Explore Portugal by Van in 2 Weeks • Read Now

Ever wished to discover Portugal by van?
Read along for our 2-week guide to exploring this digital nomad paradise,
from Lisbon, to Porto, the Douro Valley, the Alentejo and the Algarve.

Portugal by Van: Trip Overview

Portugal is a captivating European gem. It entices visitors with its rich history, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality.

During the pandemic, we decided to explore the country in 2 weeks with a rental van and stayed in Lisbon a little more, for a total stay of 3 weeks in Portugal.

Needless to say: we were not disappointed!

Portugal by Van: 2 Weeks in a Nutshell

Places we Visited

• Lisbon
• Peniche
• Nazaré
• Aveiro
• Porto
• Douro Valley
• Serra da Estrela
• Serra de San Mamede
• Évora
• Salema
• Albufeira
• Sagres
• Sintra

Where we Stayed

• Urbano FLH Hotels
• Municipal Camping of Peniche
• Parking Lot of Nazaré
• Villa Teresa Apartamentos*
• Quinta da Padrela*

• Camping Asseiceira
• Parque de Campismo Orbitur Evora
• Quinta Alfarrobeira*
• Salema Eco Camp*
• Noah Surf House*

* = absolutely LOVED the place

Things To Do

• Eat Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon
• Surf in Supertubos, Peniche
• Watch the huge waves in Nazaré
• Port wine tasting in Porto
• Attend a Fado in Porto
• Go to Mars in Serra da Estrela

• Go wine tasting in the Douro Valley (check out this small group tour from Porto)
• Hike in Serra de San Mamede
• Kayak Tour in Benagil Caves
• Fat biking in Santa Cruz

Lisbon

Our journey began in the vibrant capital city, Lisbon. We stayed at Urbano FLH Hotel in Alfama district, a great location for exploring the city. We only spent one night as we were picking up our rental van from Indie Campers the next morning.

A few things we did:

• Strolling through Alfama neighborhood
• Nibbling at Time Out Market
• Get sunset drinks at Quiosque Ribeira das Naus

Peniche

We stopped the camper by the beach and had a romantic first stop with aperitif by sunset.

After a dreamy night in the van in Peniche, we had a day full of activities:

• A rocky surfing session at Praia Baleal, with boards rented from Baleal Surf Camp
• People watching at Praia Supertubos during lunchtime
• Hiking at Furna que Sopra

Nazaré

The town has beautiful architecture and the waves were spectacular to look at. There is a lower town and a funicular bringing you to the top, and a few hikes with cool viewpoints.

We slept at the top of the town, in a car park around where the famous fort and surfing competitions take place. In the morning, we took a nice hike along the coast.

Aveiro

A town not to miss! With colorful fishing houses, loads of culture, delicious restaurants and a different vibe than the rest of Portugal.

Porto

An absolutely jewel, Porto is renowned for its port wine and charming riverside ambiance. We stayed 2 nights at Villa Teresa Apartamentos in Vila Nova de Gaia as it is not only cheaper and less touristy than staying in Porto, but our apartment also had a view of the Porto harbor while being 5 minutes away from the city by walk.

Nice Things to Do in Porto:

• Port wine tasting at PIANO Douro Valley
• Fado in Porto at Caves Cálem – you need to book in advance!
• A self-guided walking food tour

Delicious food to be had:

• Had a fantastic hot dog at la Gazela – book in advance! (not veggie)
• Had a Francesinha at Café Santiago (not veggie)
• Indulge in Pasteis de Nata at Manteigaria

Douro Valley

As we ventured into the Douro Valley, we were awestruck by Portugal’s dramatic fall colors. This picturesque region is known for its terraced vineyards and meandering Douro River, offers a truly serene escape.

We were lucky enough to spend the night at Quinta da Padrela, that we found on Park4Night. With a campervan, they let you park in their parking lot and allow you to use their bathroom with hot shower. What a treat!

On the next day, we went for a lunch and Port wine tasting at Quinta de La Rosa. It has a beautiful decor and great food – highly recommended! Do arrive in advance or book a table; we got there at 3pm and could only order snacks.

Serra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela felt like being on Mars. It’s a former radio station nested above the clouds, and you can go for nice hikes. But it’s very cold! There is even a ski station in there. It was one of my favourite stops.

Serra de San Mamede

Also above the clouds, Serra de San Mamede is perfect for little walks. There is a small cafe to stop by and a cute souvenir shop. We had spectacular colors thanks to a mellow sunset, which gave us incredible views.

Évora

Évora is known for its well-preserved historic center, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It boasts ancient Roman ruins, medieval architecture, and charming cobbled streets.

Beautiful sights:

• Chapel of Bones
• Jardim Público de Évora – it’s full of peakocks!
• Tribunal da Relação de Évora

The Algarve – Salema, Albufeira & Sagres

Once in the Algarve, it’s time to relax on the sun-kissed beaches and go have fun in the water! We tried to quickly pass the cities to enjoy more nature, rented kayaks to go see the Benagil Caves, hiked around it for awhile, and went cliff jumping.

Where we stayed:

• Around Albufeira & Faro, we stayed at Quinta Alfarrobeira, the most fairytale-y accommodation of all. It’s a farm owned by an old Dutch expat, who built some guests houses, has a harvest, some fruit trees, some horses and rents a couple of van spots to tourists. I highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Around Sagres, we slept at Salema Eco Camp, and can also recommend their cute little restaurant.

A few things I recommend doing in the western Algarve:

• Do a kayak tour/rent a kayak to see Benagil Cave – I recommend this one
• Walk the Carvoeiro Boardwalk
• Go swim and tan at any beach
• Visit the Ceramica Paraiso around Sagres

Sintra

No trip to Portugal is complete without visiting Sintra and the Castle of the Moors so we went to explore the surroundings, but the Pena Palace was closed. We could still enjoy the colorful blend of architectural styles that seems to emerge straight from a fairytale.

Here are a few well-rated tours to Sintra, the Pena Palace and the Moors Castle:

• Buy entrance tickets to Pena Palace on the Palace’s direct website
• Castle of the Moors skip-the-line tickets
• Pena Palace Guided Tour – meet the guide at the entrance
• Full Day Tour to Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais from Lisbon – perfect if you don’t have a car (anymore)

Portugal by Van: General organization

I always use the same template to organize multi-day trips. Make a copy of the ultimate Trip Planning Template here!

• Van rental; you mostly have the choice between the 2 European leaders:
  • Indie Campers
  • Road Surfer
• Sleeping:
  • On the road: Park4Night – huge help! While the free version is plenty, the paid version is well worth it.
  • In the cities: booking.com & airbnb.com
• Activities:
  • TheAlgarveActivities.com
  • Google Maps
  • GetYourGuide

Portugal by Van: Budget

We paid a total of €1,396 per person / €2,792 for 2. Here is the breakdown: