W Porto wprowadzono bezpłatny transport publiczny: kto może z niego korzystać

Od 10 lipca 2026 roku mieszkańcy Porto mogą korzystać z metra, autobusów, pociągów podmiejskich i innych form transportu publicznego bez opłat na całym obszarze metropolitalnym. Aby to zrobić, należy posiadać kartę miejską Cartão Porto i aktywować odpowiedni bilet. Dowiedz się więcej o warunkach programu, dostępnych trasach i zasadach uzyskiwania bezpłatnych przejazdów

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Porto became the first city in Portugal to offer free access to its entire public transit network for its residents. The new program covers not only trips within the city but also routes throughout the Porto metropolitan area.

According to Euronews, the municipality will spend approximately €20–25 million annually on this initiative. City officials expect that eliminating fares will help reduce dependence on private cars, although they acknowledge that without expanding routes, increasing service frequency, and creating new bus lanes, the fare waiver alone will not be enough.

Let’s take a look at who is eligible for free transit, where the pass is valid, and what you need to do to activate it.

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In Porto, public transportation has become free for residents

The free-ride program took effect on July 10, 2026. It is available to people who have an officially registered place of residence in the municipality of Porto and a Cartão Porto municipal card.

The benefit is not limited to the city’s administrative boundaries. Holders of an activated pass can travel free of charge throughout the entire Andante integrated network, which covers 17 municipalities in the Porto metropolitan area. This allows, for example, free travel from Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia, and other neighboring cities, provided the route is part of the network.

Young people under 23 who already use the national free-ride program do not need to renew their pass. They can continue using their current Andante youth pass. The new municipal funding effectively extends this benefit to adult residents of Porto who were previously ineligible for free transit.

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What types of public transportation does the program cover?

The free pass is valid on the integrated Andante network throughout the entire Porto metropolitan area. City residents can use the following modes of transportation:

- Porto Metro

- Buses operated by STCP and Unir

- CP commuter trains that are part of the Andante system

- City trams

- The Guindais funicular

- River service between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia once it launches and is integrated into the network

The discount applies only to transportation and routes included in the Andante system. It does not cover CP’s intercity and long-distance train services, tourist buses, Douro River cruises, or other commercial transportation services.

Although there is no fare, passengers must tap their card on the validator before each trip and when transferring. Without proper validation, the pass may be deemed invalid during an inspection.

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How do I apply for and activate a free transit pass in Porto?

Residents who already have a Cartão Porto must visit an Andante store or a Payshop location. There, the card will be updated and a free transit pass will be activated, valid throughout the metropolitan area’s entire transit network. According to Mayor Pedro Duarte, the procedure takes only a few seconds.

If you do not yet have a municipal card, you must:

1. Apply for a Cartão Porto online via the municipal portal or in person at the Gabinete do Munícipe—the city’s resident service center

2. Confirm your official residence within the municipality of Porto

3. Once you receive the card, visit an Andante or Payshop location to activate the transportation discount

4. Validate the card before each trip, even if the ride is free

Eligibility for free transit must be renewed annually. This allows the municipality to verify that the person continues to officially reside in Porto. Young people who already have a free Andante pass for passengers under 23 years of age can use it without having to reapply.

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Can tourists and residents of the suburbs ride for free?

The program does not apply to tourists, temporary visitors, or people who live outside the municipality of Porto. To qualify for the benefit, it is not enough to work, study, or rent housing in the city: the applicant must have a registered residence in Porto and be eligible for the Cartão Porto.

Residents of neighboring municipalities, such as Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, or Maia, continue to pay fares at standard Andante rates. An exception is made for passengers eligible for other discount programs, such as the free youth pass.

This requirement has already drawn criticism from the authorities of neighboring cities. A significant number of people commute daily to Porto from the suburbs for work or school, and as a result, they account for a substantial portion of the traffic. However, the municipality currently has no plans to fund their trips from Porto’s budget.

Tourists must purchase regular Andante tickets based on the number of zones or Andante Tour passes. It is not possible to use public transportation for free solely on the basis of staying at a hotel or in tourist apartments.

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How much will the program cost, and why was it introduced?

According to preliminary estimates, free public transportation will cost Porto’s budget between €20 and €25 million per year. The municipality expects that approximately 59,400 residents will use public transportation regularly. About 16,700 of them already have a free youth pass, so the new program could potentially cover nearly 42,700 more passengers.

A tourist tax could be one possible source of additional funding. Mayor Pedro Duarte has suggested raising it to €4 per night—the rate currently in effect in Lisbon. However, a final decision on changing the rate has not yet been made.

The main goal of the program is to encourage more residents to stop relying on cars for their daily commutes. According to local data, about 56% of Porto residents still opt for private transportation, which is why traffic congestion remains one of the city’s main problems.

At the same time, city officials acknowledge that free public transit alone will not eliminate traffic congestion. Public transit must be fast, frequent, and reliable enough to become a viable alternative to cars.

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