up your destination station and see what zone it is. The Z+# formula is the zones crossed. The PRT or VGS or MTS + number is the number zone in the region you're in. Personally, we think that information is pretty useless. Check out this page from the transportation website. en.metrodoporto.pt/pages/399 It still doesn't do a great job, that's why the best way is to just look up on the site here en.metrodoporto.pt/pages/391 by plugging in your starting station and your ending station the right side...or look at the table on the ticket machines at the station. 😅 - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Well, I did find this, which sort of describes the Andante card, the Andante Municipal monthly pass, and the Andante Metropolitan monthly pass. www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Prices/assinaturas
There is a map on each and every station where you can see where you are and how many zones you need to where you go, provided you can point on the map where you want to go. The other question is easy, the system doesn't know where you leave the metro or bus, you only validate the card when entering. The Andante zones extens to Povoa de Varzim to the North, Espinho e Oliveira de Azemeis to the south, and Paredes or Arouca inland. In case you have Andante card for the entire system and want to go by train to Aveiro, you must buy before boarding a ticket for said train from Espinho (where Andante ends) to Aveiro. In case you are caught without valid ticket, it is unpleasant, so ask before boarding.
@@jmbpinto73 Ah, that does make it a lot easier. I'm used to the Seoul and Tokyo subways, where you have to validate your ticket/card when you enter and then again when you leave. And your charge is based on the distance between the two.
@@jmbpinto73 So if you live in Espinho you can buy a monthly pass for 50 euros and take the CP to Porto and then the Metro anywhere around the city as often as you need to? I think that was the price listed in jetfowl's link.
Great video and valuable insight! Curious - do you see yourselves moving back to the US (or elsewhere) once your child hits school age? It seems that Portugal has a high outflow of young folks once they hit college, likely seeking better professional opportunities elsewhere. I'm thinking of relocating to Portugal, for a while, but I am concerned because I have a 9 year old child.
Hi Andre, thanks. We don't see ourselves moving back to the US because we enjoy exploring other parts of the world so if it's not Portugal, it'll be on to somewhere else. You're right about better professional opportunities being elsewhere, but hopefully with an American and EU passport, there will be a wide range of opportunities. - Josh & Kalie
As an inmigrant living in Porto, I came with my family, and my 9 YO kid adapted quite well to the Portuguese school system, he learned portuguese quickly, given that we come from a Spanish-speaking country. My kid loves Portugal, the security, cleanness, and beauty of this country amazes everybody, if he ever goes back to our origin country he clearly states that is : *só a férias*
When using metro in Matosinhos does the metro stop at every stop or would I need to signal to be picked up and/or push a button to indicate that I want to get off at a stop? Thanks!
Metros stop at every stop unless it's an Express, which you'll know. There's not signaling to be picked up or for the metro to stop. Buses need signals but metros do not. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks to this video navigating the metro was easy when we were visiting Porto last week. But I have a question based on what we experienced. What constitutes one trip? Can you ride multiple times on a singular line within the zone purchased and not be docked more than one trip? In other words, your second trip will only be docked once you switch lines (within the purchased zone). I hope that made sense. Obrigado!
Each ticket has a maximum time to ride on. If you look at their page under the down arrow, - before reading the comments - click it and you will see, they explained everything, all zones, all prices, all types of cards, plus links to all the websites. I'll be there in two days' time, I would be lost without their hard work. My first stop will be Sette Bicas and Norte Shopping Mall straight from the airport. So grateful.
I really enjoyed this particular video because it answers questions and familiarizes one with necessary information valuable to a tourist! Thank you for posting this video and I am interested in visiting Gaia also when I visit next year! Again , thank you!
That's so great to hear! Thank you 🙏 It sounds like we did exactly what we had aimed to do with this video. We wanted it to help familiarize those moving here or traveling here with the metro in a fun way. - Josh & Kalie
Can you explain what this trip means? Is it from one station to the next? Or from one destination to another? And is it a one way ? Or both ways like going and returning?
1 destination is a trip. If you're going from Bolhão to Jardim do Morro, that's a trip. If you're going from the Airport to Trindade, that's a trip. If you need a return ticket, you need two trips. - Josh & Kalie
Great video - I am trying to get from the airport by metro to a Meo store to buy a SIM card and see the Norte mall is the most logical . From the mall I want to get to Campanha train station to continue my travels. Question- when I buy my andante card at the airport can I buy different zones on the card or pay full price from the airport zone even though I’ll be making a stop? Txs
Good question. It's best to ask the attendants there. However, if it seems like it's going to be complicated. Get your monthly pass for how many zones you'll need on a monthly basis and then by a single journey from the airport into the city. - Josh & Kalie
The equivalent of the Lisbon card is the Porto.CARD, which functions the same as the one in Lisbon. It's for all zones, buses, and other modes of transport as well as museum entries for free or at a discount and other city discounts. www.portocard.city/en/#:~:text=CARD%3F-,The%20Porto.,of%20public%20transport%20in%20Porto. If you're talking about simply using the metro on single journeys lets say. Yes, it's more complicated than it needs to be but on each machine you can look up your destination station and it'll show you on the table what zone you need to buy. - Josh & Kalie
Is it possible to buy multiple tickets with one transaction? I couldn’t find a way to do it. Had to do 3 separate transactions for 3 people even though we were all getting the same ticket. Did I miss something?
The zone thing doesn't make sense to me. Seems like you can cheat the system by buying a z2 title and traveling to a z3 or z4 zone without getting caught since they don't require you to tap off at the final destination.
Let's say you board at Trindade station with a z2 ticket. You tap your card and start your ride. Once you pass Senhor da Hora station and head to Vasco da Gama station you're now into your third zone. If a metro worker gets on the train and checks your ticket by scanning it, it'll tell them you boarded at Trindade at what time you tapped and that your ticket is a z2 and since your now in your 3rd zone, you'll be fined for not having the right ticket. The not getting caught part is simply luck that at worker didn't jump onboard while you were riding illegally. - Josh & Kalie
If this is what I remember, it's to change the card type. For example, it is an Z2 card and you need a Z3 or an z4 card. The first option just recharge it on the category already loaded and the second changes it. I was in doubt because I remember reading it "change card type" when I used but it may differ from machine to machine but it was on that same page, where it shows how many trips are available in it, the date and hour of the last validation and the expiring date.
this is the Porto metro/subway system, it just travels through the city and to other cities that belongs to the Porto metropolitan area as Povoa do Varzim and Vila nova de Gaia. Coimbra is located further down in Portugal and has it's own metro system. For railway travels between them, there are the actual train lines to make travels from city to city.
Yes, but their metro is different and if you're living there, you're probably better off getting a monthly pass because Lisbon is less walkable due to how spread out it is compared to Porto. That's our opinion. Cool avatar by the way! - Josh & Kalie
Thank you so much! We hope we blending information with entertainment well enough. We didn't want to present this stuff in a dry way. 😁 We appreciate the encouragement, Caroline. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere it was not dry at all. It was to the point not to long with scenery. I loved the blue line with the dots like the lines show on the Metro. Nice touch.
The title is the trips. As said, the Z2 card gives you an entire hour that starts counting from the moment you validate it, taking into consideration how long you take on each trip. You can buy how many titles/trips you want to but can only validate it once during the time given by you card (one hour on the Z2 card).
The convoluted mess certainly is centered around the zones. It's so different than most places with metros. We don't like it but it'll likely not be fixed for a long time. The main thing is that for trips around the city center a z2 should be fine. z3 if you're trying to go from Porto city center to Matosinhos and z6 if you're going to the airport. - Josh & Kalie
Wow thats an awesome Video very helpful and informative 👍 thanks guys we all need this if we live in portugal 🇵🇹.
Thank you very much! We appreciate the positive feedback. Hope hope the format was fun for an entertaining and informational video. - Josh & Kalie
We’ve literally just arrived to Porto (and Portugal) for the first time to scout it out for retirement. Took us three flights to get here from Alaska. You have no idea how much we appreciate this video, it’s helping us navigate the Porto Metro. Thank you!
So great to hear that! Welcome to Porto!! 😁 Great some rest and enjoy the city. 💪 - Josh & Kalie
My biggest confusion was... you cannot just load up the amount of Euros and then use it. You have to know exactly what zone you're travelling to. In London, we tap in and out so the system knows your starting point and endpoint. It's just different. I understand they're experimenting with Visa cards? Buses - we found it a little difficult as we couldn't find stores selling trips close by to the stops for buses.
Yea, it's a bit of a pain and way too confusing with the different zones. It would be much nicer if it was simplified. However, we do like the prices here better than the Tube. 😁 - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere agreed! massively cheaper! Happy with the transport system generally in Portugal.
I agree, one of the things that I loved the most about getting around in London was that I never had to worry about having the right ticket. It felt a lot more like stress-free exploring when you didn't have to worry about such things
Yeah, we didn’t like the system either. It’s confusing
The last time I was in Porto was in 1985 when I was in the military and I believe they didn’t had the metro yet because some terrain difficulties and that’s way is mostly outside and not underground. Good to see the cars not vandalized with graffiti like here in Philadelphia and New York City.
Thanks for sharing, Luis. The metro is around 20 years old. It still looks and feels very new. - Josh & Kalie
What you saw in 85 was the old tram system which in its heyday was 150 km long, so more than twice the length of today's metro. Now there are only 3 looping tram lines in the centre, being 8 km long, only useful for tourists... 😕
The metro do Porto started in December 2002, and uses what was the train line Póvoa de Varzim-Trindade, with a tunnel to Campanhã station, plus the yellow line perpendicular, conecting Gaia, Trindade to Hospital de São Joao. There is "before metro" and "after metro" way to move around Porto. It works great and is now being extended.
@@portugueseeagle8851 keep in mind that it's most college students main method of transportation as well, along with buses, which makes it a lot more useful and important in my opinion
In Lisbon traveling outside from Lisbon to Cascais one needs to buy a new ticket if you change the zone, for example, you travel 2 short stations, it is zone 1. Further out it is Z2 or 3. You can’t load your z ticket and add zones to it. I have to carry 5 different tickets and label them at home with the zone number to keep them apart. Then they also expire at some point. Bureaucracy at its finest for just using the metro… suspect in Porto it is similar.
Great video Josh, Kalie and Cia! We loved this one! It is concise, fun, and on point! This will be so helpful for anyone traveling to Porto or Gaia.
I should also mention that you can get a 24 or 72h full-zone card for a slightly higher price, but it pays off for tourists that want to venture further out from the city center, as it's relatively cheap for an unlimited 24h card.
Will I get a 72h ticket from the vending machine?
@@Jogibabuuu hey, I am actually not sure. I know you can get 24h cards on the machines, but I think for the 72h ticket you have to go to one of the Andante store counters and ask for a "Andante Tour 3 day" ticket.
This is great info! I always find navigating public transit pretty daunting in a foreign country, but this video certainly made me feel like I could actually do it without much issue. Much love to you guys!
That's so awesome to hear! We appreciate the love and love you back. ❤️ Porto's metro is fairly easy. The prices/zones could be simplified but it's all good. Luxembourg is great...it's free! - Josh & Kalie
Great Idea...when I flew in I was lost at the kyosk and a kind lady showed us the ropes...I think she was a volunteer
Thanks, Andy. That's great that you got help. We know PT Metro can be a little confusing. - Josh & Kalie
At.the beginning, yes, but later it becomes very simple...
Great video! When someone asks if the metro stops at Trindade, you know is not a local person. The Andante shop i like most is at São Bento central train station. Queues are sometimes big, but there are more people working so it tends to be fairly quick. And the building itself is wonderful to look at, so it never gets boring for me.
😂 True.
Good tip, José. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks Kalie & Josh, this is a helpful start. It's confusing as heck from a distance. At least you had Cia to explain things to you.
You're welcome. It's certainly a start there are some minutia that we didn't get into. Cia did a good job of guiding us. - Josh & Kalie
Thank you Expats Everywhere!😊🙌🏼🙌🏼. I’ve been following you for awhile now, and happy to say that we will be moving to Porto in April!😊🙌🏼🙏🏼.
Awesome! Thank you! We appreciate you following us. Congrats on the pending move. We're really happy for you. 😊 - Josh & Kalie
Loved this video guys and especially that moving metro timeline thing haha. So basically the paper card only holds one type of "zone"? And you are able to transfer from the metro to the bus on the same fare within the hour? Thanks again!
Thanks for the love! That timeline took a bit to design and figure out. Yes, one zone (silly, we know), and yes, you can transfer. - Josh & Kalie
I would add, do not get on a metro without scanning your ticket/card at an Andante (yellow) terminal machine. If you change trains you must do it before boarding the next train.
Because they do not have turn-styles, the ticket compliance is managed by random checks by metro security on the metro or in the station leaving the metro, and they do this quite often.
They will want you to present your ticket/card and they will check it with their handheld scanners, if it wasn't validated within the past hour you will get fined (120 € or about $127 USD) regardless of whether you are holding a valid ticket/card.
Just think of the yellow Andante machine as a turn-style and be sure to verify your ticket/card before each time you step on the metro.
Well said, Buddy. - Josh & Kalie
Good to point out they are also making a new line that goes from gaia to porto.
Thanks…like the visuals, very helpful (red arrows and blue line with stops).
Glad you like it! It took a bit of time to go but we thought it added value. - Josh & Kalie
That was very helpful! One question, we just moved to Porto but don't have our permanent address yet (staying in an Airbnb so can't get mail yet) and want to get the monthly personal card, do they mail it or give it to you on the spot?
Hey, Tonia. We got ours on the spot. We took little passport photos. - Josh & Kalie
At every stations there is a board which tells you what ticket to buy to a specific station.
That's correct! - Josh & Kalie
Great video! I can't wait to move to Porto & I will definitely use the metro since I want to walk more & not rely on a car so much like I do here in California.
Thanks! Also, great name! Porto is incredibly walkable for able-bodied people. Have a great time here. - Josh & Kalie
Perfect timing! Thanks for doing this video... headed out to my first trip in Porto and plan on using this as our primary method of urban travel. Great info, simple, to the point... you nailed it (as always)! :)
Hey, Bud. We're glad the timing was right for you! We look forward to you all getting here. Most places that you'll go, you'll need a Z2 ticket. If you do go to Matosinhos, get a Z3. You can use the machine to "change" your "title". - Josh & Kalie
OMG THANK YOU! 🙏🏼💪🏼 Now we can go! We are ready!
You're so welcome! 😁 Thanks for the comment, Katka. Let us know when you're here! - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Sure I will send you message. 🙂 And I can't wait already for you will post video from your travels. Enjoy you all! 🖖🏼
Can my dog ride on the metro? If so, what do you need for your pet to ride on the metro and is it free for them? Thank you as always, guys!
Yes and is free
Yes, they can. They just need to be on a leash. It's free and not super uncommon to see. Thanks for the comment. - Josh & Kalie
I’ve ridden Porto metro, it’s clean and efficient , it can be busy! At night not so much..
Well said, Alex. It's especially busy on game day for FC Porto. - Josh & Kalie
nice video but did not get the instructions on obtaining the card prior to loading it :) and is there any unlimited card that u top up yearly for all zones and forget it to load up again ?
Cards are provided in the machines themselves. If you don't have a card to top up, you pay for a paper ticket at purchase (€0.60). You can get a PVC card made, which you can then choose all zones and pay on a monthly basis. - Josh & Kalie
Can you load for example, a z2, z3, and a z4 ticket on a single card?
Hey guys, thanks for this video! Every time I watch it I learn something new. I was hoping you could clarify the process of initially getting your card if you are arriving at the airport and need to take the purple line to Trindade station. After purchasing your initial card, is it best to put a single title (trip) onto the card for Trindade station? Then, when we want to use the metro again, add more titles specific to each zone we are going to visit. Thanks again for all your help and advice.
Hey Kevin, because the Andante card and zoning system is overly complicated we would get in the weeds really quickly trying to explain it. Your scenario sounds fine. When moving here to live, the easiest thing to do would be to get your single journey ticket from the airport into the city, get a temporary (paper) card and load it with 10 Z2 journeys assuming that's the area that'll cover your trips on a regular basis, track your usage for a week or so and then at the end of the month or very beginning of the next month, go to an Andante shop when it's off peak and buy your card. Load the card for the month ahead because it is currently on a monthly basis and not a 30 day basis for the monthly pass. Alternatively, if your usage is low, get a PVC card or keep your paper one and just load 10 at a time. 😅 - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for a new video. I was getting stuck on too many old country music songs. Always glad to see yall.
You're welcome! We're trying two a week with 1 being about Portugal 🇵🇹😁 Old country songs aren't necessarily bad. - Josh & Kalie
Hi Guys (and Gals) I have slipped off the radar a minute as I just moved to Long Beach, Cal and started a new part time job. I am still planning to move to Porto as soon as I can. Hope all is well. Much Love, Your Driver and friend Rich
Welcome back! Thanks for the update, Rich Driver 😉 Good to hear from you and that you've made a move. One more move to go! 🙌 - Josh & Kalie
For senior discounts do you need to buy at the Loja instead of at the kiosk?
Hi MrBswede, we had to check on it directly for you. Sorry our reply took 4 days. I tried to do a senior discount at the machine and I didn't find the option for kids or seniors so it must be that you need to get the PVC card for that age group at the Loja Andante. Hope that helps. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Thanks for checking!!! Next time I’m there if I use the metro I will see if I can figure that out at the loja andante.
Very exciting to hear you’ll be traveling through Europe! :)
😁 We hope it happens. The world is changing fast. - Josh & Kalie
Hi - great video, thanks. I'm probably being dim but could you clarify something for me. I get the zoneing and that I need to buy the Andante card to start with but how does this link to the non-personalised paper tickets purchased for occasional travel? Which do I use for validation - the Andante or the paper ticket. How is the Andante card updated with my ticket purchases. Bit late but hopefully you will see this
The Andante card and the paper card are separate. You can use either. We know residents that haven't gotten the PVC Andante card yet and still use their paper ticket. They need to be handled as separate things though. - Josh & Kalie
Good one, friends--essential information! :)
Thanks, Shanna! We appreciate that. - Josh & Kalie
Great vlog! Thank you. I will be coming in on a cruise and wonder if there is a metro fro Leixos port to Porto city center? Thanks!
You can take either a bus or the metro on the station Mercado in Matosinhos
Thanks for doing this beautiful videos more info for travellers your video film very clear and brilliant. ❤🌹
So nice of you. - Josh & Kalie
How do you calculate what zone ticket you need? Is there a certain number of stops for each zone, like Z2 is between 2-8 stops, Z3 is between 9-16 stops, etc?
And I know the Andante Metropolitan card let's you ride (unlimited) all forms of Porto's public transport... but how far out does that extend? And if you go past the limit, does the card discount the rest of the ride?
IE: Let's say I have the card. I get on the train to Aveiro. Aveiro is outside the max limit of the Andante card. Let's say the limit is to Espinho. Does that mean, using the Andante card, a train ride to Aveiro only costs the price of a ticket from Espinho to Aveiro?
Or would a rider have to get off at Espinho and then board the next train to Aveiro to see that fare?
We really wish we could tell you there's an easy answer, but the reality is, there isn't. At the station is probably the easiest to tell. At the station's ticket machine, there's a small "table" where you can look up your destination station and see what zone it is. The Z+# formula is the zones crossed. The PRT or VGS or MTS + number is the number zone in the region you're in. Personally, we think that information is pretty useless. Check out this page from the transportation website. en.metrodoporto.pt/pages/399 It still doesn't do a great job, that's why the best way is to just look up on the site here en.metrodoporto.pt/pages/391 by plugging in your starting station and your ending station the right side...or look at the table on the ticket machines at the station. 😅 - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere Well, I did find this, which sort of describes the Andante card, the Andante Municipal monthly pass, and the Andante Metropolitan monthly pass.
www.cp.pt/passageiros/en/train-times/Prices/assinaturas
There is a map on each and every station where you can see where you are and how many zones you need to where you go, provided you can point on the map where you want to go.
The other question is easy, the system doesn't know where you leave the metro or bus, you only validate the card when entering. The Andante zones extens to Povoa de Varzim to the North, Espinho e Oliveira de Azemeis to the south, and Paredes or Arouca inland. In case you have Andante card for the entire system and want to go by train to Aveiro, you must buy before boarding a ticket for said train from Espinho (where Andante ends) to Aveiro. In case you are caught without valid ticket, it is unpleasant, so ask before boarding.
@@jmbpinto73 Ah, that does make it a lot easier. I'm used to the Seoul and Tokyo subways, where you have to validate your ticket/card when you enter and then again when you leave.
And your charge is based on the distance between the two.
@@jmbpinto73 So if you live in Espinho you can buy a monthly pass for 50 euros and take the CP to Porto and then the Metro anywhere around the city as often as you need to? I think that was the price listed in jetfowl's link.
Great video and valuable insight! Curious - do you see yourselves moving back to the US (or elsewhere) once your child hits school age? It seems that Portugal has a high outflow of young folks once they hit college, likely seeking better professional opportunities elsewhere. I'm thinking of relocating to Portugal, for a while, but I am concerned because I have a 9 year old child.
Hi Andre, thanks. We don't see ourselves moving back to the US because we enjoy exploring other parts of the world so if it's not Portugal, it'll be on to somewhere else. You're right about better professional opportunities being elsewhere, but hopefully with an American and EU passport, there will be a wide range of opportunities. - Josh & Kalie
As an inmigrant living in Porto, I came with my family, and my 9 YO kid adapted quite well to the Portuguese school system, he learned portuguese quickly, given that we come from a Spanish-speaking country.
My kid loves Portugal, the security, cleanness, and beauty of this country amazes everybody, if he ever goes back to our origin country he clearly states that is : *só a férias*
When using metro in Matosinhos does the metro stop at every stop or would I need to signal to be picked up and/or push a button to indicate that I want to get off at a stop? Thanks!
Metros stop at every stop unless it's an Express, which you'll know. There's not signaling to be picked up or for the metro to stop. Buses need signals but metros do not. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks to this video navigating the metro was easy when we were visiting Porto last week. But I have a question based on what we experienced. What constitutes one trip? Can you ride multiple times on a singular line within the zone purchased and not be docked more than one trip? In other words, your second trip will only be docked once you switch lines (within the purchased zone). I hope that made sense. Obrigado!
Each ticket has a maximum time to ride on. If you look at their page under the down arrow, - before reading the comments - click it and you will see, they explained everything, all zones, all prices, all types of cards, plus links to all the websites.
I'll be there in two days' time, I would be lost without their hard work.
My first stop will be Sette Bicas and Norte Shopping Mall straight from the airport. So grateful.
Looks like Cia enjoyed the shopping excursion!
She did but also we couldn't really show shopping in the mall because of her. - Josh & Kalie
Hi, do you have to tap on and tap off the card like the London underground or just once when you go on the station?
If you're transferring lines or to a bus, tap to transfer. If you've ended your journey, there's no need to tap. - Josh & Kalie
I really enjoyed this particular video because it answers questions and familiarizes one with necessary information valuable to a tourist! Thank you for posting this video and I am interested in visiting Gaia also when I visit next year! Again , thank you!
That's so great to hear! Thank you 🙏 It sounds like we did exactly what we had aimed to do with this video. We wanted it to help familiarize those moving here or traveling here with the metro in a fun way. - Josh & Kalie
Yeah, It’s fun to shop at Primark!
Kalie loves it, Esther!
Can you explain what this trip means? Is it from one station to the next? Or from one destination to another? And is it a one way ? Or both ways like going and returning?
1 destination is a trip. If you're going from Bolhão to Jardim do Morro, that's a trip. If you're going from the Airport to Trindade, that's a trip. If you need a return ticket, you need two trips. - Josh & Kalie
Great video - I am trying to get from the airport by metro to a Meo store to buy a SIM card and see the Norte mall is the most logical . From the mall I want to get to Campanha train station to continue my travels. Question- when I buy my andante card at the airport can I buy different zones on the card or pay full price from the airport zone even though I’ll be making a stop? Txs
Good question. It's best to ask the attendants there. However, if it seems like it's going to be complicated. Get your monthly pass for how many zones you'll need on a monthly basis and then by a single journey from the airport into the city. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere thanks for all this good information! Great video
How is it possible that Lisbon card is so simple to use and Porto is so confusing with zone
The equivalent of the Lisbon card is the Porto.CARD, which functions the same as the one in Lisbon. It's for all zones, buses, and other modes of transport as well as museum entries for free or at a discount and other city discounts. www.portocard.city/en/#:~:text=CARD%3F-,The%20Porto.,of%20public%20transport%20in%20Porto. If you're talking about simply using the metro on single journeys lets say. Yes, it's more complicated than it needs to be but on each machine you can look up your destination station and it'll show you on the table what zone you need to buy. - Josh & Kalie
Is it possible to buy multiple tickets with one transaction? I couldn’t find a way to do it. Had to do 3 separate transactions for 3 people even though we were all getting the same ticket. Did I miss something?
You didn't miss anything. It's one of a couple metro systems that we've come across where you can only purchase one ticket at a time.
Do I have to tap my Andante card when I get off the Metro and exit in Porto?
No, not unless you're transferring to another mode of transportation. - Josh & Kalie
The zone thing doesn't make sense to me. Seems like you can cheat the system by buying a z2 title and traveling to a z3 or z4 zone without getting caught since they don't require you to tap off at the final destination.
Let's say you board at Trindade station with a z2 ticket. You tap your card and start your ride. Once you pass Senhor da Hora station and head to Vasco da Gama station you're now into your third zone. If a metro worker gets on the train and checks your ticket by scanning it, it'll tell them you boarded at Trindade at what time you tapped and that your ticket is a z2 and since your now in your 3rd zone, you'll be fined for not having the right ticket. The not getting caught part is simply luck that at worker didn't jump onboard while you were riding illegally. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere thanks
Great video, thanks!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching. - Josh & Kalie
One of the most complicated metros I know. Lisboa is much simpler and better explained in their stations.
Is other contact meaning how many stops you will use?please explain to me
If this is what I remember, it's to change the card type. For example, it is an Z2 card and you need a Z3 or an z4 card. The first option just recharge it on the category already loaded and the second changes it.
I was in doubt because I remember reading it "change card type" when I used but it may differ from machine to machine but it was on that same page, where it shows how many trips are available in it, the date and hour of the last validation and the expiring date.
Does thi train for porto use only or gors to coimbra too?
this is the Porto metro/subway system, it just travels through the city and to other cities that belongs to the Porto metropolitan area as Povoa do Varzim and Vila nova de Gaia. Coimbra is located further down in Portugal and has it's own metro system.
For railway travels between them, there are the actual train lines to make travels from city to city.
very useful. thanks!
Glad it was helpful! - Josh & Kalie
Where do you buy the card to load up with trips?
Paper card is from the machine itself. - Josh & Kalie
Thanks for sharing this video.
Thanks for watching! - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere 😀
Thanks!
Woah! Yumiko, this is so nice of you. 🙏 Thank you very, very much for supporting our content. 🤗 - Josh & Kalie
Would buying "trips" work roughly the same way in Lisbon?
Yes, but their metro is different and if you're living there, you're probably better off getting a monthly pass because Lisbon is less walkable due to how spread out it is compared to Porto. That's our opinion. Cool avatar by the way! - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere thanks for the heads up!
Thanks😁
I think i missed it,i dont have nif so what can i do? Can i get a ticket still
you don't need a nif to buy an andante card, the NIF is optional once you buy or recharge it.
@@Antonio88870 thanks
This is was great, this will be useful for so many people. Well done!! 🙌
Thank you so much! We hope we blending information with entertainment well enough. We didn't want to present this stuff in a dry way. 😁 We appreciate the encouragement, Caroline. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere it was not dry at all. It was to the point not to long with scenery. I loved the blue line with the dots like the lines show on the Metro. Nice touch.
What means „title“?
The title is the trips. As said, the Z2 card gives you an entire hour that starts counting from the moment you validate it, taking into consideration how long you take on each trip. You can buy how many titles/trips you want to but can only validate it once during the time given by you card (one hour on the Z2 card).
Actually, they rarely chexk tickets in metro
Love ❤️ you both
Its Rubi line not pinck line
Went a little fast explaining the ticket buying.
One can get the metro map only from their local office downtown, pull a number and wait an hour when it’s full. It’s a joke.
the metro map is online, no?
Yes and there are apps. - Josh & Kalie
@@ExpatsEverywhere I did this in 2019. There weren't any apps on this. What app is avail now ? Thanks.
Always super crowded what's actually called a tram. Worst underground experience
Huh?
0:58
Interesting how every instruction on how to use the Metro says it's simple when it's a convoluted mess. Also, Whyareyoutalkingsofast??
The convoluted mess certainly is centered around the zones. It's so different than most places with metros. We don't like it but it'll likely not be fixed for a long time. The main thing is that for trips around the city center a z2 should be fine. z3 if you're trying to go from Porto city center to Matosinhos and z6 if you're going to the airport. - Josh & Kalie