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Advice on skipping Porto urban.area

nickyvee

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Ingles May 2024
Looking for Metro advice on skipping the Porto urban area and heading straight into the littoral beach way. Someone mentioned going straight to Matosinhos or the one before it. What Metro lines to take and where to get off? Thanks

I have been to Porto before so will not be missing any by skipping the walk out of town.
 
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Will the Metro in Sao Bento take me to Matosinhos?
Yes it will. If you are at São Bento , you are 200 meters away from the Sé Cathedral where your caminho starts.
Walk down the stairs to the river Douro and walk, the Douro at your left along the river , a beautiful walk .At the end of the Douro starts the Atlantic Ocean. Keep it at your left too and you arrive after a beautiful walk at the boulevard in Matosinhos. Don’t miss it and better than the metro or bus.
 
You also have the option of taking the bus from downtown up to Matosinhos. As I remember, it’s the #505 double decker bus that we caught right across the street from Sao Bento. Its route is along the Douro River and then up the coast. The last stop near the Matosinhos market is where you get off. It’s both a pleasant and scenic ride up to your Camino starting point. Bom caminho!
 
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I have been to Porto before so will not be missing any by skipping the walk out of town.
The walk from Porto to Matosinhos along the river and then the ocean is quite nice if you want to consider walking. You’re quickly out of any parts of Porto that you would have seen before.
 
You also have the option of taking the bus from downtown up to Matosinhos. As I remember, it’s the #505 double decker bus that we caught right across the street from Sao Bento. Its route is along the Douro River and then up the coast. The last stop near the Matosinhos market is where you get off. It’s both a pleasant and scenic ride up to your Camino starting point. Bom caminho!
You also have the option of taking the bus from downtown up to Matosinhos. As I remember, it’s the #505 double decker bus that we caught right across the street from Sao Bento. Its route is along the Douro River and then up the coast. The last stop near the Matosinhos market is where you get off. It’s both a pleasant and scenic ride up to your Camino starting point. Bom caminho!
A nice alternative is taking the antique tram. It starts between São Bento railwaystation and ends a few yards from Fosse do Douro, the place where the river Douro ends up in the ocean. From there follow the ocean at your left to Matosinhos. As I described more above in this thread. Nice walk. I loved it many times I was there.
Have a drink at one of the terraces. My favorite drink is a cold Vinho Verde, Portuguese young wine from the north of Portugal. With sunshine it makes a pleasant day out .
 
Will the Metro in Sao Bento take me to Matosinhos?
Take the metro from Sao Bento to Trinidad (2 stops) then switch to the A line, and go to Mercado. You will need a 3 zone one way ticket for each person (1.80euro if you are recharging- a little more if you need a fresh ticket). Validate your ticket before getting on at Sao Bento, and again when switching at Trinidad.

Metros start running about 6am and the journey from Trinidad to Mercado is about 40 minutes.

There is a free restroom just inside the north doors to the Mercado on the left.
 
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The walk from Porto to Matosinhos along the river and then the ocean is quite nice if you want to consider walking. You’re quickly out of any parts of Porto that you would have seen before.
I agree 100%. It's very nice walking along the Duoro to sea! IMO the only reason to skip this would be if you are short on time.
A nice alternative is taking the antique tram. It starts between São Bento railwaystation and ends a few yards from Fosse do Douro, the place where the river Douro ends up in the ocean. From there follow the ocean at your left to Matosinhos
That would be a fun alternative.
 
Looking for Metro advice on skipping the Porto urban area and heading straight into the littoral beach way. Someone mentioned going straight to Matosinhos or the one before it. What Metro lines to take and where to get off? Thanks

I have been to Porto before so will not be missing any by skipping the walk out of town.
I found the walk out of town quite pleasant actually. We just did it today. If doing the central route then consider bussing perhaps.
 
Looking for Metro advice on skipping the Porto urban area and heading straight into the littoral beach way. Someone mentioned going straight to Matosinhos or the one before it. What Metro lines to take and where to get off? Thanks

I have been to Porto before so will not be missing any by skipping the walk out of town.
you can catch the 500 bus from the pot to Matosinhos along the river and sea it's a beautiful and quick ride
 
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If you walk down the R. Hintze Ribeiro to the beach there's a little tourist office at the end with a pleasant café alongside - both have stamps for your credential before you hit the seafront

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The TO also had maps and leaflets on the different Caminhos.

Opening times this week:

Saturday
  • 9:30 am–7 pm
Sunday
  • Closed
Monday
  • 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Tuesday
  • 9:30 am–7 pm
Wednesday
  • 9:30 am–7 pm
Thursday
(Corpus Christi)
  • 9:30 am–7 pm
Hours might differ
Friday
  • 9:30 am–7 pm

Bom Caminho
 
Walking out of Porto along the river to the ocean is not an urban walk. It is actually quite beautiful. Do it in the morning at sunrise. I really enjoyed this walk to Matosinhos. Not sure why people want to take the metro or bus for this part.
 
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Looking for Metro advice on skipping the Porto urban area and heading straight into the littoral beach way. Someone mentioned going straight to Matosinhos or the one before it. What Metro lines to take and where to get off? Thanks

I have been to Porto before so will not be missing any by skipping the walk out of town.
I really enjoy Porto and could spend many happy days there. I like the walk out of Porto, down to the river and out to the ocean. I don’t understand why people take the tram to Matosinhos and start there unless to shorten the first stage. As an alternative to a long first stage to Labruge or beyond you could spend the first night in Matosinhos and ease your way into the Caminho. Whatever you decide, Bom Caminho!
 

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