Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Leixões is in Matosinhos, not Porto. Take the shuttle, a taxi, an STCP bus or Metro Line A into central Porto. Porto is hilly; plan to walk down to the river and ride up.

Getting ashoreShip docks
Distance to townAPDL says the terminal is 3 km from the city of Porto (the city boundary) and 10 km from the airport; downtown Porto (Trindade, Ribeira) is farther. Metro Line A runs from Matosinhos to central Porto.
Gateway forPorto Ribeira, Livraria Lello, port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, Douro Valley (tour).
Metro do Porto line A, shuttle or taxi to Porto centernot confirmed (estimate 30-45 minutes) · Metro: €1.40 (Z2), €1.85 (Z3) or €2.30 (Z4) per trip plus €0.60 for the Andante card; 24-hour Andante Tour 1 ticket €7.75, check the zones needed at the station
On the chart

Where Porto lies

Where your ship docks

Most ships dock at the Porto Cruise Terminal on the South Mole of the Port of Leixões in Matosinhos (340 m quay, ships up to 300 m). Smaller ships (up to 240 m) may use the North Cruise Terminal at Dock 1 North in Leça da Palmeira. Taxis and STCP buses wait outside the port.

Shuttle. Often offered; check your planner.

From the gangway

Getting to the sights

The wayTimeCost
Metro do Porto line A, shuttle or taxi to Porto centernot confirmed (estimate 30-45 minutes)Metro: €1.40 (Z2), €1.85 (Z3) or €2.30 (Z4) per trip plus €0.60 for the Andante card; 24-hour Andante Tour 1 ticket €7.75, check the zones needed at the station

Metro do Porto line A, shuttle or taxi to Porto center

Time not confirmed (estimate 30-45 minutes)Cost Metro: €1.40 (Z2), €1.85 (Z3) or €2.30 (Z4) per trip plus €0.60 for the Andante card; 24-hour Andante Tour 1 ticket €7.75, check the zones needed at the station
  1. Walk/shuttle to a Matosinhos metro stop.
  2. Ride line A to Trindade or Bolhão.

2026 fares from Metro do Porto (valid from 1 January 2026). The number of zones from Matosinhos to Trindade was not confirmed, check the destination list at the station. Taxi price not confirmed.

Worth the trip

What to see

Ribeira riverfront

Colorful riverside (UNESCO).

How
Walk down from center.
Time
1 hour
Tickets
Free

Port wine cellar tour (Gaia)

Tasting across the Dom Luís I bridge.

How
Walk across bridge.
Time
1.5 hours
Tickets
Unverified

São Bento station

Blue-tile (azulejo) hall.

How
Walk.
Time
20 minutes
Tickets
Free

Livraria Lello

Famous bookstore.

How
Walk.
Time
30 minutes
Tickets
Paid entry; book ahead (unverified)
A day ashore

Your day, hour by hour

Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.

  1. Metro/shuttle to Porto.
  2. São Bento, Cathedral, down to Ribeira.
  3. Cross the bridge; port cellar.
  4. Back to Leixões 60 minutes early.
Wise counsel

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Beware

  • Steep hills.
  • Transfer time.
Practical matters

Fees, money and access

Accessibility

Hills; use taxis or the Guindais funicular (unverified).

Money

Euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted. Carry a little cash for small cafes, toilets, and markets.

Onward

More of the The Atlantic Coast

Sources & what we could not confirm · 3 sources · checked 2026-11
Still being confirmed
  • Metro zones and ride time to Trindade
  • Taxi price
  • Attraction prices