🚇 What is the ANDANTE Pass?
The Andante is a travel card that allows you to use multiple public transport services across Porto and nearby cities with just one card.
It includes:
- Porto Metro
- STCP buses (public buses in Porto)
- Urban trains by CP (to Braga, Guimarães, Aveiro, Marco de Canaveses)
- Private operators within the Porto Metropolitan Area
💡 The system is based on zones: the more zones you travel through, the higher the cost. But for students aged 23 or under, the price is €0.
🔄 What types of passes are available?
The Andante pass is loaded onto the Andante Card, and the price varies depending on the number of zones you select. The most common options are:
💶 Andante 3Z (3 contiguous zones) – around €30
Covers 3 neighboring zones chosen when you buy the card. Ideal if you're traveling within Porto and nearby municipalities.
💶 Andante Municipal – around €30
Covers all zones within a single municipality (e.g., only Porto, or only Vila Nova de Gaia).
💶 Andante Metropolitano – €40
Covers the entire Porto Metropolitan Area, perfect if you live farther from the city center and attend classes in downtown Porto.
🆓 Free? Yes, for students aged 23 or under!
Since December 2024, all young people aged 4 to 23 (up to the end of the month in which they turn 24) can travel for free on public transportation within the Porto Metropolitan Area using the Andante pass.
Who is eligible?
- Erasmus students with temporary residence in Porto
- Higher education students up to age 24 enrolled in integrated study programs (like Medicine, Architecture, etc.)
- International students with valid enrollment in a Portuguese institution
🧾 What do you need to get the Andante Card?
To request your Andante Sub23 Card, you'll need:
- ✅ Valid ID (Passport or EU ID card);
- ✅ Portuguese NIF (Tax Identification Number)
- ✅ Proof of address in Portugal (e.g., rental contract or declaration);
- ✅ Proof of enrollment in a Portuguese university;
- ✅ Completed and signed application form;
💸 Card issuance costs:
- Standard Andante card (Blue or Gold): around €6
- Sub23 card with student profile: one-time fee, usually between €3 and €6 depending on where you apply
📍 Where to apply for the card?
You can apply for your Andante card in person at:
- Andante Stores (Trindade or São Bento metro stations)
- STCP Customer Service Centers
- CP train stations (Comboios de Portugal)
- Citizen Shops (Lojas do Cidadão) – e.g., in Aliados, Gaia, or Matosinhos
🔁 How does the monthly load work?
Even though it’s free, the Andante pass must be loaded every month, meaning you need to activate it monthly (it's not automatic).You can load it at:
- Metro ticket machines
- Ticket counters
- Andante stores or Payshop agents
- The Anda mobile app (in some cases)
If you don’t load your card each month, it won’t be active and you won’t be able to travel, even if the pass is free.
⚠️ Important: Improper use can result in fines
The Andante card is personal and non-transferable. Only you can use it.
Transport inspectors check regularly and may ask:
- If you have your card with you
- If your pass is loaded and valid
- If the card belongs to the person using it
If you're caught using someone else’s card or an invalid one, you may be fined between €30 and €100.
⏳ How long are you eligible?
- Until the end of the month you turn 24 (general rule)
- Or until age 25, if enrolled in an integrated master's degree
🚀 Discover Porto without Limits
With the free Andante pass, you can go to class, explore the historic center, ride the metro to the beach in Foz, take a train along the Douro River, or visit cities like Braga and Guimarães, all without paying for individual tickets.
It’s the easiest and most affordable way to enjoy your Erasmus experience in northern Portugal!
❓Still Don’t Have a Portuguese NIF?
No worries, the NIF4Erasmus team can help you get your Portuguese tax number quickly, easily, and 100% online, essential for requesting your free Andante pass.🔗 Official website: www.nif4erasmus.com
📱 Instagram: @nif4erasmus
