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!

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 planning to set off at the end of September with our beloved tandem to cycle along the southern coast of Portugal (the Algarve) and the west coast up to Lisbon. One little detail is worrying me a bit: WHAT ABOUT THE WIND? Let’s just say we’re on the Atlantic coast, and there’s nothing worse for a cycle tourist than wind. Basically, we’d just like to avoid a nightmare of battling the wind in Portugal. If you’ve already done this route or know a bit about the wind conditions in the area (strength, direction, etc.), it’d be great to get some more info on that. Also, I’ve read quite a few forums about trains. How’s the rail network between the south and west of Portugal? No issues with taking bikes on board? Thanks in advance for any info you can share! We’re heading into the unknown since we don’t know the region at all, so if you have any useful tips for cycle tourists, please send them our way!!!

Mic

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 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 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, 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 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, 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 there, We’re spending a week in Porto this summer and plan to explore the surrounding area. A visit to the Douro seems unavoidable! We’ll be discovering a lot once we’re there, but we’re still looking for recommendations on where to stay... Could you help us out? We’ve read that spending a night in a quinta would be great, but it seems way out of our budget. Or is it? We’ve set a max budget of around 150 €. Otherwise, we’re looking for charming little villages with nice restaurants to end the day on a high note. We’re open to all suggestions—thanks in advance for your help! Delphine and Fred

Hi everyone,

We’re thinking of spending a week in the Algarve in April or May.

I was planning to stay 3 days in Faro and 4 days in Lagos, and explore the surrounding areas. Do you think that’s a good idea?

All tips and advice are welcome.

Thanks

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

We’re traveling as a family of 10 to Portugal this coming October during school holidays. If by any chance you know of a house to rent for 10 people—a great tip or whatever—I’d prefer somewhere in southern Portugal.

Hi, I’m planning to rent a car at Porto Airport in mid-November. I’ve spotted "Holyday Autos" and "Surprice Empowering Mobility"—they have decent rates, but given the rental issues in Portugal, I’d love to hear from people who’ve rented from them. Thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi everyone, I’m planning a week-long trip to southern Portugal with my two teens. I’m looking for accommodation ideally located near Faro. What do you think of the towns of Lagos and Albufeira? Is it easy to get around these places using public transport, or is it better to rent a car to make the most of our stay? If you have any accommodation recommendations (hotel, campsite, Airbnb, or other), I’d love to hear them. Thanks so much in advance for your tips and valuable feedback! Hélène

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 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.