10 places to camp in Portugal

When, in the 13th century, King Dinis, the “farmer” king, ordered the Mata Nacional do Camarido to be planted, he was far from imagining that in the 21st century this would house vacationers eager for contact with Nature. In addition to the pleasant shades of the pine forest, the Minho estuary and Caminha beach – just 200 meters away – invite you to bathe and enjoy water activities. If you want to broaden the range of action, in addition to a visit to the historic city of Caminha, explore the surroundings. The viewpoint of Santo Antão, in the magnificent Serra de Arga, and the picturesque village of Vilar de Mouros with its water mills and house of the oldest music festival in Portugal, will surprise you.

Gerês is always an excellent excuse to pitch your tent, even if it's just for a few days. But if your vacation idea implies more comfort and less logistics, don't give up yet. Here you can also stay in Bungalows, which are a kind of tree house, or in Glamour Tents, which will make you feel as if you were in the setting of one of the “One Thousand and One Nights” stories, with the chirping of birds as the original soundtrack and the Lima River in the background. In addition to enjoying Nature and counting the stars to fall asleep, the park has activities for all tastes: dips in the river and in the natural lagoons, walks on officially signposted trails, guided e-bike, horse, buggy or car rides. 4×, Stand Up Paddle, canyoning, sport fishing licenses, among others.

We continue to the Peneda Gerês National Park, considered by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. A reference for camping in Portugal, the Parque de Campismo de Cerdeira, located in the middle of the Reserve, offers two different experiences: cabins, which resemble mountain shelters, and tents in the trees, so you can sleep above the ground. The surroundings invite you to dive into Nature and to travel back in time: in addition to typical villages such as Campo do Gerês, discover Geira Romana or Mata da Albergaria, a Biogenetic Reserve. A mandatory stop, already in Spanish territory, are the Thermal Baths of Lobios, with warm waters in the open air, for a dip day or night, in summer or winter.

Portugal Inland Center is full of surprises and a perfect destination for camping in Portugal. If you like to do different things and escape the “fashionable” destinations, look no further. The Parque de Campismo Municipal de Idanha-a-Nova is located in the vicinity of the Marechal Carmona Dam, a natural paradise that promises special days of leisure and unforgettable dives, when the park's swimming pool no longer fills your needs. In addition to the practice of numerous sporting or recreational activities, in the area you will find beautiful landscapes, punctuated with castles in Idanha-a-Nova, Idanha-a-Velha, Penha Garcia and - known as “The Most Portuguese Village in Portugal” - Monsanto.

Going on a family vacation and don't know where to camp? This Biopark is much more than a campsite. The pleasure of the fresh waters of Serra da Arada, which seem to flow directly from the mountain to the pool (a kind of Natural Aquatic Park), are one of the highlights of this place. Take a look at the wooden Bungalows located in the middle of the forest, with the best of both worlds: comfort and contact with Nature. Then there is a whole series of adventure activities, such as tree climbing (for kids and adults), climbing, rappelling on real rock or hiking, which will make you a “rebel” lover of adrenaline and Nature. We suspect that if you go with your children it will be difficult to bring them back home.

Off-shore winds, versatile waves, several peaks… any surfer's dream, just like this campsite located less than two minutes from the typical fishing village of Ericeira, known as the national Surfing Mecca. In addition to traditional camping, you can choose to stay in bungalows or teepees, cozy wooden constructions, inspired by the tents of the North American Indians and designed especially for surf lovers. They have capacity for two people and are equipped with supports ideal for placing boards. The Surf School is the icing on the cake for fans of this extreme sport!

Tânia (Biologist) and Waldemar (Forest Engineer) are passionate about Nature and had a dream: to create a space where Nature and tranquility could be truly experienced. And so, in the Alentejo countryside, Bubulcus & Bolotas Camping was born, an ecological campsite, based on the fundamentals of sustainability in all its aspects and with a pioneer typology for camping in Portugal: each guest has privacy and space around them. There are balls, wooden rackets, badminton, basketball, pétanque and, of course, the diving tank. You can also discover plants and animals, with the field guide, and if you are a fan of bird watching, you are in the right place.

Camping Villa Park Zambujeira is located in Zambujeira do Mar, a small fishing paradise by the sea, which in the summer, especially on the dates of the music festival that made it known, becomes one of the most popular places on the Alentejo coast. From here, you can explore more than 50 beaches with wild sand – and some even secret –, crystal clear waters and imposing rock formations. The gastronomy will not leave you indifferent either: from fresh fish, to seafood, including black pork and, of course, the Alentejo bread! And coriander, lots of coriander… on everything!

Inserted in the Alentejo South-west and Costa Vicentina Natural Park, and with views of the Pessegueiro Island, a source of inspiration for legends and stories, this campsite has a perfect location. With a coast rich in desirable beaches, for all tastes and shapes, it is an excellent destination for those who iodine, sun and sand on their vacation. You wil fall in love by Porto Covo at first sight, a cozy fishing village a few kilometers away, and it will also grab you by the stomach: sit on one terraces in the main square and delight yourself with some of the Alentejo gastronomic specialties, enjoying the sunset, after a “tiring” day of diving.

Located in Cabanas de Tavira, in the east of the Algarve, the best calling card of this campsite is its proximity to a natural paradise: the Ria Formosa Natural Park, an area of international importance, and a labyrinth of channels, islands, salt marshes and sandbanks, along 60 kilometers of the coast of this region. The boat crossings, to the beach, will be part of your daily routine, a means of transport as used in this area as the metro in a large urban center, but much more pleasant, by the way! If you visit the area, point out two obligatory destinations: Cacela Velha and Fábrica, two calm and charming villages, that will stay in your memory forever.