Porto is the perfect coastal city for a few days of exploring before renting a camper van or RV and traveling down the northern coast of Portugal. The architecture all around the city is incredible, and its historic neighborhoods are diverse and colorful, making Porto a great place to stroll around and soak up the sights. Take a port wine-tasting tour, explore Douro Valley, and end the day sitting at one of the many bars lining the streets. If Portugal is on your travel list, there’s no better place to start your road trip.
You’ll find the roadsurfer station to the north of Porto in Modivas. Modivas Centro transit station is well connected with the airport and the central train station in Porto, making it an easy destination when you arrive in Porto. We recommend using our taxi partner to get a 10% discount if you are traveling from the airport. You can find our station address and contact number for the taxi partner below.
Porto
Address
R. da Longa
4485-592 Modivas
Portugal
Getting to the station
From Porto Airport (OPO): From the airport, we’d recommend a 10-minute taxi or Uber to the roadsurfer station. Alternatively, you can take the metro to “Modivas Centro”. From here, it’s a 20-minute walk to the roadsurfer station.
From Campanhã Station: From the station, take a taxi or Uber to “Estadio do Dragão” station. Change to the metro to “Modivas Centro”. From here, it’s a 20-minute walk to the roadsurfer station.
Our tip: Book your taxi in advance with our partner Fábio Pinheiro and save 10% compared to the normal price (Contact Fábio: +351 917 534 712 | taxipinheiro1@gmail.com). For the ride from the roadsurfer station back to the airport, we have negotiated a fixed price of €20 for you if you book in advance.
Parking information
Unfortunately, there is no on-site parking available at our station. We recommend arriving by public transport or taxi.
The popular roadsurfer VW California T6.1, our Surfer Suite, is available to rent from our Porto station. This compact camper van pays homage to sunny California beaches, golden tans, and an easy, carefree life lived outdoors. This is the perfect van to navigate the streets of Porto before escaping to the Atlantic coast for surfing adventures or sunbathing on the beach.
Surfer Suite VW T6.1 California Ocean pop up camper
Rent a fully equipped roadsurfer camper van or Class B RV and enjoy the ride with exclusive benefits. Your freedom on the road starts the moment you pick up the keys!
Brand new, fully equipped camper vans & Class B RVs
Unlimited mileage & free 2nd driver
Rebook or cancel with the Flex option up to 48 hours before departure
Camping equipment & kitchen utensils included
Roadside assistance
Ready to start your camping adventure? Here are some tips to help you find everything you need after picking up your camper van. From where to fill up your water tanks to grocery stores, you’ll be perfectly prepared for your adventure ahead.
When you rent a roadsurfer camper van in Porto, you’ll find your home on four wheels is ready to go. The included kitchen box has everything you need to whip up a meal with fresh local ingredients. The camping table, chairs, and awning mean you can take that meal outside and enjoy the incredible views and sunshine that Portugal has to offer. You can even book bedding if you don’t want to bring your own, or a roof rack for your surfboards. See the full details in our equipment list on our website.
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.
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:
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):
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.
If you need food and drinks before hitting the road, try the food court in Vila do Conde Porto fashion outlet.
You will find some wonderful places to camp in the countryside surrounding Porto. Park overnight on a peaceful eco-farm offering yoga and hiking trails, or make a wild organic tea farm your home away from home. Check out roadsurfer spots for our camping recommendations near Porto.
Rent your camper van or RV in Porto!
