Camper Van & RV Rental in Porto

The best months to rent a camper van in Porto are April and September when the weather is good, and the summer crowds are gone. On June 23rd, the Portuguese celebrate the festival of São João (Saint John): Think fireworks, paper lanterns floating into the sky, and staying up to watch the sunrise. In fall, the trees of the Douro Valley turn bright colors with their fall foliage, while at the wineries the grape harvest is in full swing. The winter months are colder and wetter than the rest of the year, but prices are low, and the weather makes cafes and wine bars seem all the cozier. Unless you visit in July and August, there’s always the chance of rain. Pack a raincoat rather than an umbrella, as umbrellas often don’t stand a chance against the Atlantic wind.

The most convenient place to fill up with fresh water at the beginning of your road trip and empty your grey water at the end is your campground. However, if you don’t have the option to do this where you’re staying, your other option is to go to the ASA, or RV service area, in Santo Tirso, just 30 minutes from the roadsurfer station.

• ASA, R. Mãe d’Água 152, 4780, Portugal

Before you return your roadsurfer camper van, you can refill with diesel and AdBlue at one of these convenient gas stations near our location here:

• BP: ESTRADA NACIONAL 13, KM 16.600,4485-473 Mindelo

Please note: The AdBlue service station information provided is for guidance only and is provided without warranty of any kind; customers are advised to check the information for accuracy on their own responsibility, as roadsurfer assumes no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information.

You might be wondering where to park to explore the city when you pick up your camper van rental in Porto. The best option is to find out which transit station close to your campground has parking. Porto has an excellent public transportation system with a metro, buses, and trams, so there’s no need to deal with the stress of navigating the many one-way streets, crowded historical areas, and small parking spaces. However, if you would like to drive into the city, here are a couple of camper van friendly options (you may need to arrive early in the day to find a space):

• Parque de estacionamento Duque de Loulé, 4000-509 Porto – prices vary depending on your parking time
• Alfândega Car Park, R. Nova da Alfândega 80, 4050-385 Porto
• Praça de Dom João I, 4000-295 Porto – an underground car park that should have enough space for a camper van

Highways in Portugal are all toll roads. They are either equipped with booths to pay on-site or electronic.

Payment on-site: You can pay the toll conventionally at the exit of most roads. Please pay attention to the signs marked with a “V” (Via Verde) on green background, as those are reserved for people with transponders, and you should not drive on these roads if you don’t have one.

Electronic toll roads: Our camper vans with Portuguese plates are already registered on the electronic toll system. You can check your outstanding payments on this website by inputting the plate number. Please keep in mind that it can take up to 48 hours until it appears in the system. Alternatively, payments can be made at post offices and shops marked with “Payshop” flags.

If you are driving to Portugal from another country, it is important to register the car on the Easytoll system. As soon as you enter Portugal, you will pass through a toll booth. There is an entrance for non-Portuguese vehicles on the side where you will receive a receipt with an identification number and your plate number. When you drive through an electronic toll, your plate will be scanned. From then onwards, the process is the same as for the Portuguese plates mentioned above. Alternatively, you can register digitally with Easytoll before you enter the country.

The time you are allowed to spend on toll roads is limited and spending the night at a rest stop is not advisable.

There are also free roads, marked with “EN” but it will take you much longer to get to your destination.

When you rent a camper van in Porto, you’ll need to buy some local food if you would like to cook on your road trip. Here is a list of useful shops to make the start of your trip as easy as possible.

Grocery Stores:

• There are plenty of grocery stores in Porto. Those in the city center will be smaller and more expensive, so opt for some larger grocery stores just outside such as Auchan in Maia or Matosinhos, or Lidl in Maia. Go Natural is an organic grocery store in Foz do Douro.

Pharmacies:

• If you’re looking for a pharmacy on your way out of Porto, go to Farmácia Portas da Maia in Maia. There are also many pharmacies in the center of Porto.

Other:

• For anything else you may need, try the Vila do Conde Porto fashion outlet, just a 5-minute drive from the roadsurfer station. Alternatively, the MAR Shopping in Matosinhos has plenty of options, plus an IKEA next door.

If you need food and drinks before hitting the road, try the food court in Vila do Conde Porto fashion outlet.

• Av. Fonte Cova 400, 4485-592 Vila Do Conde Fashion Outlet, Portugal