The lower station is on the riverside promenade of Cais de Gaia, with several nearby Port wine cellars, along with restaurants, cafes and a departure point for Douro river cruises.

[1][2][3] The line was built by Doppelmayr at a cost of €12 million, and is operated by the company Telef - Transportes por Cabo e Concessões, SA.

[2][3][4] The line runs roughly parallel to Gaia bank of the Douro, but there is a significant difference in height between its upper and lower stations, which are respectively some 63 metres (207 ft) and 5 metres (16 ft) above mean sea level.

The longest span between the support towers is 396 metres (1,299 ft) and the average incline is 9.1%.

Travel time is 3 minutes 45 seconds, and the line can carry up to 850 passengers per hour.