Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport transfer

OPO lies in the municipality of Maia, a little over 10 km north of Porto's historic centre. That location makes it the main gateway not only for the city and its riverside districts, but for the whole north of the country: the Minho with its green hills and old market towns, and the terraced wine country of the Douro Valley to the east.

The airport connects directly to the A41 ring road, which links into the motorways heading north towards Braga and north-east towards Guimarães. Most transfers out of the Porto area therefore spend the bulk of the journey on tolled motorway. With a private transfer, tolls are part of the agreed price, so you do not need to deal with the electronic toll gantries yourself.

A standard private car suits one to three passengers with normal suitcases. Families and groups of up to about seven people usually book a minivan, which also has room for pushchairs and extra bags. Larger vehicles are available on request.

Child seats can be requested when booking. If you travel with golf bags, bicycles or surfboards, declare them in the booking so a vehicle with enough space is sent.

The busiest period runs from April to October, when city breaks and wine tourism overlap. September and early October bring the grape harvest in the Douro, and many estates are fully booked. June is lively too, with the São João festivities in Porto and Braga filling hotels around the 23rd and 24th.

Winter is quieter and milder than many visitors expect, though rain is frequent in the north. Old town centres in Porto, Braga and Guimarães have narrow, steep or pedestrianised streets, so for some hotels the driver stops at the nearest point a car can reach.