Porto Guide · Checked October 2026
Porto Andante zones explained: Z2, Z3, Z4 and the correct ticket
Standing in front of an Andante ticket machine and wondering whether Z2, Z3 or Z4 is the right choice? The number is about the zones your journey crosses, not simply the number of metro stops. Here is the practical method, with official sources so you can check before paying.
Quick answer
For an occasional Porto trip, select the Andante zone product required for your actual origin and destination. A Z2 fare covers two adjacent zone rings from your starting zone; longer trips need more rings. Use Andante's interactive zone map or journey planner to check the specific route, rather than assuming every metro journey costs the same.
Key takeaways
- Z2 and Z4 describe how many zone rings your trip may cover, not different types of cards.
- Check the exact departure and arrival stops on Andante's official zone map.
- Validate when boarding and again when you change line or transport.
- An Andante 24 ticket is still zone-based. Buy the right zone coverage before your first trip.
What does Z2 mean on the Porto metro?
Andante calculates occasional tickets from the zone where you first validate. A Z2 ticket is valid for two adjacent zone rings around that starting zone. A Z4 covers four. Because origin matters, the same kind of journey can require a different ticket when it starts elsewhere.
There is no reliable shortcut such as counting the stops or assuming every journey in central Porto is automatically Z2. Use the official map before boarding.
- Open the official zones page and select your origin zone.
- Check whether your destination is included in the zone rings shown.
- At the machine, buy the corresponding Z ticket.
Where do you buy and validate an Andante ticket?
For occasional travel, use the rechargeable blue Andante card. You can buy or load journeys at official selling points and participating station machines. The official Andante site lists where to buy and how the network works.
Tap the ticket on a validator when beginning the trip and when switching lines or transport. A green light indicates a valid check-in. On the metro, validators are at stations; on buses, they are at the vehicle entrance.
Z2 or Z4: how much do they cost in 2026?
The published Andante tariff effective 1 January 2026 lists €1.40 for one Z2 journey and €2.30 for one Z4 journey. The Andante 24 equivalents are €5.35 (Z2) and €8.55 (Z4). Check the operator's current tariff before travelling, because prices and product rules can change.
These are zone products, not prices for named attractions. The correct zone for your route needs checking separately.
Andante 24 versus single journey
If you will take multiple public-transport trips in the same day, compare the cost of single fares with the 24-hour ticket covering your required zones. The daily product does not remove the need to choose the correct zone range.
Visitors who mostly walk around Porto's compact historic core may need fewer tickets than they expect. Mixing a walk with a metro journey can be both simpler and cheaper.
Useful for a stay around Cedofeita and Boavista
For visitors staying around Cedofeita and Boavista, Carolina Michaelis and Casa da Música are practical reference stations. Check the stop where you will board, then confirm the zone needed for the exact destination using Andante's map.
For a broader overview of metro, buses, walking and taxis, see our main Getting Around Porto guide. Our accommodation is a base for discovering the city, not a ticket seller.
Sources & useful links
Planning a Porto stay near useful transport links?
Explore our private rooms between Cedofeita and Boavista, with access to shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.