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    GREAT PLEASURE HELPING YOU!

    If you are wanting to make the most of your trip around beautiful Portugal, you can’t beat the freedom you get from traveling the country in a Motorhome or Camper. And nothing would give us greater pleasure than helping you do that. We know our Country!

    • Currency:  Euro (€)
    • Population ca. 10 Million
    • Capital city Lisbon
    • Time zone: GMT (same as London)
    • Religion: Roman Catholic and Muslim
    • Emergency number: Police 115 / 112
    • Electricity: 220v continental dual pin
    • Border crossings: Portugal is a Schengen state

    WEATHER

    Not surprisingly, considering its close proximity to northern Africa, Portugal is one of the warmest European countries with an average temperature of 15°C in the north and 18°C in the south. It can become rainy and windy during autumn and winter, but spring and summer see temperatures soar to as high as 40°C around the interior and 35°C in the north.

    WHEN TO VISIT PORTUGAL

    You’ll find many ‘festas populares e religiosas’ across  Portugal most of them based upon religious activities – Easter being the largest and Assumption Day (15 August) an important Catholic holiday. You’ll also find pilgrimages to Fátima and the Festivity of the Crosses in Montano, both during May.

    Portugal also has its fair share of big events, including the International Chocolate Festival in Óbidos from March to April, the Portugal Rally (a part of the FIA World Rally Championship) in May, the Lisbon Festival in June and the National Gastronomy Festival, held in Santarém, during October and November.

    The Algarve is the warmest place in western Europe during winter, and a great place to visit or stay during that time.

    Surf Paradise:

    Portugal has some of the best surfing in Europe, and the ideal place to spend a winter surfing.

    MORE THAN 300 OVERSTOPS’S, GREAT!

    Portugal are blessed with a network of great Área de Serviço Autocaravanas (ASA) or MSP (Motorhome Service Point’s, normally with overnight possibility), specific motorhome stopovers that are either free to use or involve a small charge (typically between €5 and €8 for 24 hours).

    Most provide essential facilities for emptying waste water and cassette toilets, filling up with fresh water and dumping rubbish; some of the facilities are operated using a token (Jetons, but is a small part!), available from a nearby shop or tourist office.

    Most sites are safe and secure! (Portugal is a relatively crime free country). It is always worth having a back-up option if you arrive and don’t like the look – or feel – of the MSP.

    Eurostops is made by portuguese Motorhome/Camper travellers and daily updated.

    MOTORHOME ACCESS AND INFORMATIONS

    Motorways in Portugal tend to run north to south with the capital Lisbon as a hub. The main routes across the country, and around the major urban areas are of a good standard. Some are tolls roads, and are of reasonable value (your category is normally 2), the tolls must be paid for in advance or the vehicle fitted with a Temporary Electronic Toll Device (DEM).

    For more information about pre-payment or purchase of an electronic collection system, and to find out which roads are affected, check online. On many of the Portuguese motorways there are no toll booths, so you cannot pay as you travel.

    As with all countries in Europe, it’s necessary to have the correct documents and equipment in your Motorhome. Citizen Card, driving licence, vehicle registration, inspection and insurance documents

    Other rules of the road include the payment of on-the-spot fines in Euros immediately (or you may find your vehicle confiscated).

    Check your speed carefully, 30km/h – 50km/h (Urban), 90km/h (National Roads) and 120 km/h (Highways if your Motorhome is under 3.5t).

    HOW TO GET PORTUGAL

    If you’re on an extended motorhome tour and time is no object, of course pottering south along the west coast of France and crossing the Pyrenees is a wonderful introduction to Spain. The quickest motorway routes from France are the E70 to northern Spain (the route continues to A Coruña in the northwest) and the E15 to south-east Spain.

    Other ways that we recommend is from San Sebastian (Spain) » Burgos » Valladolid » Salamanca (Highway free of toll) than you get 3 options:

    • Salamanca > Badajoz > Elvas (Alentejo, Portugal ca.185 km to Lisbon)
    • Salamanca > Sierra Degredos > Termas Monfortinho (Portugal, without Strees road, ca.300 km to Lisbon)
    • Salamanca > Ciudad Rodrigo > Vilar Formoso (Main border between Portugal and Spain, ca.320 km to Lisbon)

    If you came from the south the best direction is over Seville to Ayamonte

    NORTH of PORTUGAL

    Visit the ancient Portuguese city of Porto and the Douro river valley, famed for Port wine, and the very birth of the country in the 12th century. Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage city, the Douro Valley a World Heritage site. Visit a wine-producing quinta, join in the grape harvest, or simply enjoy a wine tasting in the perfect location.

    Aveiro, has a compact centre of handsome buildings and open squares, though what strikes most are its canals, looped over by footbridges and plied by colourful cruise boats. Aveiro grows upon visitor

    Parque Natural Peneda Gerês, In the extreme north-east of Portugal, is the only Portuguese protected area that has been classified as a National Park. It is a world apart, where human activity is integrated in a harmonious manner with nature.

    Guimarães is often heralded as where “Portugal was born”, thanks to a wealth of history. From the beautiful palace to the commanding castle, it’s no wonder that Guimaraes was selected to host the European Capital of Culture in 2012. The Historic Centre of Guimarães is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Other places you can’t miss: Pêso da Régua (boats to the Douro Valley), Barcelos, Vila Nova Foz Côa (paleolithic art), Viseu, Almeida Bragança, Arouca

    CENTER of PORTUGAL

    Coimbra, situated on a hill above the Rio Mondego, it’s a wonderfully moody place.

     Fátima is the most important catholic pilgrimage site in Europe

    Óbidos, is a tiny city that isn’t really well known in international tourism, a little town with a medieval castle.

    Historical villages in the center of Portugal, Piódão, Monsanto, Idanha-a-Velha, Castelo Novo, Castelo Mendo, Almeida, Sortelha, Belmonte, Marialva, Trancoso, Linhares da Beira

    Tomar, is dominated by its 12th-century castle and the Convento de Cristo, one of the country’s most spectacular religious sites.

    Everybody who came to Lisbon (Lisboa) ended up loving it!. Mainland Europe’s westernmost capital, is a fascinating and inspiring place to spend a few days.

    A short way inland from Lisbon, the UNESCO heritage site of Sintra 

    Cascais is a wonderful place to relax, to stroll, to rent a bike to cycle to even more beautiful beaches

    The center is well known for its beautiful beaches like São Martinho do Porto, Foz do Arelho, Nazaré (BIGGEST WAVE in the World surfed), Figueira da Foz, Praia de Mira, Peniche

    Portugal’s most extensive Roman site, Conímbriga (only 2km from Condeixa-a-Nova)

    River beaches – With calm waters and no nasty undercurrents or danger of anyone accidentally drifting or being swept out to sea, they are safer and easier for both splashing around and serious swimming. 

    Other places you can’t miss: Santarém, Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Mosteiro da Batalha, Penha Garcia (Geopark Naturtejo old trilobites fossil), Serra da Estrela ( Mountain villages, tumbling rivers and glacial valleys), Converto de Mafra and Ericeira 

    SOUTH of PORTUGAL

    The Alentejo covers a huge area, almost a third of the country. This is Portugal’s garden, the bulk of the region given over to huge cork plantations, wheat fields and vineyards – and though much of it is flat, the region repays exploration, offering unexpected surprises, from ancient dolmens and superbly sited castles to Roman ruins and sweeping Atlantic beaches.

    While there are some beaches more popular than others like the beaches of Algarve located at the South coast of Portugal. With many of the country’s safest and loveliest beaches, and a year-round balmy climate, it is not surprising that the Algarve is Portugal’s most popular region for holiday-makers.

    Évora is a beautiful little town, which is an art historian’s dream come true: From ancient Roman temple ruins to medieval city walls and churches, Évora is overflowing with history and great architecture.

    UNESCO World Heritage sites: Fortified town of Elvas, and Évora

    Enjoy the sea breeze swept off the Atlantic along the Alentejan Coast of Portugal (Costa Visvcentina), where kilometers of sandy beach are lined with surfboarders making the most of the pounding waves.

    Monsaraz, Nowadays, the historical village of Monsaraz is the balcony of the Great Lake (Alqueva), and is one of Portugal’s most beautiful tourist postcards.

    Places you can’t miss: Mértola, Castelo de Vide, Vila Viçosa, Marvão, Serpa, Beja, Elvas, Porto Covo, Setúbal and Vila Nova Milfontes

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