Some holidays are relaxing.

Others are adventurous.

This somehow managed to be both.

In just five days we drove 1,800 kilometres across Portugal in a campervan, travelling from the Algarve all the way to Porto, through the wild landscapes of Peneda-Gerês National Park, the vineyard-covered hills of the Douro Valley, and the dramatic peaks of Serra da Estrela, before returning south through the historic city of Évora and back to the Algarve.

On paper, it sounds exhausting.

In reality, it became one of my favourite European road trips.

This was also my first campervan holiday with another couple. I'll admit I was slightly nervous beforehand. Four adults sharing a campervan, long drives, early mornings and an ambitious itinerary could easily have gone wrong. Instead, it was effortless. We laughed our way across Portugal, shared the driving, cooked together, hiked together and somehow managed to see almost the entire country in less than a week.

Portugal completely exceeded my expectations.

When I went: July 2026
Duration: 5 days / 5 nights
Although we covered an incredible amount in just five days, I would recommend 7-10 days if you have the time.
Weather: July is one of the best months to visit Portugal. We enjoyed sunshine every single day with temperatures between 24°C and 30°C, whilst the mountains were noticeably cooler and perfect for hiking.

Tip: If you're thinking about hiring a campervan...

Do it.

Portugal is one of the easiest countries in Europe to explore by road. Campsites are plentiful, roads are generally excellent and every day feels completely different from the last.

Just don't underestimate the driving distances.

Our route covered almost 1,800 km, and although I wouldn't change a thing, I'd happily add another two or three days next time to slow the pace slightly.

Day 1 - Faro to Praia de Mira

We landed in Faro, making a quick stop in Faro's old town for our first pastel de nata, later followed by lunch at Old Tavern. This was the perfect start to the trip: friendly staff, excellent Portuguese food and exactly the kind of local restaurant I love finding whilst travelling.

Originally, we planned to leave Faro around 3 PM, but paperwork at the campervan rental took longer than expected, and we eventually set off around 4 PM.

That meant a long drive north.

Normally that might sound painful, but we took the motorway and the journey felt quick. As we approached our campsite near Praia de Mira, the scenery became strangely cinematic. Endless straight roads, towering pine forests and almost nothing else around us. At times it genuinely reminded me of driving through parts of the United States.

Our first campsite, Mira Lodge Park, was peaceful, surrounded by nature and a wonderful place to spend our first evening.

Day 2 - Porto & Port Wine

Porto instantly became one of my favourite cities in Portugal. If I had to choose between Porto and Lisbon, I'd return to Porto.

It has all the charm of Lisbon but feels slightly more authentic, more relaxed and wonderfully atmospheric. Street musicians filled the riverside with music, colourful houses climbed the hills above the Douro River, and every street seemed to reveal another beautiful viewpoint.

Before our tasting, we spent an hour simply wandering through Ribeira. Don't rush this part. Sometimes the best travel memories come from having nowhere particular to be.

Our afternoon was spent at Cockburn's Port Lodge, where we joined a guided tour and tasting. Out of the three wine experiences we had during the trip, this finished in second place.

Our guide was engaging, knowledgeable and genuinely funny, making the two-hour experience feel much shorter than it was. Learning about centuries of Port production whilst standing amongst enormous oak barrels made the tasting feel much more meaningful than simply drinking wine.

Guided tour — Our guide at **Cockburn's Port Lodge**

Afterwards, we drove towards Guimarães to our next campsite, ready for an early start in Portugal's only national park.

Day 3 - Peneda-Gerês National Park & The Douro Valley

If there's one thing I'd change about this itinerary... I'd give Peneda-Gerês at least a full day.

We completed one of the shorter hiking trails through the forest, but it left me wanting so much more.

The hike itself wasn't technically difficult, but the July sunshine and steady climbs certainly made it feel more challenging. We had originally hoped to see waterfalls, but by July many had dried up.

Even so, the park was beautiful. Wild. Quiet. Completely different to anywhere else we'd visited.

Because our hike took much longer than expected, and we left camp later than planned, we arrived almost ninety minutes late for our wine tasting in the Douro Valley.

Thankfully, Vieira de Sousa kindly accommodated us anyway.

A view from Vieira de Sousa — A view from **Vieira de Sousa**

The wines themselves were lovely. The experience, however, was probably my least favourite of the three tastings. We mainly remained seated throughout and, compared with the more immersive tours elsewhere, it felt slightly less engaging. That said, our late arrival may well have influenced the experience, so it's only fair to mention that.

Unfortunately, arriving late also meant skipping the famous N222 drive and the beautiful riverside village of Pinhão. I guess, sometimes that's simply road-trip life. You can't do everything.

That evening, however, we found something even better - a local supermarket was selling Queijo Serra da Estrela. I had read so much about Portugal's most famous cheese. It absolutely lived up to the hype.

Day 4 - Serra da Estrela

Every day was special, but this was possibly my favourite day of the holiday. We completed the Rota dos Seis Lagos hike, taking around four hours instead of the planned three.

The scenery was unlike anything I'd previously seen in Portugal. Granite peaks. Crystal-clear mountain lakes. Wild landscapes stretching for miles. And then...

Halfway through the hike...

I spotted a large black snake disappearing beneath a rock.

Let's just say my scream probably echoed across half the mountain.

Thankfully, the snake wanted absolutely nothing to do with us, but it certainly added an unexpected adrenaline rush to an already unforgettable hike.

Along the trail we also spotted frogs, wild rabbits and countless lizards. Nature felt genuinely wild here. If you're visiting Serra da Estrela, I'd strongly recommend allowing at least two full days.

That evening we stayed at Bubulcus & Bolotas Camping, which became our favourite campsite of the trip.

It wasn't just somewhere to sleep, it was a beautiful experience.

The owners have created a wonderfully sustainable campsite powered largely by solar energy, using water from their own deep well whilst encouraging guests to learn about local wildlife, native plants and even the constellations above. With almost no light pollution, the night sky was breathtaking.

I saw three shooting stars before falling asleep.

Day 5 - Évora, Algarve & My Favourite Wine Tasting

We deliberately slowed the pace this morning. After several early starts and long driving days, we gave ourselves time to enjoy a slower start of the day before heading to Évora.

The historic centre is beautiful, but the highlight for me was the Chapel of Bones. Lined with the remains of more than 5,000 people, it's both unsettling and strangely fascinating. It serves as a powerful reminder of mortality rather than simply a tourist attraction.

From there we continued south towards the Algarve.

Along the way, we visited Adega Arvad for our final wine tasting. This was, without doubt, my favourite.

Unlike some commercial tastings, this felt relaxed, beautifully paced and genuinely personal. We toured the vineyards, explored the winery and sampled four excellent wines overlooking the surrounding valley.

If you only have time for one tasting in southern Portugal, make it this one.

By the end, we were, quite honestly, very happy. Possibly a little too happy.

After checking into our final campsite we headed to Lagos for dinner.

Lagos itself was lovely, but in July it was much busier than I expected. Restaurants were completely full and we only managed to secure a table at almost 10 PM after a little persuasion.

One place I unfortunately can't recommend is Oasis Camp. Whilst the grounds themselves looked pleasant, the facilities were by far the poorest I've experienced whilst camping in Europe. Broken amenities, limited hot water and poor cleanliness made it the only campsite from this trip I wouldn't return to.

Our Final Morning

Before flying home, we returned to Faro. It somehow felt right to finish where everything had started. We even went back to Old Tavern one last time before heading to the airport.

What surprised me most

Portugal is far more diverse than I expected.

Within five days we experienced medieval cities, Atlantic beaches, dramatic mountain landscapes, world-famous vineyards, historic towns and one of Europe's oldest wine regions.

Every single day felt like a completely different holiday.

My Favourite Experiences

🥾 Hiking in Serra da Estrela

🍷 Adega Arvad wine tasting

🍷 Cockburn's Port Lodge

🧀 Queijo Serra da Estrela

🌅 Wandering Porto's Ribeira

✨ Watching shooting stars at Bubulcus & Bolotas Camping

What I'd do differently next time

Allow at least 7–10 days instead of five.
Spend a full day in Peneda-Gerês National Park.
Explore Pinhão properly rather than rushing through the Douro Valley.
Choose a different final campsite near the Algarve.

Birds eye view of Faro — Flying into Faro

Final Thoughts

Portugal surprised me in all the best ways.

It gave us incredible food, unforgettable hikes, outstanding wine, welcoming people, spectacular scenery and some of the most enjoyable driving roads I've experienced in Europe.

Most importantly, it reminded me that road trips are rarely perfect.

Plans change.

Someone always insists Apple Maps is wrong.

You arrive late.

You laugh about it anyway.

And somehow, those unexpected moments become the stories you remember most.

If you're looking for a European adventure that combines mountains, coastlines, wine, history and just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting, Portugal should be at the very top of your list.

Portugal Campervan Road Trip: The Ultimate 5-Day Itinerary from Faro to Porto,Peneda-Gerês, Douro Valley, Serra da Estrela & Algarve