A Portugal campervan journey might not be first on an inventory of high adventures in Europe, however our expertise says in any other case.
If you consider taking a vacation within the small European nation of Portugal, what involves thoughts? Most individuals envision the glistening turquoise waters of the Algarve, the epic browsing in Nazare, or the historic cities of Lisbon and Porto.
However, Portugal is rather more than its shoreline!
Van Life in Portugal: Our 10 Day Portugal Campervan Journey
We needed to discover past the everyday vacationer path throughout our sudden keep in Portugal. So, we determined to strive a brand new journey and hire a campervan to discover the central and northern areas of the nation.
Recognized for its beautiful farmland, vineyards, gastronomy, and tradition, plus rivers, lakes, and the towering mountains of the Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park, the central and northern areas are an underappreciated space of Portugal that travellers gained’t need to miss.
On this put up, I’m going to interrupt down our 10 day Portugal campervan itinerary, in addition to some issues that you simply’ll need to know earlier than renting your personal campervan in Europe.
And, don’t miss our video on the finish of this text!
Right here’s our journey report from 10 days travelling from Lisbon to the central and northern areas of Portugal in a campervan.
The Campervan Rental
We had been actually craving mountains and Mom Nature at this level in our Portugal keep. Tenting appeared like an awesome concept, and what higher means than being totally self-contained?
With a campervan, you’ll be able to transfer round at your personal tempo, whereas having a rest room, kitchen, and bed room with you always.
The Mannequin
We opted for the Lively Plus mannequin with Indie Campers and it was an excellent match for our 10-day journey.
Usually, the campervan is supposed for 4 individuals, however because it was simply the two of us, we requested Indie Campers to offer us with a van that didn’t have fitted beds, however quite, a convertible mattress.
Not having everlasting stacked beds actually opened up the van and made it really feel rather more spacious.
In the course of the day, the realm is the eating room with a desk and benches with cushions for sitting and hanging out.
At evening, the eating space transforms into the bed room. The cushions that had been used because the backrest when sitting down grow to be the mattress for sleeping on, and the desk collapses to create a part of the mattress platform.
To be trustworthy, we had been too lazy to change from mattress to bench and simply left the mattress out your complete journey. Plus, we had a desk and chairs for the skin space and most popular to dine outdoors.
The Lively Plus mannequin campervan has a separate toilet with a bathe and a transportable chemical rest room, an electrical cooler field, a transportable gasoline range, and all of the bedding and kitchen gear you would want.
The Specs
Nick and I knew we needed to have a campervan with sufficient area to not really feel cramped, however we additionally didn’t need a actually lengthy van that may be tough to maneuver via Portugal’s slim streets and round small mountain roads.
The scale of the van had been good: 5,41m x 2,69m x 2,75m.
We had been additionally hoping for a more moderen van and ended up with a guide 2018 Fiat Ducato diesel, which ran very well.
The campervan had a 50L tank for clear water and a 30L tank for gray water, which was adequate for us. A 220V cable for plugging in and charging the backup battery was additionally included.
If we had been going for any longer than 10 days, I feel we’d want to hire the Nomad mannequin because it has an built-in range, a hard and fast rest room, a fridge, and bigger water tanks.
Add-Ons
Indie Campers has some gadgets that you may add on to your rental, equivalent to surfboards, bicycles, moist fits, and extra. We opted for a small coal BBQ, a WiFi hotspot, a heater, and an out of doors desk and chairs.
We didn’t find yourself utilizing the BBQ resulting from it being a hearth hazard at the moment of 12 months (June), and it was too heat for the heater! However, we did get plenty of use out of the WiFi hotspot whereas working on-line and we used the desk and chairs day-after-day.
There are 3 ceiling vents which assist to chill the van and it’s fairly properly insulated. However there are not any followers for air flow built-in, which was tremendous for us in June within the North, however when you had been going to hire the van in the summertime within the Algarve, I’d say a small fan could be an excellent buy.
You’ll be able to decide them up for about €8 at any FNAC or comparable electronics retailer in Portugal. I’d like to see a fan included in future fashions of the van or optionally available as an add-on.
The Value
The price of the rental varies relying on which era of 12 months you hire (excessive season vs. off-season), how lengthy you hire for, and what campervan mannequin you hire.
The Lively Plus mannequin that we rented with Indie Campers price €65 per day, plus add ons (the 4G, limitless WiFi hotspot was €20, out of doors desk and chairs had been €20 as properly — complete, not a nightly price.)
For 10 days of travelling, we spent €200 on gasoline for the van and €100 in tolls.
For the campsites, when you wild camp then it’s free. We stayed in 3 totally different designated campgrounds and the prices in June had been:
- Uxa Paraiso – €6 per evening per individual. €2 per evening for electrical energy. Whole: €14 / evening
- Lima Escape – €6.50 per evening for the campervan. €4.50/individual/evening. €3.50 per evening for electrical energy. Whole: €19 / evening (Lima Escape and Indie Campers have a partnership, so we really obtained a ten% low cost off the overall)
- Vidoeiro Gerês Tenting – €6.20 per evening for the campervan. €4/individual/evening. €3.60 per evening for electrical energy. Whole: €17.80 / evening.
Our 10-Day Portugal Campervan Journey Itinerary
Having spent nearly all of the previous few years dwelling on a Caribbean island, and the previous 3 months in lockdown mode within the metropolis of Lisbon, it was time to go to the mountains.
We got here up with the street journey route based mostly on the actions on supply, the pure magnificence, and components of the nation that had been away from city areas. (We needed to keep away from cities with the campervan and keep away from giant crowds to assist keep social distancing.)
I spent fairly a little bit of time Googleing the northern a part of Portugal and didn’t provide you with all that a lot data on-line.
So, I opened up Google Maps and zoomed out and in, whereas trying to find Pure and Nationwide Parks, campsites, viewpoints, hikes, and scenic spots.
Lastly, a tough itinerary was fashioned, and we crammed within the particulars as we went.
Portugal is a bit complicated for travellers because the nation is split into areas, adopted by districts, municipalities, parishes, and neighbourhoods. On this itinerary, I’m simply going to checklist the primary areas we had been in!
Lisbon to Sintra
You could suppose we’re loopy, however although we had been positively attempting to keep away from small roads and areas that aren’t appropriate for a campervan, after leaving Lisbon, we did go to Sintra — a small village with slim, winding roads.
This fairytale UNESCO city is only a fast 30-minute drive from the capital, but feels worlds away.
After plenty of “How far am I to the sting?” and “Am I going to hit that automotive?!”, we lastly discovered a parking area that was lengthy sufficient for the van and felt relieved that we’d be strolling for the following few hours.
The mountainscape of Sintra was beautiful and immediately, the air felt a bit cooler. Dominating the hills had been vibrant, Disney-looking palaces, and a fortified medieval Moorish citadel.
The panorama was breathtaking and whereas we didn’t see all of Sintra resulting from time constraints, we did go to the favored Quinta da Regaleira with its deep spiral properly, palace, church buildings, and gardens.
Besides for two individuals who arrived as we had been leaving, we had been the one vacationers there, which, based mostly on the feedback we obtained on our Instagram photographs, is just not how this place usually appears to be like!
Sintra to Penela
Positioned a couple of 2-hour drive north of Sintra (about 20 minutes south of town of Coimbra) is the village of Penela.
Whereas we did get pleasure from sleepy Penela with its citadel towering over the village, we had been there for the close by campground and the encompassing mountains and river.
Passing by vineyards, and down a slim, bumpy filth street, we arrived at Uxa Paraiso, which was run by a well-travelled Frenchman named Julien. He confirmed us round and helped us discover the right place to park on his 5-hectare property.
We had been the one visitors right here for two nights and it was pure magic.
Wild mint was rising on the bottom and each step we took launched an aroma of spearmint gum (or, mojitos!). Aside from mint, the property had flowers and bushes, plus 2 cats, goats, and sheep.
Whereas the view from the campsite (and the pool) was sufficient to make us need to keep, we peeled ourselves away to discover the encompassing space of Fragas de São Simão.
After climbing alongside the river and thru the forest, the panorama opened as much as reveal towering craggy cliffs with pure swimming holes at their base.
We loved a really chilly swim earlier than heading again to the camp to get pleasure from our closing evening close to Penela.
Penela to Peneda-Gerês Nationwide Park
From Central Portugal, it was time to go north and expertise the one nationwide park within the nation, Peneda-Gerês.
Recognized for its mountains, rivers, and small villages, this was a spot we had been very a lot wanting ahead to. As we arrived at our campsite (Lima Escape) on the outskirts of the park, we had been instantly in awe.
We spent 2 nights right here surrounded by pine bushes and with a stunning view of the Lima River.
Nick did some fishing on the shoreline whereas I learn a guide. Evenings had been spent cooking dinner within the campervan and having fun with a glass of wine at sunset.
We additionally took a tremendous day journey to the small, conventional village of Soajo. It’s solely a couple of 20-minute drive from Lima Escape, however it’s a really scenic route.
As soon as in Soajo, we wandered round on foot exploring the small roads that wind via homes and farmland, earlier than trying out the 18th-century granite granaries which had been utilized by the group to securely home the harvest of corn.
From there, we made our technique to Poço Negro which is a beautiful pure swimming gap simply off the aspect of the street! This was an awesome place to sunbathe, bounce off the rocks into the deep water under, and simply chill out.
Soajo is a must-see little village, and whereas we didn’t make it to close by Lindoso (we had been having fun with pure swimming pools an excessive amount of!), we’ve heard it’s additionally an awesome place to see.
Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park to Ponte Da Barca
The campsites we had stayed in up till this level had been nice — and obligatory with a purpose to cost up the second battery, and use the companies (filling up with water, emptying of gray water, and so on.).
However what’s so attention-grabbing about having a “residence on wheels” is the flexibility to wild camp, or boondock. We had been actually wanting ahead to this fashion of tenting.
Utilizing the Park4Night app (extra data under), we seemed for someplace to remain in a protected and quiet location that supplied a river for fishing and doubtlessly swimming.
We discovered simply the place…though getting there was an pointless problem.
We adopted Google Maps happening a cobbled, residential street that was barely the width of our automobile for fairly a while. Why we had gone this far, I don’t know.
We had dedicated to it and we had been nearly there, so turning again didn’t make sense — and would’ve been extremely tough to do.
Finally, we arrived at a stunning overhang of completely manicured flowers and vines. However, the van was far too tall to clear them!
The choice was made to reverse out of the slim street till we discovered someplace to show round. I received out of the van and tried to direct Nick utilizing hand motions and yelling: “Left!” “A bit of to the proper!” “STOP!”
Adopted by Nick’s reply: “I can’t see your arms in any respect if you’re immediately behind the van!!”
We should’ve been fairly the sight for the locals who had been most definitely watching us and laughing from their home windows. Miraculously, Nick was capable of maneuver the van out of our predicament with out scraping the edges.
Lastly, after taking the proper flip, on a large 2-way street, we finally arrived at our dream spot on the Lima River close to Ponte Da Barca.
With nothing greater than a subject, a few picnic tables, and a small winery all set alongside the slow-moving river, this could be our spot for the evening.
After fishing, studying, making dinner, and stress-free, we loved wine below the total moon and fell asleep to the sound of crickets and frogs.
Ponte Da Barca to Montorros (by way of the Coura River)
As we speak was the day Nick had been anticipating essentially the most. After having no luck fly fishing the few days prior, he determined to rent a neighborhood skilled information to indicate him the very best spots — and the very best methods for the realm.
We met up with Antonio from Minho Fly Fishing and set off to the Coura River. There’s no means we might’ve discovered ourselves on this quiet, pristine a part of Portugal had we not joined this personal tour.
Not solely was the fishing nice (Nick caught 7 rainbow and brown trout), however the surroundings was beautiful as properly.
We had been surrounded by lush forest your complete time whereas sitting and standing on boulders alongside the dashing river. Once more, wild mint blanketed the bottom.
Seven hours was spent with Antonio studying about fishing and life in Portugal, and earlier than we knew it, it was 8:30 pm.
After we finally arrived at our second wild campsite alongside the Minho River (which acts as a pure border with Spain), we had about 20 minutes left till the solar totally set.
This was one other beautiful wild camp spot with a number of picnic tables and nobody else round. Other than the croaking frogs and the late-night fishermen who arrived at 1:00 am, this was a really peaceable spot.
It’s value spending a while within the northwestern a part of Portugal alongside the Minho River.
The city of Vila Nova de Cerveira is a picturesque place recognized for its art work, craft retailers, boat journeys on the Minho River, and surrounding hikes within the mountains. We spent a few hours simply wandering round and having fun with the quiet city.
Going from Vila Nova de Cerveira to Valença is a well-maintained path good for biking, jogging, or strolling.
Montorros to Lima Escape
After 2 nights of untamed tenting, we had been in want of some gasoline for our gasoline range, electrical energy for our second battery, and water for our bathe and sink.
So, we headed again in the direction of Peneda Gerês Nationwide Park within the late afternoon and loved one other evening at Lima Escape campground which had all of the facilities we wanted, plus a BBQ.
Lima Escape to Gerês City
Staying within the nationwide park boundaries, we drove to Gerês. We weren’t anticipating a lot from at the present time and had been simply wanting ahead to the country campground that we deliberate to remain at close to the city of Gerês.
The drive turned out to be a spotlight of our total journey!
The street winded its means up the mountainside, passing small villages and Roman ruins, earlier than opening as much as reveal a plateau overlooking the valley under. Large granite boulders dotted the terrain and wild Garrano horses roamed free.
These kinds of scenes continued till we reached Terras de Bouro space in Brufe the place we determined would make an excellent pit spot.
With camp chairs and peanut butter and jam sandwiches in hand, we discovered the right spot and loved lunch with a view.
That’s the wonderful thing about having a campervan, we had all of our meals with us, cutlery and dishes for making meals, and camp chairs for having fun with a cushty picnic.
Persevering with on, we handed a tribe of about 50 goats on the street and one other epic viewpoint earlier than lastly arriving at our campsite the place we’d be spending the following 2 nights — Vidoeiro Gerês Tenting.
This rustic, pure campsite had parking spots proper alongside the river, an out of doors BBQ space, showers, bogs and a pure swimming gap within the river.
With quite a few climbing trails, waterfalls, and viewpoints close by, we gave ourselves 2 nights right here — however might’ve spent for much longer.
This was the final cease on our 10-day campervan street journey via Portugal and it was a good way to finish the journey earlier than returning the van in Lisbon.
Ideas for Travelling Portugal by Campervan
After experiencing the journey, there are some things that we want we might’ve recognized beforehand. Listed here are a number of suggestions:
1. Get a Through Verde Tag
The toll roads in Portugal are comparatively new, pretty costly and fairly complicated for foreigners.
If in case you have a Through Verde tag in your window and a Portuguese debit card, you merely drive via the toll cubicles and the toll cameras on the freeway. The prices can be mechanically added to your tag and mechanically charged to your debit card.
Tags are both included in automobiles that you simply hire (for an additional charge), or might be rented at Through Verde shops and CTT Submit Places of work across the nation. The price is €6 the primary week and €1.5 every week after, plus a refundable deposit.
I’m going to imagine that almost all of you might be like us, vacationers and not using a native debit card.
In that case, you’ll should cease on the guide cost gates on the freeway (they’re clearly marked) and pay as you go together with money or bank card (international bank cards work on the gates).
For those who don’t have a tag, every time you move below a big array of cameras suspended over the freeway, your campervan’s license plate can be marked.
Then, after a minimal of two enterprise days (it takes that lengthy in your prices to register) and a most of 5 enterprise days after you’ve handed via these cameras, you’ll have to go to a put up workplace (CTT) with a purpose to pay the tolls which have amassed.
Having to continually cease on the freeway to make funds, and having to discover a CTT workplace (and ensure to pay on time to keep away from penalties) isn’t one thing you’ll need to cope with whereas on vacation.
To make issues simpler, ask your rental firm if a Through Verde tag is included and if not, ask when you can hire one from them. Indie Campers didn’t have the tag and we discovered it a little bit of a problem having to determine the cost of tolls.
We spent roughly €100 on tolls throughout our 10-day street journey. Click on right here to study extra about toll roads in Portugal.
2. Keep away from Cities
In fact, you gained’t be capable of keep away from all cities and there’ll most likely be a number of that you simply need to see. Nonetheless, with such a big automobile, discovering parking and driving via slim roads is usually a bit tough.
We needed to go to Braga to get a fishing license and it took endlessly to seek out someplace to park — we thought we discovered the right place, solely to be advised it was a bus cease!
Relying on the peak of your van, you’ll most definitely be too tall for underground parking as properly (ours was).
Mainly, it’s hectic and a bit anxious attempting to drive a big automobile within the cities. Persist with the countryside, highways, and small cities, or park on the outskirts and take the tram, metro or an Uber.
3. Inventory Up
Earlier than setting off, be sure to have all the pieces you want — chemical compounds for the bathroom, propane for the gasoline range, coal for the BBQ, rest room paper, and so on.
We assumed it will be straightforward to seek out tenting gear and we might merely buy as we wanted.
Nonetheless, it was not possible to seek out extra chemical compounds for the bathroom (that means we couldn’t wild camp as a lot as we needed to), and the one place we discovered propane gasoline canisters was at Lima Escape campsite.
Additionally, relying on the dimensions of your fridge, I like to recommend grocery procuring both beforehand or on the primary day. Since we had been dwelling in Lisbon, we had been capable of grocery store and had our meals principally deliberate out for your complete time.
The fridge within the Lively Plus mannequin was small, however was adequate for stocking about 5 days of chilly meals together with sausages, some fruit, cheeses, milk and so on. The Nomad mannequin has a bigger fridge.
Having to spend a few of your journey time in retailers and supermarkets (whereas looking for parking) isn’t one of the best ways to spend the vacation. Get all the pieces directly and you then’re all set!
4. Obtain the Park4Night App
Park4Night is such an awesome app! The premise is straightforward.
For those who keep someplace superior (both an precise campsite or a wild camp spot), then you’ll be able to add a number of photographs, the coordinates of the place it’s positioned, what facilities are on supply, and the professionals and cons.
Future campervan travellers will be capable of keep there as properly based mostly in your advice.
When in search of a spot to remain, you merely search round your present location to seek out close by locations that sound good to you. That’s how we discovered the two wild camp spots that we stayed at.
So long as you respect the realm, are quiet, and don’t go away any rubbish, then wild tenting is often not a difficulty. In fact, when you’re requested to depart or are advised you’ll be able to’t spend the evening, you then’ll should obey.
5. Have a WiFi Hotspot or Information
If like us, you’re employed on-line you then’ll positively need to have entry to a WiFi connection. Plus, for security causes and for navigation, you’ll need to be sure to have a telephone with service.
You’ll positively need to make the most of Google Maps in your journey (or whichever map program you employ), so having knowledge in your smartphone, or a WiFi hotspot is a should.
Having a mixture of each could be the most suitable choice as one may need higher service than the opposite relying on the place you might be. If there are any emergencies, you’ll need to have the ability to name for help as properly.
Indie Campers provides a WiFi hotspot for simply €20 for your complete journey and it’s limitless! We discovered the web to be quick sufficient to work on, watch YouTube, Netflix and so on.
6. Familiarize Your self with the Performance of the Van
After we rented the campervan with Indie Campers, we got a rundown of how all the pieces works. However, we had additionally been researching on YouTube beforehand, which helped to get a visible.
You’ll need to know the right way to cost the van, the right way to fill and empty the gray water tank, and the way the bathroom works.
Right here are some things to know for the Lively Plus mannequin:
- The 220v cable wire plugs into electrical retailers at campsites and this prices your auxiliary battery — which is what the fridge, the USB plug-ins, and the within lights run on.
- The fridge will run, together with the USB plugs and the lights, for round 2-3 days (tough estimate) earlier than the battery dies.
- The 220v retailers within the van solely work if you’re plugged in, so if you’re wild tenting you gained’t be capable of cost your computer systems or plug in giant gadgets.
- Refill the gray water with common faucet water. There needs to be hoses at campsites that you need to use.
- You’ll know the gray water is full if it begins to leak out! Ensure the valve is closed once more after you empty it.
- There are indicators for “service stations” at campsites in Portugal. And, you will discover these on the Park4Night app as properly. Be sure you’re dumping your rest room waste and your gray water in a delegated space.
Execs and Cons of Campervan Life
We actually loved our 10-day journey! However, as with something, there are a few downsides to travelling by campervan.
The apparent “professionals” to this form of journey are the truth that you’re totally self-contained and never reliant on anybody, something, or wherever.
You’ve got your meals and water with you, your toilet amenities, your mode of transportation, and a spot to sleep at evening.
We had plenty of enjoyable cooking our meals within the night and making breakfast within the morning. We liked parking in distant locations and falling asleep to the sound of nature.
Having a campervan permits for an thrilling journey and plenty of freedom!
There have been solely a few downsides to travelling this fashion, and a few issues to pay attention to.
First, if you get to a campsite that you simply actually like, you don’t have something to depart behind to order the spot if you head out for the day.
For those who had been tenting with a tent for instance, you’d go away your tent arrange and head out within the automotive for the day, coming again to your identical campsite.
Second, the area can begin to really feel a bit cramped and also you’ll simply overlook the place you positioned one thing when you aren’t correctly organized.
Be sure that all the pieces has its place and that you simply put it away within the identical spot every time. We spent greater than an hour in search of the keys at some point…
For those who’re correctly ready, I’m certain you’ll get pleasure from your self as a lot as we did. In reality, we’re planning to journey by campervan to discover another components of Portugal within the close to future!
FAQs About Travelling Portugal by Campervan
For those who nonetheless have a query about Portugal campervan journey, try the FAQs under. Many had been lined within the article, however you will discover some fast solutions right here.
No, you will need to abide by the foundations of the precise location. Many locations, equivalent to nationwide parks and areas alongside the coast, have indicators saying campervans aren’t allowed.
Sure, Portugal is a camper pleasant nation typically. For those who’d wish to park your campervan on personal property, it’s value asking the proprietor, as you’ll typically be advised its OK. There are additionally many campsites in Portugal that cater to campervans.
Offered you might be in a spot the place campervans are allowed, sure, you’ll be able to sleep in a campervan in Portugal.
Anticipate to pay about €65 per day to hire a Portugal campervan, plus add ons (€20 for a 4G limitless WiFi hotspot, €20 for an out of doors desk and chairs, and so on.). The worth could also be cheaper within the off-season and better in the summertime excessive season.
To drive in Portugal, vacationers from the EU or the US can use their drivers license until they keep greater than six months. In that case, they’ll want a world drivers license. Folks from different international locations may even want a world drivers license.
Take pleasure in Exploring Portugal by Campervan
Portugal has a lot to supply vacationers and locals alike, and travelling by campervan is a good way to expertise the seashores, mountains, and vineyards.
Park on a cliff overlooking the ocean, subsequent to a river, or surrounded by fruit bushes — with a campervan, the selection is yours. 10 days is an efficient period of time to get a style of what Portugal is all about, and our journey with Indie Campers is one which we gained’t overlook.
To study extra about renting a campervan in Portugal, click on right here. And, be happy to electronic mail us or remark under with any questions you may need!
Video: 10 Day Campervan Journey in Portugal
Particular due to Indie Campers for making this journey attainable. As at all times, all ideas and opinions stay our personal.
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