Porto Airport (OPO)

About Porto Airport

Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro International Airport, located around seven miles northwest of the center of the city, is the second biggest in the country. A base for budget airlines such as EasyJet, Ryanair, and TAP Portugal, the airport seems to increase its passenger numbers year upon year. Currently, over 13 million passengers use the airport every year.

Porto airport wasn't always so busy. When it was opened in 1945, the airport was known as Petras Rubras, which means red rocks, and was named after the area it was located in. To this day, some people still call the airport by its old name. In 1990, the airport was renamed after Portuguese President Francisco de Sá Carneiro. Carneiro was on his way to Porto when his plane crashed in 1980, killing everyone on board. Most people, however, simply call it Porto Airport.

In the years since it was opened, Porto airport has continually increased in size, with the new terminal opened in 2006. Porto airport flies to dozens of destinations throughout Europe and internationally, offering a direct service to Toronto, Montréal, and Rio de Janeiro. The growth of the airport is a testament to the growing popularity of the city it serves.

Things to do near Porto Airport

Porto has plenty to recommend it as a tourist destination. Your exploration of this part of Portugal can start the moment you leave the airport. Whether you’re on a short layover or longer trip, you can keep yourself busy without traveling too far.

• Get your first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean at Agudela beach. The nearest beach to the airport, this popular beach offers rolling sand dunes and a boardwalk where you can take a stroll and admire the crashing waves.

• Explore Porto's ancient fishing past at As Casas de Mar de Angeiras. Close to the airport, these old stone houses were where families lived as they made a living from fishing the Atlantic ocean. The tradition goes back a long way; the houses incorporate into their foundations the remains of Roman salting tanks used in the manufacture of garum, ancient Rome's most popular condiment.

• Take a walk on the wild side at Maia Zoo. A reptile house, a sea lion show, and crowd-pleasing white tigers await visitors to this facility. The zoo is heavily involved in wildlife conservation, so you'll be supporting a worthy cause when you visit.

• See a marvel of Renaissance engineering at Aqueduct park. A few miles east of the airport, this park preserves the remains of the 16th-century aqueduct that was crucial to the irrigation of the area.

• Take a trip below the waves at Porto Sea Life Center. Located north of the city center, this state-of-the-art aquarium is home to sharks, turtles, penguins, and other residents of the world’s oceans. More than just an educational place to visit, it’s also fun to explore the undersea world.

Transit options at Porto Airport

• Porto airport flies to just about every major airport in Europe and many small ones. It has excellent connections with other cities through Portugal and Spain, and is easily reached from dozens of different countries.

• The airport has a station on the city’s Metro network, making it easy to get into town. The Metro line takes you to Trindade station in the heart of the city.

• GetBus runs from the airport bus station to the bus terminal in the center of Porto, a journey which takes around 25 minutes.

Luggage storage near Porto Airport

Porto is a city with plenty to see, and you don’t need to go far from the airport to start experiencing it for yourself. Blessed with great weather and plenty of historic charm, Porto is ideal to explore on foot. Drop off your luggage with a Bounce storage partner near Porto Airport and find out what makes this city so special.

Activities and attractions near Porto Airport

• Bolsa Palace: See one of Porto’s most beautiful buildings at the Bolsa Palace. Built in the 19th century, this grand palace wasn’t the home of kings and queens, but served instead as the city’s stock exchange. The impressive building dominates Infante D. Henrique Square in the ancient heart of Porto, making it difficult to miss. The building is now open to the public and is worth a visit to marvel at the opulently decorated rooms and stunning architecture. Note that large bags are not allowed inside, so be sure to leave yours at a luggage storage locker in Porto before you visit.

• Cellar tour: Porto’s most famous export has to be the fortified wine that took its name from the city. Explore the world of port with a themed tour of the town. Porto is still home to numerous port cellars, and visiting some of these locations on a tour will give you a greater insight into the origins and history of this unique product. Also, you’ll get to taste some of the finest port around.

• Livraria Lello bookshop: Bibliophiles can’t miss Livraria Lello bookshop, often considered the most beautiful bookshop in the world. Operating since 1869, this is the oldest bookshop in Portugal. Its pinnacles, stained-glass windows, and beautiful central staircase make the building worth a visit even if you’re not looking to buy a book. It’s even been rumored that the bookshop inspired some of the descriptions of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series, since author JK Rowling was a frequent visitor to the store while she was writing the series.