Portugal winter camping: tips & best campsites

Portugal is a small country in Southern Europe that borders the Atlantic Ocean and Spain. The country is quickly becoming a top travel destination in Europe and the world. People from all over the world come to enjoy the beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, old-world architecture and fantastic weather. Especially, if you’re looking to escape the cold winter days in the UK, the country is a great destination for winter camping, as there are lots of year-round open campsites in Portugal.

Portugal has a long and fascinating history, and the culture can only be described as vibrant. This history and culture are on display in the many museums and galleries around the country. Portugal is also known for its delicious cuisine, wine and quintessential Mediterranean lifestyle. And yes, it’s possible to take a road trip to Portugal from the United Kingdom in a Campervan.

Hire a Motorhome for your road trip to Portugal

Before we get started with our travel tips for your winter camping holiday in Portugal, you’ll need the right vehicle! Luckily, dozens of experienced owners offer Campervans or Motorhomes on Camplify that are perfect for a road trip. Additionally, our self-drive-hire insurance and Allianz flexible rental insurance that comes with most of our vehicles has a Europe-wide breakdown cover included. Besides, we’re recommending hiring a Motorhome with heating. Should it get colder during the night, you’ll stay warm and cosy.

Camping in Portugal

With all the lovely accommodations available in Portugal, one might wonder why they would embark on a road trip of the country and camp along the way in their Campervan. Well, there are many reasons why this type of trip is the best way to see the country, and campsites in Portugal make for the best accommodation on one of these trips.

Portugal is a fairly small country. In fact, it’s almost three times smaller than the United Kingdom! This makes it easy to get around and cover a lot of ground in a short time. Many road trippers see the entire country in just a week!

With such diverse scenery and so much to see and do both inland and along the coastal areas, the best way to cover as much as possible is by vehicle. Portugal’s roads are modern and well-maintained for the most part, and it’s one of the safest countries in the world to travel around.

You’ve likely seen the beautiful photos of colourful sunsets, spectacular coastline, remote fishing villages and long, sandy beaches and assumed they were taken in the height of summer. The reality is, you can enjoy these same sights any time of year. The only difference is the water will be too cold to go for a swim, but the waves in winter are even better for surfing!

The weather during winter in Portugal

If you’re planning on taking advantage of low season prices and uncrowded attractions by travelling in the winter, rest assured that the weather in Portugal during the winter is quite mild.

The country sees about 300 sunny days in an average year. This means you can expect comfortable, dry conditions throughout the country. Because there’s a market for winter campsites in Portugal that’s growing every year, many of the country’s camp grounds stay open in the low season. Many of the attractions stay open all year round as well.

The south of Portugal is a bit warmer than the north of Portugal during winter. In November, you’ll even be able to experience up to 18 °C during the day and the temperatures stay very springlike throughout the rest of the year as well as in January, February, and March.

As mentioned before, the North of Portugal is a bit colder than the south, however the temperatures still feel very springlike with 16 °C in November or 14 °C in December. Also, there’s still enough sun to spend the day soaking in it on a beautiful beach.

Campsites in Portugal – The ins and outs of camping in Portugal in winter

Wild camping has been considered illegal in Portugal for quite some time, however, there have been some amendments to the law in 2021 which have been approved by the IMT (Institute of Mobility and Transport). Overnight stays in Motorhomes are now allowed for a maximum period of 48 hours. However, wild camping is still banned on lands belonging to the Natura 2000 network, protected areas and areas covered by the Coastal Development Plans. Violations on these lands can result in a fine between £105 to £525. So you definitely will be safer staying at a campsite.

Fortunately, there are enough campsites around the country that stay open during the winter months where you can park safely overnight and have access to many amenities.

With such mild weather in winter, you won’t need to pack a whole lot of cold-weather gear. Have a few thermal blankets on hand for colder nights. Skip the thermal wear for hiking and exploring, but have a few warm sweaters and maybe some gloves and a bonnet for extra windy days. And make sure to bring some sunglasses to wear while you’re driving, as most days will be very sunny!

You likely won’t see much snow unless you’re travelling in mountainous areas. For most of the country, snow tires are not needed. But if you plan to travel to higher elevations where snow is common, you might want to have some snow chains on hand for better traction on snow and ice in those areas.

The Best Driving Routes from the United Kingdom to Portugal

Looking at a map, you may think it’s not possible to drive to Portugal from the United Kingdom. Yes, you indeed have to cross water, but several ferries can take you to the European mainland. The only problem is none of these ferries travel directly to Portugal, so you’ll need to travel through France or Spain to cross the border into the country.

There’s no way around it; you’ll need to cross the English Channel to drive from the United Kingdom to Portugal on the mainland. One popular route that many people take when travelling from the United Kingdom to Portugal is the ferry from Dover, England to Calais, France and onto Portugal via the A28.

The ferry that crosses at Portsmouth and travels to Caen in Northwestern France is longer and more expensive, but the drive from Cherbourg to Portugal via the A-62 is a bit shorter. There’s also a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander, Spain, and the best thing about this route is it is much shorter than driving through France.

Campsites in Portugal

1. Orbitur Valverde – Lagos in the Algarve Region

When it comes to the top regions to visit in Portugal, the Algarve region, which is situated in the southern area of the country, is probably the most visited and the most popular. Fortunately, there are places to stay and things to do in this region even during the winter low season!

The Algarve area is known for its sandy beaches and golf courses, but it also has many other outdoor attractions. Ponta da Piedade, Cabo de San Vicente, Quinta do Lago and the barrier islands of Ria Formosa are just some of these popular attractions.

Some museums in the Algarve region include The Algarve Regional Museum, the Museum of the Land and the Sea, Antonian Museum, Portimão Museum, Silves’ Municipal Archeology Museum, the Loulé Municipal Museum and the Faro Municipal Museum.

Orbitur Valverde is just 1.5 km from Playa da Luz and 6 km from the town of Lagos. Here you will find a spacious free area with 600 pitches, including a leisure-centre, modern facilities, a swimming pool, restaurant and mini-market. This campsite is open all year round and perfect for exploring the Algarve region. Dogs are also welcome here and there’s even a pet station!

To the campsite

2. Campsites in Portugal – Lima Escape, Ponte da Barca

Ponte da Barca is a small town in northwestern Portugal known for its lovely scenery that consists of a majestic bridge that was built in the 1300s and spans the Lima River.

When it comes to campsites in Portugal, Lima Escape is a great choice, especially during the winter months as it remains open during that time of year.

Located in a beautiful mountainous area near the river and a nature reserve. This pet-friendly campsite features bathrooms equipped with hot showers, barbecue facilities, electric and water hookups, a playground, a canteen, laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi service in some areas.

Nearby, there are opportunities to participate in a range of outdoor activities including Volleyball, basketball, fishing, canoeing, climbing, kayaking, and rafting. Many top attractions are easily accessible from the campsite including Peneda-Gerês National Park, Castle of Lindoso, Espigueiros de Lindoso, Paço de Giela, Alto Lindoso Dam, Ponte da Ladeira, and Serra Amarela.

To the Campsite

3. Quinta das Cantarinhas – Monsanto

Monsanto may be very tiny, but it’s big on scenery, attractions and outdoor activities. This rural village in central Portugal is perfect for road tripping families seeking somewhere to enjoy a range of adventurous pursuits including hiking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding and canoeing.

Monsanto is a great place to visit any time of year, including the off-season. If you choose to travel there in the winter months, rest assured that you’ll have a place to stay at Quinta das Cantarinhas, one of the many campsites in Portugal that stay open in the winter.

The pet-friendly campsite has barbecue facilities, a car park and a central location close to public transport options, so you don’t have to take your Campervan while exploring the immediate area. One of the top attractions in the area is the spectacular Fortress of Monsanto.

You’ll find it towering high above the village, and you can access it via a short hike. The views are amazing from the top where you’ll also see the ruins of the castle, the ancient walls and a Roman Chapel. Other attractions in the area include. Torre de Lucano, Castelo de Idanha-a-Velha, Cathedral Idanha-a-Velha, Casa Marrocos and Museu Epigráfico Egitaniense.

4. Campsites in Portugal – Camping Rural Os Anjos, Campo Maior

Camping Rural Os Anjos is another campsite in Portugal that stays open during the winter. This pet-friendly campsite is situated in the town of Campo Maior in the southern area of the country, and the campsite itself is in the countryside bordering it.

On-site you’ll find many amenities including some you might not expect such as a swimming pool, although it might be too cold to use during the winter. Other amenities include barbecue facilities, hot showers, electric hook-ups, a snack bar, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi service, and bicycle rentals.

The location is amazing too. Nearby, you’ll find many attractions including the Castle of Campo Maior, Capela dos Ossos de Campo Maior, Centro de Ciência do Café, Castle of Ouguela and Lagar Museu do Palácio Visconde d’Olivã. Mountain hiking, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, tennis and canoeing are some of the activities you can participate in nearby.

To the campsite

We’ve come to an end with our recommendations for campsites in Portugal for winter camping and hopefully, you’ll find a place that is perfect to enjoy a winter holiday with lots of sun and endless days at the beach. All that’s left to do is rent a Campervan, and you’re ready for your next adventure.