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Going South can be hardis very easy, even when you start from within the nearby city of ''Gaia'', which is just across the Douro River. One spot in Gaia is a roundabout, next to the last metro stop (''Santo Ovídio''). This is an okay spot to stand, even at night, with a little bit of room for cars going to pull overboth towards the north Porto and above as well as going south.It is better if you stare down the highway which points towards A1 Highway going to Lisbon and turning right to Porto and North , there is a small red light and stand there if you want to head back to Porto and North

If Now if you don't want to stand at the roundabout, a better option is head to walk from there onto the first petrol station. Its just a bit more than 2km and you can start hitching right on [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=metro+dom+joao+II,+vila+nova+de+gaia,+portugal&daddr=41.1162456,-8.6073042+to:Unknown+road&hl=en&geocode=FaxvcwId6q18_yk_Hei00mQkDTHO6jAWa1xOEw%3BFVVicwIduKl8_ymBCBysLXskDTHgckG0vesAEw%3BFVspcwIdOMd8_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=17&via=1&dirflg=w&sll=41.116058,-8.605481&sspn=0.003734,0.006899&ie=UTF8&ll=41.102784,-8.601093&spn=0.003735,0.006899&t=h&z=17 a petrol station on the motorway]. This is the best option, and it will not take very long to catch a lift south.You can walk about 2km along the edge of the highway (the shoulder is very wide, and it isn't very dangerous) until you reach the petrol station--this is the most straight-forward way to get there. If you don't want to walk on the highway to get to the petrol station, then you can walk down the hill for 2km as indicated on the map, then you cross the motorway through a tunnel. Walk up a smaller hill for 200m until on your left there is a spring and a smaller sandy road. On both sides of the sandy road there are two wild gardens. On the end of the road (heading to the motorwayLisbon 2) Aveiro 3) up comes a house on your left and a door on your right. The door leads to the petrol station framed by a 1.80 metre high fence on top with barb wire. The fence has already been repaired quite a bit. After 50m you come to another metal door which leads you onto the petrol station. It can be opened with a little rusty wire on the right - just pull very hard. Otherwise you can always shout for somebody to open the door. (August 2011Viseu 4)Salamanca

Better option: 100m before Just get out of the petrol metro station there's [http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=metro+santo+ov%C3%ADdioSanta Ovidio,+vila+nova+de+gaia,+portugal&daddr=Unknown+turn left and then left again to look at the narrow road&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41that leads straight to A1 Highway and turns right for going back to Porto on the right.105436,-8Walk along until you reach a redlight for pedestrians to cross.601093&spn=0.004123Now out here don't stop and keep movins straight ahead until road splits,0cars going to Lisbon get on the Left ( center road ) .010568&sll=41You walk there as well.104943,-8( this is not a HIGHWAY but just a motorway so no problem of any kind ) .601319&sspn=0Walk straight to the direction of the sign that says Lisbon and points to A1 highway.004123,0.010568&geocode=FZxfcwIdpax8_ylz2JPBLXskDTGsUdsNETeCXg%3BFZM0cwIdGbt8_w&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=17&z=17 As you walk on a little confused you will see this road passing goes under a road bridge which is actually the real highway] - it. Don's an easy place t try to go up into hitch hike under the highway, bridge since cars are at high speed and no body wants to stop over. Walk further on and just walk your way until after the bridge the petrol stationroad turns upwards and left. In order Keep walking the turn and then when you see fence on the right and you have done the turn, this is a good spot to reach easily STOP AND LOOK for a RIDE. Since it is a little steep at this point, the cars naturally slow down and there is ample of space for them to STOP and eventually go pick you up into the highway it's also possible . You can ask for being dropped to catch a bus from the main bus second gas station in BATALHA with destination PEROSINHO and get off at LABORIM stop or the last one before Aveiro (just ask the driverboth are same ). The bus will drop This gas station is super awesome and you just a few meters from therecan easily find rides to Lisbon or Aveiro or even Viseu which is in the direction of Salamanca.

Look If nobody stops here just walk a little more like 700 mtrs only and then you enter highway and 200 meters on the right is the First Gas station again a great place to hitch hike.  If you have any questions on how to go from Porto to Spain ( east wards ) or all the way to France or any comments feel free to write to me at [email protected] ( updated on Aug 13 2014 ) ** For people trying to go from Porto and enter France as fast as possible. Go to the second Gas station, catch a hitch hike in the direction of Viseu and then get dropped at any Gas Station and then look out for: Rua da Palmeiracars and Portugese Trucks which are going to France or cars that are from Belgium or Netherlands. Be patient and ensure you do not get down anywhere else but only GAS STATIONS. Near border of Spain before the border if you are at a Gas station, Vila Nova de Gaiawait until you find a car or truck that goes all the way to Saint Sebastian, Portugal* Spanish town on border of France or France or Netherlands. you will have to be patient and you will definitely find with a little time and patience. Hitchikers you know this already but always keep hopping from Gas Station to Gas Station. Don't go with drivers to their city center or you will be stuck. Try to get a direct ride to France ( so that you can SKIP SPAIN ) which is a disaster for hitch hiking especially long distance.