Is the Porto Card Worth It? A Thorough Review

Porto is a beautiful city located in northern Portugal. If you love culture, food, music, and friendly people, you will love Porto. 

This charming city is famous for its production of port wine, a sweet fortified wine that is aged in barrels in the nearby Douro Valley. The mild Mediterranean climate makes it a very pleasant destination for your vacation, and with many things to do in and around the city, Porto has something to offer for every type of traveler. 

To make the most of your time and money in Porto, consider buying the Porto Card. In this article, we break down if it’s worth it to buy this city card for your trip. 
 

What is the Porto Card?

The Porto Card is a tourist pass that gives you many discounts and some free entries to top attractions (including half price for a port wine tasting), museums, and public transportation. It’s a smart card that can be purchased for either one, two, three, or four consecutive days. 

Starting at only 6 EUR, the Porto City Card sounds like a good deal – and for most people visiting Porto, it is. In this post, we’ll go over the card’s benefits and discounts so you can see if the things included in the Porto card are on your list of things to do, and thus, whether it’s worth it to purchase the card.
 

What is the price, and what are the different options?

The Porto Card starts at only 6 EUR for a one-day pass without transportation. So, if you visit just a handful of included attractions, the Porto Card is already worth it. 

With this in mind, you can choose between different lengths of Porto Cards, depending on the number of days you’re visiting Porto and whether you want to use public transportation or not:

Porto Card Walker (without public transportation):

• 1-day Porto Card Walker 6 EUR / 6.30 USD
• 2-day Porto Card Walker 10 EUR / 10.55 USD
• 3-day Porto Card Walker 13 EUR / 13.89 USD
• 4-day Porto Card Walker 15 EUR / 15.80 USD

Porto Card with public transportation:

• 1-day Porto Card with Transportation 13 EUR / 13.89 USD
• 2-day Porto Card with Transportation 20 EUR / 21.37 USD
• 3-day Porto Card with Transportation 25 EUR / 26.71 USD
• 4-day Porto Card with Transportation 33 EUR / 35.25 USD

These prices are amongst some of the cheapest of all the city cards in Europe, so they offer great value. 
 

Where to buy the Porto City Card?

You can buy the Porto Card online, from tourist information centers, and at participating museums and attractions. The card becomes active when you use it for the first time and remains valid for the number of days you have bought it for. 

You can purchase the Porto Card ahead of time online and/or collect it at any of these pick-up points:

• Sé Posto de Turismo, at Calçada D. Pedro Pitões, nº15, daily from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. (November to March 9 a.m.–6 p.m.)
• Porto Welcome Center, Praça Almeida Garret, nº27 (in front of São Bento train station), open daily from 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (November to March 9 a.m.–7 p.m.)
• Ipoint Aliados (Kiosk), Rua Sampaio Bruno w/ Praça da Liberdade, daily from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
• Interactive Tourism Office at the Airport, located on Floor 0 (public arrival area), daily from 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

When you buy the Porto Card with Transportation you will receive two cards—one for the attractions and one for the trains, buses, and metro (tram not included). 

You can use the free entry or discount on attractions only once per card. However, if you buy the Transportation Porto Card, you have unlimited access to the public transport system (again, trams not included) during the validity period of your card.

Besides that, you will also receive a booklet with a map to help you plan your visit to all the top attractions in Porto. 
 

Highlights of the Porto Card

• Access to more than 150 attractions all around Porto, some of them for free.
• Free travel on the public transport system for free with the transportation option (except trams).
• A lot of discounts in restaurants, (port) wine cellars, shops, cruises, churches, parking lots, and many more.
• Why wait in line? Skip the queue at the top Porto tourist attractions with your Porto City Card.

In summary, the Porto Card offers you a hassle-free way to save time and money while you explore the city of Porto. 
 

What are the benefits of the Porto Card & what is included?

The Porto Card comes with many benefits for you to enjoy while roaming around the city. There really isn’t a reason not to buy this card, since you will most likely visit some of these places anyway during your trip to Porto. 

Besides the museums and attractions, you will also get discounts at selected restaurants. Portugal has a delicious food culture, so you’re able to save money with the Porto Card if you’re a foodie. 
 

Free admission

The Porto Card offers free entry to the following attractions: 

• Casa Do Infante-Museu (normal price 2.20 EUR / 2.40 USD)
• Casa-Museu Guerra Junqueiro (normal price 2.20 EUR / 2.40 USD)
• Casa-Museu Marta Ortigão Sampaio (normal price 2.20 EUR / 2.40 USD)
• Museu Romântico / Romantic Museum (normal price 2.20 EUR / 2.40 USD)
• Museu Do Papel-Moeda / Paper Money Museum (normal price 3.00 EUR / 3.25 USD)

Museu Do Vinho Do Porto / Port Wine Museum (normal price 2.20 EUR / 2.40 USD)

Complete list of Porto Card discounts

In addition to the free access, the Porto Card also offers the following discounts: 

50% discount:

• Real Companhia Velha Port Wine Cellars
• Clerigos Tower
• Casa Da Música
• Museu Da Farmácia Do Porto
• Museu Da Misericórdia Do Porto
• Museu De Arte Sacra E Arqueologia
• Museu Militar Do Porto
• Museu Nacional Da Imprensa
• Museu Nacional Soares Dos Reis
• Museu Das Marionetas
• Museu Dos Transportes E Comunicações
• Teatro Nacional São João

35% discount:

• Catedral (cloisters)
• World Of Discoveries, Interactive Museum & Theme Park
• Paço Episcopal

30% discount:

Sea Life Porto
 

20% discount:

• Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art
• Luggage service The Cloak Room
• Various Douro boat tours

25% discount

• Igreja Monumento S. Francisco
• Zoo Santo Inácio (individual tickets only)
• Palácio Da Bolsa

15% discount

• Fish surf school
• Surfaventura surf school

10% discount

• Tour FC Porto Museum + Stadium
• Many restaurants & bars
• Some clothing shops

Discounts at wine cellars

• 50% at Real Companhia Velha Cellars
• 50% at Casa de Cerveja (brewery)
• 30% at Sandeman Cellars (November – March)
• 30% at Ferreira Cellars (November – March)
• 10% at Cockburn’s Cellars
• 10% at Croft Cellars
• 10% at Ferreira Cellars (April – October)
• 10% at Graham’s Cellars
• 10% at J. W. Burmester (April – October)
• 10% at Sandeman Cellars (April – October)
• 10% at A. A. Cálem Cellars (November – March)
• 10% at Taylor’s Cellars

Discounts for public transport and other types of transportation

• Unlimited free use of trains, buses, and metro (with the Transportation Card)
• Up to 15% off bicycle rental
• 20% off at Hop On Hop Off Buses
• 20% off at Cruises on the Douro River, like this one I did.
• 10% off at Gaia Cable Car
• Up to 48% at parking lots in and around Porto

Discounts at Porto restaurants

• 20% off at Coma
• 15% off lunch at DOP by Rui Paula (Michelin Star restaurant)
• 15% off at Mercearia Mosaico de Sabores
• 15% off at Costume Bistro
• 12% off at Hard Rock Cafe
• 10% off at Chez Lapin (5% if you pay with credit card)
• 10% off at many more restaurants & bars
• Various discounts at Fado shows

Discounts at Porto walking and bicycle guided tours

• 25% off at Top Bike Tour
• 25% off at The Other Side Tourism Company
• 21% off at Ecotours Portugal
• 20% off at Meet me at Porto
• 20% off at Oporto & Douro Monuments
• 15% off at Bluedragon
• 15% off at Cooltour Oporto
• 15% off at Oporto Sensation Tour (wine tours)
• 10% off at Oporto Adventure Tours (canyoning & rafting)

Is the Porto Card worth it?

Whether the Porto Card is worth it depends on your schedule and the things you are planning to do. If you love cultural sightseeing, you can save quite a bit with the free museum entries and all the discounts included. 

For food lovers, it also makes sense to buy the Porto Card. You will get a lot of discounts at wine cellars and on port-tasting tours. Additionally, the discounts at Porto restaurants can also save you a fair bit of money, as well as for the Fado shows. 

If your hotel is a bit out of the center, and you buy the Porto Card with Transportation, this will also be beneficial for you. Especially if you plan to visit some areas outside of Porto, the card is worth it. 

In comparison, Porto’s transportation card, Andante, will cost you 4.20 EUR for zones just within the city. On the other hand, the Andante Tour Card (which is exclusively for tourists) gives you access to the outer zones (including the airport). But the Andante Tour Card card costs 7 EUR, which is already more than the Porto Card and does not include any other discounts. 

Since the Porto Card is one of the cheapest city cards in Europe, it won’t break the bank. If you visit just two museums, one restaurant and take a Douro river cruise, it’s already worth your money. 

Few people are aware of the benefits of the Porto Card when they get out of Porto. You can save up to 15% on surf lessons, and many tour companies in the countryside around Porto offer discounts as well. 

At the bottom of this article, you will find an example itinerary to show you how much you can save. 
 

Why should you buy the card on your visit to Porto?

Especially if you are planning to visit the museums and want to sample port at the local wine cellars, the Porto Card offers great value. 

Besides that, the unlimited transportation option is also great if you are going to venture to places around Porto. But even when you stay within the city center, it can save you a lot of time and money to travel by metro and bus. 
 

Example itineraries for how to use the Porto Card

The Porto Card is available from one to four days, so we crafted an example itinerary for each day to show you how much you can save. Please note that for the below savings, you still have to take the cost price of the card into consideration as well. 
 

One day in Porto

Total savings: at least 10 EUR, depending on your meal prices

Morning: Firstly, start your day by visiting the beautiful Cathedral Sé do Porto (1 EUR discount), located in the heart of the city. Then, head to the Clérigos Tower (4.75 EUR off ticket price for tower + museum), which offers stunning views of Porto and the Douro River.

Lunch: Secondly, explore the historic center of Porto, La Ribeira, and have lunch at one of the many restaurants listed in your Porto Card booklet. For example, sit down at Casa das Tortas (10% off), and try a traditional Portuguese dish or the famous Pasteis de Nata (Portuguese custard tart). 

Afternoon: In the end, head towards the Douro River and sample some port and wines. For instance, try Sala de Provas, who gives you a 3.60 EUR discount on their wine tastings. 

Evening: Finally, before sunset, walk across the famous Dom Luis I Bridge, and explore Vila Nova de Gaia, which is where you’ll find a lot more wine cellars. Then, have dinner at Espaço Porto Cruz, where you will get 10% off with the Porto Card. 
 

Two days in Porto

Total savings: more than 25 EUR discount, combined with day one.

If you have two days to spend in Porto, you can start by following the previous itinerary for day one. On your second day, this schedule is a great option: 

Morning: To begin with, visit the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art (4 EUR discount), which also gives you access to a beautiful park to relax in. The museum’s collection houses art from Portuguese and international artists, with a focus on contemporary art from the 1960s to the present day.

Afternoon: Take a bus (free with Porto Transportation Card) and explore the Foz neighborhood. Depending on your preference, either take a discounted surf class (3.75 EUR off for a lesson at Fish Surf School), or watch the underwater world at SEA LIFE Porto (4.95 EUR off entry ticket). 

Evening: Head back with the free bus to the city center and watch a traditional Fado performance, a type of Portuguese music known for its haunting melodies. Caves Calém gives you 2 EUR off their Fado entry price with the Porto Card. 
 

Three days in Porto

Total savings: at least 30 EUR, depending on your meals

With three days in Porto, you can take it a bit easier and slower, giving you more time to relax and soak in the city with ease. 

DAY ONE:
Morning: Start your day by visiting the iconic Clerigos Tower (4.75 EUR off ticket price for tower + museum), which offers stunning views of Porto. Then, head to the Romantic Museum (free with the Porto Card, which saves you 2.20 EUR). 

Afternoon: Secondly, explore the historic center of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk around Ribeira, Porto’s oldest neighborhood, and enjoy lunch at Michelin Star restaurant DOP (15% discount).

Evening: In the end, take a sunset cruise on the Douro River, where you can admire Porto’s skyline from a different perspective (3.70 EUR discount with Douro Acima).
 

DAY TWO:
Morning: To begin your day, visit the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art and its beautiful gardens (4 EUR discount), a must-see attraction if you love art and nature. 

Afternoon: Then, learn about the history of port and wine and taste some of the best port wines in the world (9 EUR discount at Real Companhia Velha Cellars). For this, head to the Vila Nova de Gaia area, which you can reach by crossing the Dom Luis I Bridge.

Evening: Finally, head to one of the many Porto restaurants, like Coma (20% discount), and enjoy a traditional Portuguese dinner. 
 

DAY THREE:
Morning: Start with a visit to the Palacio da Bolsa (2.40 EUR discount), an impressive neoclassical building that was once the city’s stock exchange. Then, walk to the nearby São Bento Train Station to admire its beautiful tilework.

Afternoon: Later on, take a cable car ride from the Ribeira district to the upper part of the city. Here you can explore the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal and many museums (1 EUR discount for round trip cable car + some free museum entries of 2.20 EUR each).

Evening: Lastly, enjoy a traditional Fado performance, at Casa da Guitarra (1 EUR discount).
 

Four days in Porto

Total savings: about 50 EUR, depending on your chosen activity on day four

If you are spending four days in Porto, you can do all the things of the 3-day itinerary plus a nature tour outside the city. 

What about taking surf lessons in the Foz neighborhood (15% off), a 4×4 Guided Wine Cellar tour (10% off), or rent a car with Choice Car (20% off) and exploring many of the wineries yourself (up to 50% off). 
 

Conclusion: Is the Porto Card worth it?

To sum it all up, with the current low price of this city card, the Porto Card is worth it since you are also skipping the queues, which will probably save you a lot of time and frustration. 

Even if you’re not much of a museum person and want to focus more on the Porto cuisine, the discounts at the Wine Cellars and restaurants can add up as well. 

Besides that, it’s super easy to buy the card online, and activate it at one of the pick-up points. We suggest you get the Porto Card at the airport after your arrival, so you can immediately enjoy the benefits.
Ready to explore Porto? Get your city card from GetyourGuide and have the flexibility to cancel up to 24 hours in advance if needed.
 

Where to stay in Porto

For a refreshing dip after a day of exploring, check this list of hotels with pools in Porto.
For other types of hotels, I recommend Booking.com for its wide range of options and flexible booking conditions.
 

Don’t forget travel insurance

Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Travel insurance has you covered in case (part of) your trip to Porto gets canceled, you get sick or hurt while there, and sometimes even when your electronics break or get stolen. I always make sure I’m covered every trip I go on.

Don’t have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you’re already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great and I can personally recommend them.
 

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