Portugal Road Trip: Route & Tips for an Unforgettable Journey

Picturesque, lively cities, miles of golden sandy beaches, and towering cliffs overlooking the beautiful deep blue Atlantic – ready for a road trip through Portugal? You've come to the right place!

The Algarve alone would be enough for an unforgettable round trip, but it's even better to explore all of Portugal from north to south in a campervan, stopping whenever you like.

Simeon Baker and his girlfriend Nina set off in a California Beach and discovered many must-see places on their Portugal road trip, which we're excited to share with you.

So, if you're planning a trip through Portugal and looking for the perfect route and helpful tips, keep reading! You'll find videos of the road trip at the very bottom of this post.

Portugal Road Trip: Route & Tips

• Douro Valley
• Porto
• Nazaré
• Cabo da Roca – Azenhas do Mar
• Lisbon
• Praia da Mata
• West Coast Beaches
• Salema
• Sagres
• Faro

Day 1: Douro Valley

Vineyards, romantic villages, and stunning views – Simeon's Portugal road trip began in the Douro Valley. This beautiful wine region is crisscrossed by the Douro River and dotted with numerous picturesque villages and wineries.

Simeon camped for one night at a free spot, where he had a fantastic view over the entire valley.

Tip: For anyone else wanting to stop here, the spot was perfect for a night and even had toilets open 24/7.

From the campsite, they drove along a winding road through countless vineyards to a wine tasting. Here, Simeon got a tour of the vineyards and winery in a red 4x4 Jeep. Afterward, they tasted 8 different wines, including two Port wines, which are typical of the region. Port wines are exclusively produced in the Douro Valley.

Day 2: Porto

After the wine tasting in the Douro Valley, they continued to Ista's Garden campsite, not far from Porto. Upon arrival, Simeon was treated to another wine tasting. This tasting was held with all guests and the campsite owners. Typically, wine tastings here are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The campsite itself is small and family-run. It has a lovely setup with well-maintained pitches, sanitary facilities, and a pool.

The next day was spent exploring Porto. Porto, "the secret capital of the North," is, alongside Lisbon, the only true major city in the country. Beyond its traditional wine regions, Porto also offers a wealth of culture, especially its beautiful old town.

The best way to get to the city from the campsite is by Uber.

Simeon started his city trip at the harbor and strolled from there through the narrow streets to the "Brasão" restaurant. This place is rumored to have the best Francesinha – or as Simeon likes to call it, "the heart attack sandwich." Francesinha is a typical dish for Porto.

Afterward, they continued to "Confeitaria do Bolhão" café to try typical Portuguese delicacies like "Pastel de Nata." If you want to buy good local products, "Mercado do Bolhão" market is the best place. Here you'll find everything your heart desires.

To finish, they crossed the famous "Ponte Dom Luís I" bridge to the other side of the city for one last look over beautiful Porto before heading back to the campsite.

Day 3 & 4: Nazaré

Before continuing the Portugal road trip to Nazaré, they had breakfast from the authentic "Oficina Do Pão" bakery around the corner from the campsite.

Nazaré is famous for its giant waves and has become a mecca for many professional surfers. The best place to watch the waves is from the Nazaré lighthouse. Unfortunately, Simeon wasn't so lucky, as the waves were relatively small that day.

Nevertheless, the visit was very exciting, as the lighthouse has a small exhibition on Nazaré's big wave surf history. Entry cost €1.

After visiting the lighthouse, Simeon met a very interesting person named Eric. He's from Austria and has been traveling through Europe on foot for years. He also invented a meditative and nature-connected sport called Foam Sport. Simeon got a short session from him and learned the basics of this sport.

The day ended with a beautiful sunset picnic featuring vegetarian tacos.

Simeon spent his time in Nazaré at a great campsite right by the sea. There were only a few other campers, and it wasn't very busy.

Day 5: Cabo da Roca – Azenhas do Mar

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. The cape sits on a 140-meter-high cliff. There isn't much to see here, just a few cafés and souvenir shops.

From here, Simeon started a short hike to "Praia de Ursa" beach. The hike is beautiful, and you can discover many stunning coves.

Afterward, the Portugal road trip continued to "Azenhas do Mar." Here you can enjoy the beautiful view of the charming seaside town. Plus, there's excellent "Cataplana de Peixe" (a typical Portuguese dish) and Sangria at "Restaurante Azenhas do Mar."

The overnight parking spot was here.

Day 6: Lisbon

The next day, they continued to Lisbon, where Simeon spent a night in a hotel to get some work done. Therefore, he didn't see much of the city. He did manage to catch the sunset from "Miradouro de Santa Luzia" and strolled a bit through the city to "Praça do Comércio."

By the way, there's a very authentic restaurant here called "Casa do Alentejo." It looks truly beautiful inside with its typical Portuguese tiles.

If you have more time to explore Lisbon, be sure to wander through the charming alleys, admire the tile-decorated house facades, ride the famous yellow tram up the steep hills, and enjoy the fantastic views over the city.

Day 7: Praia da Mata

On day 7, they headed to "Praia da Riviera" beach for lunch at "Restaurante – Bar Praia da Riviera." Afterward, Simeon explored "Praia da Mata" beach. It was the perfect spot to take some beautiful photos. It also turned out that the beach offers breathtaking sunsets. The atmosphere was simply unique.

Simeon stayed overnight in a beach parking lot where wild camping is permitted.

Day 8: West Coast Beaches

On a road trip through Portugal, it's recommended to make short stops at these beautiful beaches along the coast heading south:

• Praia da Comporta: A beautiful beach with a nice beach restaurant. Camping is unfortunately forbidden there.
• Praia do Malhão
• Praia da Amoreira
• Praia de Monte Clérigo: Beautiful beach with a village backdrop. You should visit the "O Sargo" restaurant here.

Day 9: Salema

Salema is a small fishing village in the western Algarve. Here, Simeon spent his first night in the Algarve at Salema Eco Camp. The campsite offers free pitch selection, and you're right in the middle of nature.

Sanitary facilities, washing machines, electricity, a small shop with regional products, and a restaurant are available.

In the afternoon, Simeon explored the Benagil Cave by kayak. Afterward, they continued to the famous sunset spot "Arco de Albandeira."

Day 10: Sagres

Sagres is a dream destination for anyone who loves the raw beauty of nature. The region consists of massive cliffs and huge beaches where the powerful waves of the Atlantic break. This has made Sagres a hotspot for surfers for a long time.

Simeon also spent the day surfing at "Praia do Tonel" beach. He rented the surfboard at Salema Eco Camp, but there are also many rental shops in Sagres itself.

Day 11: Faro

On the last day of the Portugal road trip, they had an early buggy tour with "Algarve Buggy Tours." The tour was mostly off-road and went through small rivers. After the tour, they had lunch at "Burgers and Bowls" restaurant – super delicious burgers! Afterward, the journey led to "Praia da Fuesta" beach to end the day with a stroll.

Conclusion: Portugal Road Trip

"There's so much to discover on a Portugal road trip. Whether it's the south, west, north, or east, the country has so much beauty and so many incredible places and activities to offer. Plus, Portugal is easy to explore by campervan. The country is definitely worth a trip, and I'm almost a little sad to have to leave." – Simeon Baker