Many of us dream of driving through Europe for a wonderful summer road trip, especially somewhere as beautiful as the west coast of Portugal.
That’s why we asked Lauren and Louis Travel to put together a travel guide for those who wish to take a campervan to this stunning country in Europe.
Day 1: Porto → Nazaré
Start in the city of Porto (park at the gated Porto Motorhome park & taxi in for the day), grab a coffee and wander the colourful streets. From here, you can then get back on the road heading south, where your first stop is Nazaré, known for its giant waves, but even on a calm day, the coastline is seriously impressive.
Day 2: Nazaré → Óbidos → Baleal or Peniche
Make a quick inland detour to Óbidos, a tiny medieval village that honestly feels like stepping back in time, before heading back to the coast and base up around Baleal or Peniche for chilled beach days and easy cliffside van park-ups.
Day 3: Peniche → Santa Cruz
Drive further south to Santa Cruz, where the coastline gets wild. Think dramatic cliffs and loads of quiet spots to pull up and watch the sunset. Make sure you stock up in a nearby town first so you can cook up a BBQ feast because you’re likely to be remote for the night!
Day 4: Santa Cruz → Ericeira
Next stop is Ericeira, a popular and buzzing surf town with a really cool vibe. Think cute cafés, perfect iced coffees, surfers everywhere, and the kind of place you plan to park in for one night and accidentally stay three (or more)! Get there early though, the parkups are few and far between.
Day 5: Ericeira → Sintra → Lisbon
Head inland to Sintra for castles, forest views and something completely different from the coastal experience so far. Then continue on to the city of Lisbon for an evening of exploring sunset viewpoints and busy city streets. Make sure to park on the outskirts and take the metro in; city parking isn’t always cheap or safe.
Day 6: Lisbon → Cascais → Setúbal → Arrábida
Follow the coast through Cascais and down to Setúbal, then finish the day near Arrábida Natural Park. The road trip views driving through here are unbeatable, and the water is unreal. It’s easily one of the most beautiful spots on the route so far.
Day 7: Arrábida → Porto Covo → Arrifana → Sagres
Head south, stopping at the beautiful cove beaches of Porto Covo and carry on along the rugged coastline to Arrifana. Finish here, or in Sagres, (both are home to gorgeous beaches and plenty of ‘vanlifers’), a spot on the way to end a west coast trip, and possibly make some new friends.
European car and campervan insurance
Whichever European country you plan on driving to, be it Portugal or another, you will need to ensure you have the right European car insurance or campervan cover that includes trips to Europe for up to 90 days, or even a full 365 days on the road if you’re looking at the trip of a lifetime.
We can also find policies with breakdown insurance, so you can have peace of mind on your next European road trip.
Call us on 0344 381 9990 for a quick, no-hassle quote or book a callback at a time that suits you.