Line 120 runs from OPO Terminal 1 into Maia’s suburbs
Bus line 120 is a regular STCP-style suburban bus linking Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (Terminal 1) with parts of Maia, not central Porto. It targets local passengers commuting between the airport area and nearby neighborhoods. If your hotel is near a metro stop like Trindade or Bolhão, the purple Metro Line E from the airport is usually 10–20 minutes faster than any bus combo.
The stop for line 120 sits outside Terminal 1 on the road-level bus stands, separate from the Metro station downstairs. Timetables vary by weekday vs weekend, and frequencies can stretch to 30 minutes or more outside peak commuting times. Miss one, and you may wait far longer than for Metro Line E, which typically runs every 10–15 minutes during the day.
Tickets use the Andante system: a rechargeable Andante card costs a couple of euros plus credit, and the airport to Maia zone usually prices in the €2–3 range depending on zones crossed. Regulars preload value onto their Andante and just beep on; they are not comparing tourist tickets or 24-hour passes. You can buy or top up Andante at airport machines near the Metro entrance before heading to the bus stands.
Tourist forums like r/Porto tend to say “just use the metro” for trips from OPO into the city, because local buses like line 120 are slower and less obvious for first-time visitors. Onboard, expect Portuguese stop names on the screens and limited English audio, so you need to know your stop name in Maia or a clear transfer point like a metro-linked hub. This is not the set-it-and-forget-it option that the airport metro feels like.
Common confusion: several STCP lines stop at the airport and head in completely different directions, so grabbing the first bus with a familiar logo can send you away from Porto center. Some visitors who board the wrong line ride it until it hits a metro hub, then transfer to the metro instead of returning to OPO. If you plan to use bus line 120, save a screenshot of the exact stop name and timetable before you land.
How to use Bus line 120 from OPO, step by step
- 1. After exiting arrivals at Terminal 1, follow signs for “Metro / Buses” and head outside to the road-level bus bays in front of the terminal.
- 2. Before walking to the bus stands, buy or top up an Andante card at the ticket machines near the Metro Line E station; load at least €3 to cover zones toward Maia.
- 3. Check the posted timetable or a journey planner app for “Linha 120” from “Aeroporto” toward your Maia stop, noting the next departure time and final destination name.
- 4. Go to the stand signed for line 120, confirm “120” and direction on the front of the bus, then board through the front door when it arrives.
- 5. Validate your Andante card on the yellow validator near the driver; a single zone trip typically deducts around €1–2, depending on your exact route.
- 6. Watch the interior display for Portuguese stop names and follow along on a maps app so you know when your stop in Maia or at a metro hub is coming up.
- 7. Press the stop button one stop before yours, exit through the rear or middle door, and keep your Andante card for future bus or metro rides in Porto.
Practical tip: if your plans change and you just want central Porto, skip line 120 and walk straight downstairs to Metro Line E; from OPO to Trindade usually takes about 30 minutes with clearer signage.