London to Porto is a short, easy hop — a shade under 2½ hours non-stop, with four airlines competing hard from every major London airport. That competition keeps fares genuinely low: checking every return fare on sale, the typical price is £43 return — not a sale figure, the median — so you really can reach Portugal’s second city and the Douro Valley for the price of a night out. This guide covers who flies the route, what a return actually costs in pounds, and how to book cheaply.
Route: London (LHR / LGW / STN / LTN) → Porto, Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO)
Distance: approximately 1,400 km (870 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 2h 25m – 2h 35m
Direct flights: Yes — TAP Air Portugal, Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways all fly non-stop, between them covering Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Every fare we found is direct, and Ryanair from Stansted carries the great majority of the cheap ones at £33–£42, against about £115 on TAP from Gatwick.
Fares from London to Porto (GBP)
Porto is a year-round city break, but fares climb in the warm, busy summer (June–September) and over the Christmas and Easter holidays, and drop back in the quieter winter and shoulder months. The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds on the low-cost carriers; the lowest are hand-luggage-only fares booked well ahead.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | low |
| February | — | low-medium |
| March | — | medium |
| April | — | medium-high (Easter) |
| May | — | medium |
| June | — | high |
| July | — | high |
| August | — | high |
| September | — | medium-high |
| October | — | medium |
| November | — | low |
| December | — | medium-high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, this route is cheaper than most people expect: the median return is £43 and the floor £33, so a good return lands around £25–£45 and a fare near £50 is simply the going rate rather than a find. Under about £38 is a genuinely strong deal. Those are hand-baggage Ryanair fares from Stansted — add a bag before comparing them with TAP at £114–£121 from Gatwick, which includes more.
Airlines on this route
All four carriers fly non-stop; there’s no reason to connect on this short a hop. The low-cost airlines usually have the cheapest headline fares, while TAP and BA include more in the base price.
- Ryanair — from Stansted; the most frequent service and often the lowest lead-in fare, hand luggage only unless you add a bag.
- easyJet — from Gatwick and Luton; frequent, competitively priced, generous cabin-bag allowance on the plus fares.
- TAP Air Portugal — from Gatwick; the Portuguese flag carrier, usually including a checked bag and a fuller service.
- British Airways — from Heathrow; the only Heathrow option, handy if you want a full-service flight or are connecting.
With four airlines competing, fares move a lot week to week — comparing all four and staying flexible on the London airport is the easiest way to land the lowest price.
When to book & how to save
- Book 4–10 weeks ahead for the lowest short-haul fares; prices tend to creep up in the final fortnight, especially in summer.
- Travel off-peak — November to March (outside Christmas and Easter) is the cheapest and Porto is still mild and walkable.
- Go hand-luggage only if you can — the headline Ryanair and easyJet fares assume cabin bag only; adding hold luggage can double the price, so pack light for a short break.
- Be flexible on the London airport: the route flies from all four, so a Stansted or Luton departure is often cheaper than Heathrow or Gatwick.
- Fly midweek — Tuesday and Wednesday departures are usually cheaper than Friday–Sunday for a city break.
Arriving in Porto
All flights land at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), about 11 km north of the city centre. The easy way in is the Metro line E (the purple line), which runs from the airport into central Porto in around 30 minutes for roughly £2 (buy an Andante card at the machine and top it up). A taxi or ride-hailing car to the centre costs around £15–£25 and takes 20–30 minutes outside rush hour.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from London to Porto?
Yes. TAP Air Portugal, Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways all fly non-stop from London to Porto, between them covering Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. With four airlines competing you’ll usually find a cheap fare on the day and airport that suit you.
How long is the flight from London to Porto?
The non-stop flight takes about 2 hours 25 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes. The return leg to London is a touch quicker or slower depending on winds, but it’s a comfortable short-haul hop in either direction.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Porto?
A typical economy return runs about £33–£121 depending on the carrier and how far ahead you book, with a median of £43. Ryanair from Stansted sits at the bottom (£33–£42 for most fares), easyJet around £88 and TAP at £114–£121. Peak summer weekends push the low-cost fares up sharply, to £236 at the extreme.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Porto?
January, February and November are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, returns started at £33. Avoid July and August and the Easter and Christmas holidays, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Porto?
Ryanair (from Stansted) carries the great majority of the cheap fares at £33–£42, with easyJet (Gatwick and Luton) at about £88 and TAP Air Portugal (Gatwick) at £114–£121. British Airways (Heathrow) also flies the route non-stop but did not appear among the cheapest fares when we checked. The low-cost carriers have the lowest lead-in fares; TAP and BA tend to include more, such as a checked bag.
Which airport do I fly into in Porto?
You arrive at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), about 11 km north of central Porto. It’s the city’s only airport and is connected to the centre by the Metro purple line in around half an hour.
How far in advance should I book London to Porto flights?
Aim to book 4 to 10 weeks ahead for the lowest fares. Short-haul prices to Porto tend to rise in the final couple of weeks, particularly over summer and the Easter and Christmas holidays, so booking early on a flexible date usually wins.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Yes — midweek departures (Tuesday and Wednesday) are usually cheaper than Friday–Sunday, when weekend-break demand pushes fares up. Flying out and back midweek can easily save £20–£50 on a return.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
