Porto now has several ways to pay for public transport, but they are not interchangeable across every vehicle and station.
The safest all-network option for a visitor remains an Andante ticket. Contactless bank-card payment is convenient when your route is inside the participating network.
Paying with an Andante card
Buy a Blue Andante card from a metro ticket machine or official sales point, load the required zonal ticket and validate before travel.
The same ticket can cover transfers between participating metro, bus and urban-rail services during its time and zone validity. Validate again at every change.
Using Visa or Mastercard contactless
Participating validators accept a physical contactless bank card or a bank card stored on a phone or watch. Each journey is charged at the current Z4 occasional fare and remains valid for 1 hour 15 minutes within the participating Metro and STCP network.
The official system applies a daily cap equivalent to Tour 1 after four or more eligible journeys. Use the same card or device every time so the system can recognise the journeys.
Contactless payment on STCP buses
Since January 2026, all STCP buses accept a bank card, phone or smartwatch for an onboard ticket bought from the driver area. That ticket currently costs €2.50 and is valid only for that bus journey.
This onboard purchase is not the same as validating an Andante ticket or using the participating open-payment travel network. Look at the terminal and follow the option shown.
Use one card outside your wallet
Remove the card you intend to use. Presenting a wallet full of contactless cards can charge or validate the wrong one.
If you begin with a physical card, continue with that physical card. A phone wallet may use a different token even when it represents the same bank account.
Can you pay with the Anda app?
The Anda app supports travel on participating Andante services and calculates eligible fares. Device support and direct validation differ by operating system.
A short-term visitor who wants the fewest technical variables may find a Blue Andante card or supported contactless bank card simpler.
Common payment mistakes
Buying a ticket is not the same as validating it. Validate before the first boarding and whenever you change line or vehicle.
Do not mix a bank card, phone and watch during the same contactless travel day. Do not assume an onboard bus ticket includes transfers. And do not share one Andante card between passengers.
Useful answers
FAQ - Porto transport how to pay
Yes on participating validators and routes. Use the same physical card or device throughout the journey.
