Western Europe · Portugal

Hi there, I'm looking for a friendly person who knows about the capabilities of donkeys/mules and horses for long-term, round-the-clock travel. (I already do this, but with a donkey that's far from indestructible)

I struggle to assess the potential of some equines, so I'd like someone at least somewhat competent in this area whom I can contact from time to time to share photos of animals I'm considering buying.

I'm not in France, I don't plan to return, and I often come across charlatans who'd sell their animals to anyone for a few good bills... But that's not my case—I'm primarily looking for a female donkey or a mule (my sweetheart isn’t a big fan of horses), and as a last resort, a mare strong and enduring enough to carry me in the mountains, meaning a constant load of about 80kg: - Me: 60/65kg - Saddle: 2/4kg - 8/10L of water - A rope: 800g

Based on what I've read online and advice from people, I understand the load should represent a maximum of 15/20% of the animal's weight or at least 1.40m at the withers? Mules would be ideal for me, but they sell out VERY quickly, so I never get a chance to find one... (I always leave a safety margin with the equines I meet to ensure their spine doesn’t get damaged over time)

Anyway, advice won’t be much help because I don’t want to make this decision ALONE when buying this female, to ensure I choose a relatively indestructible creature.

I’ve been visiting long and short ears for a year now, but I still haven’t found the right fit out of concern for her, which is why someone who stays in my contacts to help me make the final decision would be more than welcome :)

Thanks for your attention, hope to hear from you soon!

Hi, My trip to the Algarve, which was postponed, is now taking shape. On October 13th, I’m leaving for 2 weeks. When I arrive, I’ll be staying in Lisbon for 3 nights. So, I’d love to find somewhere affordable and well-located to stay—any suggestions would be great! After that, I’ll head to Faro, where I plan to rent a car. Would it be best to rent directly from the airport? I can’t seem to find any agencies in Faro city where I could pick up the car and drop it off at the airport at the end of my stay. Is it possible to return a car at 6 AM at the airport? Can I get the Portuguese motorway pass in France? Thanks so much for your help! Jofra

Hi, who’s familiar with the Algarve? Lagos—should I go for a rental or a hotel? How do I get from the airport to the seaside, and how do I get around the city? What’s there to see and do? Thanks for your ideas and tips!

Hi everyone, I’ve unfortunately only just noticed that I booked two flight tickets, but I made a mistake on the second first name. Basically, my computer auto-filled and typed my first name twice, so both tickets are in my first name. Only the last names—mine and my friend’s—are correct.

TAP Portugal refuses to make the change because they consider it a change of passenger, even though it’s clearly a typo (plus, my last name isn’t common). I’m leaving in 5 days, and buying a new ticket would cost 3 times the original price. Has anyone been in this situation before? I’d like to try negotiating at the airport, but it’s a gamble… Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi everyone

We’re thinking of a getaway to Lisbon in October—how much time should we plan? Any great tips or must-see spots?

Thanks!

Hi everyone, I rented a car through Klaus Wagen, picking it up in downtown Porto and returning it in downtown Lisbon. After paying, I read some pretty negative reviews about them. So, can anyone reassure me with positive experiences they’ve had with them? Thanks in advance!

Hi there, I’m heading to Setúbal at the end of June with my granddaughter, and I can’t seem to find clear info on the best way to get from Lisbon Airport to Setúbal. It looks like there’s a train or bus, but I can’t find the exact names of the bus (or train) companies or the precise departure points. Thanks if anyone can help me out! 😉 Just to clarify, I’m on a tight budget and have already ruled out taxis or similar options.

I’m traveling to Portugal with my family and I have a treatment that requires injections. How can I take a flight with these? They look like injectable pens. Thanks

Hi everyone,

It’s been ages since I last dropped by here... maybe simply because, apart from Nepal, I haven’t really had the chance to hit the road lately. 😉

This year, I’d love to spend a few days in Lisbon, probably in late May or early June. But with my budget being what it is, I’m looking for great tips to avoid wasting time once I’m there and risk missing out on hidden gems or unusual culinary specialties and/or quirky activities! I’m hoping to find a room in a local’s home where I can stay in a quiet neighborhood near the center, so I can get around without relying too much on public transport—my walking shoes are my best travel buddies. I’d love all your recommendations, especially for parks, small neighborhood markets, casual eateries for a quick bite, your favorite viewpoints to soak in the scenery (I’m bringing my travel journal to sketch my getaway in watercolors), events around traditional art and crafts, and so on. All your advice will definitely help me travel peacefully and come back with my head full of vibrant memories! Thanks in advance, everyone! Isabelle

Hi everyone, Who might have a good apartment address for two people in Porto: arriving on 5/8, leaving on 5/10 Lisbon: arriving on 5/14, leaving on 5/17 Well-located/walkable in both cities With kitchen facilities 1 bedroom for 2 people with private bathroom Thanks in advance

Hi there,

We’re traveling in our camper van from Haute-Savoie.

We’ve got 2 weeks in April and want to explore northern Portugal.

We’re thinking of:

- Peneda-Gerês National Park - the Douro Valley - Porto

We love nature, hiking, and culture (and also good food and wine).😉

Do you have an itinerary to suggest?

Thanks in advance for your replies

Hello, I’d like to travel alone to the Algarve for about 10 days, as my husband sadly passed away. I’m thinking of going at the end of April or beginning of May 2026. I’ll fly into Faro, then rent a car and head toward the westernmost tip of the coast. Over 10 days, what are the best spots to see from Faro to the tip—hikes along the coastline or even exploring the countryside? For accommodations, can I also stay with locals? And which car rental company is the best? Thanks in advance for your help! Jo

Hi there, We're thinking of cycling from Lisbon to Vila Real de Santo António in March. Staying at campsites along the way. I have two logistics questions: 1) Where to leave the van in Lisbon? Would it be okay to leave it a bit outside Lisbon if needed? 2) Can we take the train back from Vila Real de Santo António to Lisbon with our bikes? Thanks for any insights! Momo

Hi there, we’ll be in Portugal from March 9 to April 14, 2026. We’ve booked our first five days in Lisbon for sightseeing. After that, we’d like to rent a campervan (RV), but we’re having trouble finding a good site for the rental. The rental would be for about three weeks. Do you have any suggestions for us? We think it’s best to book the campervan before we arrive. And since we’re not mechanics, we need a vehicle in good condition...

Thanks so much for your suggestions. We’re open to everything—even route ideas and places to visit! Pierrette

Hi there, Has anyone tried taking a ferry from Sète (or another southern French port) to southern PORTUGAL with a vehicle? I don’t want to go via Tangier (the transfer is too complicated). Thanks for your replies

Hi! I’m looking for ideas, tips, and great deals for a 15-day road trip around Portugal starting and ending in Faro. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Following a question I was asked in a private message, here are some personal photos of Porto in October.

Hi, I’m planning a long weekend in Porto soon with 4 other adults, and I’d love some info about the rechargeable Andante card for public transport. Since we’ll be traveling across different zones, I’m thinking of getting the single-trip rechargeable option. When we buy it, do we *have* to purchase just one trip for a specific zone, or can we buy multiple trips for the same zone—or even one for one zone and another for a different zone? Also, how do we go about recharging it?

Otherwise, is the Andante Tour 72-hour card a better deal? The catch is we’ll need to get to the airport on the 4th day, and it won’t be valid anymore by then.

Thanks for your tips!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a trip from Porto to Cascais to Lisbon. Is there a direct bus from Porto to Cascais where we’ll be stopping for 2 days? I know I can take a train from Porto to Lisbon and then switch to another train for Cascais, but I was wondering if there’s a direct bus to avoid a connection and the detour via Lisbon... I haven’t found any train options, anyway. On Red Expressos, the bus company, they don’t list Cascais as a destination from Porto. But maybe there’s another company? Thanks in advance for your tips!

Tuesday, September 12 We had to get up early that day to leave our house at 3:30 AM, as our flight from Lyon Saint-Exupéry was scheduled for 6:35 AM. In the end, our Transavia flight took off with a delay.



I’d found a round-trip flight from Lyon to Porto on the Transavia website for 58 € per person, including only a carry-on bag.



Before landing at Porto Airport, we flew over the Douro River and the famous bridge between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.



The Douro flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

From the airport, we took the metro, which starts above ground before diving into Porto’s underground.



Once we’d dropped off our bags at the hotel, we set off to explore Porto.







You can’t go to Portugal without riding a tram—it’s a must! So we took an old tram (Line 1) to the beach.







The Guindais Funicular connects Praça da Batalha, high up in the city, to Ribeira in the historic center near the quays.



We didn’t take it—going down the stairs was fine. A one-way ticket costs 2.5 €.





The Dom Luís I Bridge is one of the city’s icons. Built between 1881 and 1886 by engineer Théophile Seyrig, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel,





The historic Ribeira district, once run-down, is undergoing an urban revival. Porto is gradually regaining its former splendor.



Old mansions with crests are being restored, splendid façades adorned with azulejos, Baroque-style churches, yellow trams, ancient shops, trendy restaurants, hip bars, boutiques, and design hotels!

Hi, we're heading to Porto in June for 8 days. I'm thinking we'll look for accommodation once we're there—either a room or an apartment. Is that possible? Thanks. Sylvie

Hello,

This spring, my husband and I would like to visit Porto. Does anyone know of a nice hotel in Porto's port area or very close to it, please? Thanks in advance for your tips or info. Best regards, Mamigigi

Hi there,

I’m just waiting for my time off to be confirmed, and I’ll be heading out either from April 21st to the 24th, or possibly until the 25th.

I’ll be staying in Porto. What is there to do in Porto in 3-4 days? Thanks

Made it safely to Portugal, can’t wait to start sightseeing and sketching—enjoying the milder weather compared to my next stop, Scotland. :) If it rains, I’ll share my great tips for sketching indoors! 😊

I’d like to spend a trip with 3 days in Porto, then drive down to Lisbon for 3 or 4 days. How many days should I plan for the route between the two, and what’s worth visiting along the way? Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m Aurélie and I’m new to the forum. I’m planning a little trip with a friend to Spain (Seville) and Portugal (Porto) soon... unless Covid decides to ruin the fun! My friend and I are big fans of cool rooftop bars with a great view. By any chance, do you have any recommendations? I’ve done some searching and heard about Portobello, but if you’ve got any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks, and happy travels!

Hello fellow travelers!!😉 My flight tickets are booked—off to Porto for a 4-day weekend! I was thinking of spending 2 days in the Douro (from my early Saturday morning arrival (!!) until Sunday evening) and 2 days in Porto (from Sunday evening to Tuesday evening). Does that sound reasonable to you? I plan to rent a car for the first two days so I can be free to move around without being tied to train or bus schedules. What are your favorite spots? Any village recommendations to visit and spend the night (Saturday night)? Has anyone done this kind of weekend before? Thanks in advance for all your great tips, and have a wonderful day! Manou

Hello,

We’re heading to Porto for 4 days in mid-March. Over this short trip, could anyone help us plan our visits, please? We’ll be staying at a hotel. Thanks

Hi there, we’re heading to Porto next week for a few days. Our itinerary is already set, but as wine lovers, we’re looking for great wine bar recommendations in Porto. Thanks so much if you can help us out with our search! Joannie

Hi there, I’m starting a little European road trip where I want to explore the capitals of our continent. I’m currently in Rome, and my next destination is Lisbon!

If you’ve got any restaurant, bar, or place recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance! 😊