Show Me Where to Go

Portugal is a great country to explore on a small budget. The cost of food and drinks in bars and discos is considerably lower than in other western European countries. Travel and transportation is also very convenient and inexpensive. Add to that camping as the accommodation of choice and you get a great vacation that the majority of people can afford. And remember, we are talking about the very south of Europe, so you can comfortably camp throughout the year regardless of the season. We highly recommend the early fall as September vacations in Portugal are a special time there!

Portuguese tourism on a budget

The extent of the popularity of camping in Portugal can be measured by its incredible number of campsites for such a relatively small country. Two hundred certified campsites exist in Portugal, spread out all over the country, from the mountainous north to the sandy beaches of the south. The campsites are normally large and boast several hundred spots for campers. Nevertheless, during the summer months even this number proves to be small compared to the demand. To obtain information once in Portugal, purchase the brochure called "Roteiro Campista" (Camping Route) from any tourism outlet, stand or tobacco shop/bookstore. The brochure provides ideal vacation information on campsites for backpackers and RVers alike.

Many campsites offer bungalows for those who prefer not to rough it in sleeping bags and tents. The prices of these are also affordable. But if your budget is really tight, stick to the sleeping bag, it will do just fine. The prices at the campsites are applied to tents or mobile homes as well as the number of persons. Not included in this price, however, are parking spots for vehicles and baths. Don't panic, the extra cost is so meager that there is no need to get stressed out (some 3 euros per individual per day).

Fun September Activities and Sports

Since Portugal offers a vast range of activities for tourists, it is the ideal spot to combine your camping trip with some other sports that you cannot normally practice in your home country. These sports include, but are not limited to, surfing, kite boarding, horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, hiking, etc. Classes are provided for most of these sports and they are usually cheaper than some other richer European countries. Camping in Portugal in the month of September might also be of special interest to you if you plan to include it as part of a longer camping trip across the region. Don’t forget, Portugal borders Spain and is very close to Morocco, so you can make it part of an intercontinental camping experience!