15+ Companies that offer Campervan Hire in Portugal (2023)

FAQs

How much does it cost to rent a camper van in Portugal? ›

How much does it cost to rent a campervan in Portugal? The price of campervan rental in Portugal ranges between €50 per night during the low season to €175 per night during the summertime. The price of motorhome rental is a bit higher ranging between €90 to €225.

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 120 to 600 euros.

With the rise of vanlife in Portugal, there are many campervan and motorhome rental companies from which you can rent a van. Two of the more popular companies include Indie Campers and Siesta Campers, who have depots in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro.

And, with one-way rentals, you can travel to unique places, like the French Riviera . Traveling by campervan gives you the freedom to explore the most incredible wilderness and vibrant culture of France. Rent your campervan or RV in France and experience l'art de vivre–the art of living.

Older, used vans may cost $25,000 or less but include far fewer amenities and comforts. DIY van conversions tend to cost between $10,000 and $50,000 not including the van itself, depending on materials used and components included.

To give you a very rough idea of monthly van life costs, some of the van lifers we know spend as little as $800/month while a good number of van lifers we know spend around $1500-$2000/month.

Portugal is one of the best countries for free camping in western Europe. There are lots of places where it's possible to free camp, either by the beach or further inland. The Portuguese have officially banned free camping in the Algarve. Yet outside of summer the police do tolerate responsible free camping.

Wild camping in Portugal

It is forbidden to stay overnight in the coastline (in front of the beach), in all natural protected areas, natural reserves and parks (marked with dark green in google maps, e.g. Costa Vicentina Natural Park), and also places that have specific signs saying campervans are not allowed.

We recommend Parque Florestal de Monsanto. Within its 10km of natural beauty, you will also find the Parque Municipal de Campismo de Monsanto, a great place to park your campervan overnight.

Can American citizens move to Portugal? Technically you're allowed to enter the country visa-free and stay there for up to 90 days. If you wish to live there long-term, then you need to get a residence permit.

Can I live in Portugal and not be tax resident? ›

According to the Portuguese tax law in force since January 2015, an individual is deemed to be resident in Portugal for tax purposes if one meets either of the following conditions: Spends more than 183 days, consecutive or not, in Portugal in any 12-month period starting or ending in the fiscal year concerned.

Americans are not required by law to obtain an international driving permit to drive a rental car in Portugal. Short term visitors staying less than six months in the country can drive their rental with a valid US license.

Yes, it is possible to live full-time in a camper van or small RV. Depending on the size of your family, full-time living might require a little extra planning to ensure there is adequate space for everyone. Many camper vans are perfect for solo RVers, couples, and even small families.

5. Do I Need a Special License to Drive an RV in Europe? At a minimum, most European countries require a passport and your regular driver's license. Depending on the country you're visiting, you may also need an International Driver's Permit.

In many ways European RVing is similar to the US, and in others very different. First of all RV's are called motorhomes, campervans or camping cars in Europe. They tend to be much smaller (~20-26 ft in size), have no slides and no air-conditioning (typically) and use little cassette toilets instead of black tanks.

What is high mileage for a motorhome? If you're in the market for a used motorhome, one with mileage between 100,000 and 200,000 is considered high.

Expect 7 – 13 average miles per gallon. Do you own a Class B van camper? You get the best fuel economy, with 18 – 25 average miles per gallon.

Campervans will get anywhere from 20 to 28 mpg on the highway, while their gas-guzzling RV counterparts boast an impressive 8 to 12 mpg on the highway. It's simple – save the planet (and your wallet), drive a campervan.

Living in an RV can be cheaper than traditional home ownership because RVs require less space and utility usage, resulting in lower costs for heating, cooling, and maintenance. Additionally, RV living encourages a simpler and more minimalist lifestyle that can lead to fewer expenses related to possessions.

It is financially smart to live in an RV. Living in an RV means living a lot smaller with a lot less stuff. You have less room for everything – clothes, toys, tools and more saving you a lot of money. Along with less space, you save on utilities and home-improvement projects if you own your home.

Is it cheaper to live in van life? ›

Living in a van is typically cheaper, but it really depends on your spending habits. Rent is very expensive, especially in coastal cities, so moving into a van might seem like a great way to save money. But van life is not a magic bullet to solving your financial problems.

Yes! In recent years, Portugal has become one of the safest countries in Europe. Violent crime is almost nonexistent and petty crimes like pickpocketing happen very rarely too. Portugal is safe and there are no known areas to avoid, but always be aware of your surroundings and take precautions when travelling at night.

Campground costs in Portugal

Depending on the camping ground, the cost for one night with a tent will be around €5. Outside the season, it's sometimes half price. For really posh places, you can end up paying around €20 per night. Sometimes, there is an extra cost for using the showers.

Portuguese are the third latest risers on the planet, with research saying they wait until 8.10am to get out of bed. This is only beaten by Greece (8.18am) and Saudi Arabia (8.22am). On average, Portuguese head to bed at 00.47am, 25 minutes before Iranians, who are the last to go to bed, according to the research.

Drinking tap water in Portugal is considered safe in all regions and the water meets all EU standards. Lisbon tap water is of a medium hardness, rich in minerals and has chlorine added during treatment. It can have a strong taste, so most Lisbon residents drink bottled water and use tap water for most everything else.

The short answer is: yes, you can drink the tap water in Portugal. It isn't as nice as tap water from other parts of the world (Ireland and Scotland, for example), but it's perfectly safe to drink. What is this? You'll see plenty of Portuguese people buying bottled water, but that's just because it tastes nicer.

Can I Sleep in My Car at a Campground? Many campgrounds, including some KOAs, will welcome guests who choose to sleep in their car at a campsite. It's always a good idea to call ahead so that you ensure you're reserving the right type of site for you car camping adventure.

In Italy you can stay overnight at normal parking areas, including those along the motorways. Wild camping and motorhoming is also permitted, with the consent of the landowner.

Wild Camping in Spain

In essence this means that you can park, eat, and sleep anywhere you wish but you cannot extend your camping area outside of your van or motorhome. From the outside, it must look as if your van is simply parked: no camp chairs or tables, no awning, no barbeques, and no electric generator use.

Where do most American expats live in Portugal? ›

Where do American expats live in Portugal? Expat life in Portugal is a dream. The biggest American expat communities are Lisbon, the Algarve, and Porto. Compared to some other European countries, Portugal manages to balance a high quality of life with a low cost of living.

Since Portugal and the US both allow dual citizenship, you may keep both your Portuguese passport and your American one.

U.S. citizens may enter Portugal for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. If you plan on transiting a Schengen country, review our U.S. Travelers in Europe page.

If you registered as a non-habitual resident before 31 March 2020, your foreign source pension income is generally tax-free. If you are registered from April 2020 onwards, your foreign pension income is generally taxed at 10%.

US Expat Taxes in Portugal

If you're living abroad in Portugal, you'll need to file both US taxes and Portugal taxes.

Does Portugal Allow Dual Citizenship? Portugal allows dual citizenship. Only if the applicant's home country does not allow it, the applicant may have to renounce their citizenship of their own country.

The minimum age to rent a car in Portugal is 18 years old. The maximum rental age is 80 years old. Please see age policy details below. Cars available for rent include Mini, Economy, and Compact.

You can always pay by cash but some fuel stations after a certain hour will only be available if you pay directly at the pump with a credit or debit card. If possible the pay at the pump method is the best as the instructions are given to you in your language of choice.

Driving in Portugal is fairly easy. The only difficulty might be in the city centres where the streets are very narrow and the roads are made of cobblestone. The motorways are all quite new and so the road conditions are extremely good and if you don't mind paying for tolls, you will get around very quickly.

You can't park anywhere you like, and sometimes finding a spot can be a problem. Parking in some places may be unwanted or even illegal. Unfortunately, not many cities are van life-friendly, meaning if you get caught sleeping in your van at an inconvenient spot, you may have to pay a penalty.

What campers can you live in full-time? ›

The term “van life” is pretty self-explanatory—it literally means living out of a van. But the lifestyle behind it is so much more than that. Using a van as a mobile home, van dwellers (also called nomads) are able to live a simple life that allows them to travel the world on their own schedules.

You can drive an North American RV in Europe. However, there are a lot of things to consider. First, you'll need to ship the RV to Europe. Then, you'll want to consider the significant differences between European RVs and North American RVs we will discuss later in this article.

B licence holders who are at least 21 years of age are allowed to drive motor tricycles (including three-wheeled motorcycles with a power exceeding 15 kilowatts (20 hp) in the following countries: France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Spain and Poland (after three years of B licence ...

If your Class A RV is less than 26,000 pounds and 40 feet in length, you're likely fine to drive with your regular driver's license. However, if your Class A motorhome exceeds that limit, you may need to take an RV safety course or get a CDL to operate it on the road.

France is just perfect for a road trip and campervan travel. We travelled for 12 months full-time through Europe by motorhome and have to say that France was the country most well equipped for motorhome, campervan and RV life. We also lived in France for 9 months and experienced French village life in the Dordogne.

RV (Recreational Vehicle)

RV is an umbrella term popular in North America used to describe motorised vehicles used for camping. RV can be used to refer to both motorhomes and campervans.

The beauty of travelling Europe in a campervan is that you can also make it up as you go along. Prioritise the countries and sights you want to see and adjust your Europe itinerary as you go.

Renting a campervan in Europe is not cheap. The average cost for an RV rental is between 100 to 150 euros per day.

Most cars in Portugal have manual transmission which means that automatic cars are in short supply and therefore are more expensive to hire, usually double the price. What to do about this: If you're not used to driving a manual car, it's not that bad really.

How much does it cost to travel the country in a camper? ›

But, if you take the straightest route possible from one end of the country to the other, a good middle-ground for 2022 is around $2000 ($4000 round-trip). That is, of course, right in the middle. Large motorhomes will cost more, and small campervans may cost considerably less.

It was a big relief to discover that if you're simply touring the country in your camper, you don't need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You'll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period – more than enough for a decent European exploration.

Yes, major European campervan or motorhome hire suppliers offer one-way rentals. Just take note that you may encounter toll roads across Europe. Check out our website and see available pick-up or any drop-off location for you.

U.S. Citizens are entitled to drive in Portugal with their U.S. issued driver's license for a period no to exceed 185 days, provided they are not legal residents.

Americans are not required by law to obtain an international driving permit to drive a rental car in Portugal. Short term visitors staying less than six months in the country can drive their rental with a valid US license.

What is this? Even private campgrounds are usually significantly cheaper than hotels. This is especially true near major attractions, like theme parks or other busy destinations. Granted, some RV parks with high-end amenities can be the same price or more, but campgrounds are cheaper than hotels for the most part.

Living in an RV can be cheaper than traditional home ownership because RVs require less space and utility usage, resulting in lower costs for heating, cooling, and maintenance. Additionally, RV living encourages a simpler and more minimalist lifestyle that can lead to fewer expenses related to possessions.

Just remember, although it may be tempting to roam around these vehicles whilst they are in transit, the safest and legal way to travel is sat down and buckled up! If you need any other advice, do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

Wild camping in a motorhome in Spain

Like much of Europe, wild camping in Spain for motorhomes and campers is 'tolerated' in many places but not strictly legal and it's certainly not a right. Many people seem to think they can turn up and park wherever they want, but this is not the case.