VAN ADVENTURES IN PORTUGAL
Portugal has been somewhere I have been visiting for a number of years, thanks to my very good friend having a villa in the Algarve which me and my girlfriends used as our annual girly holiday growing up. But it wasn’t until October 2020 when I visited again for the first time with a van that I got to see a whole new side of this magical place. I have completely fallen in love with the red cliffs, the surf, the people and the food, and can quite honestly see myself spending a lot of time over the next few years at least.
I have lots more to see and do in Portugal but here I share my top tips and recommendations for things to do, places to stay, and food to eat! I will update it as I explore more.
Forte de Almadena
LAGOS
The Coffee Studio - owned by a couple who used to travel and look for remote working spots, they have nailed it and welcome digital nomads for the day. They also do great coffee and on a lucky day you might catch the freshly baked cinnamon rolls warm out of the oven!
The Green Room - great vibe for a night out, the best Espresso Martini I’ve ever had, and don’t even get me started on the fish tacos!
Black and White Coffee - a lovely cafe in the centre of the city - their avo on toast is a winner!
Ol Bastards - live music, taste food [try the Piggy Fries!], and delicious cocktails
Mullens - another good spot for dinner, drinks and live music.
The Garden - good vibes, drinks and food. Look out for the stunning pink tree outside it!
The Cataplanas at local restaurant, Casinha do Petisco
Grand Cafe / The Tavern - great spots for a boogie and night out.
For authentic Portugese food I have two favourites - both family run restaurants. Ala do Castelo [get the fried shrimp with the garlic bread], and Casinha do Petisco [get the Cataplanas - you won’t regret it!].
Sunrays Kitchen - just out of the centre of Lagos but a cute spot for brunch.
Jah Shakka - this is a surf shop where you can rent surf boards & wetsuits from.
Kelly Hair and Beauty - for all your beauty needs and wants!
Meia Praia - this is a lovely stretch of beach on the opposite side of the Lagos Marina, and sometimes good for surfing.
Praia Don Anna - there are a few beaches in Lagos all connected by caves or steps - the scenery of the cliffs is stunning. There is also a place where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards which I recommend - then you can explore the caves by water!
Porto Mós Beach - about 5 minute drive from the centra of Lagos, and a lovely beach for chilling and surfing. It also has two restaurants which are both great. The hike from here along the cliffs to Luz is also really beautiful.
Ponta da Piedade - this is the lighthouse in Lagos and is a great place to watch the sunrise! You can also do a nice hike around here. The steps also make a great morning work out ;)
Camping Trindad - this has a bit of a bad rep, but I have stayed here loads and love it. The location is perfect for walking into the town, or heading to the beaches, and has all the facilities you need.
MONCHIQUE
Monchique is a range of rolling mountains clad in heavy forest about half an hour from Lagos and is well worth a visit! I was lucky enough to explore the windy roads to the top of the mountains by motorbike last year, but there are also some beautiful hikes you can do.
The cute town of Monchique is also worth exploring.
Nestled within the mountains is also a sort of exclusive party venue called Friday Happiness [or better known as Pizza Party], and i highly recommend for a Friday night - it’s a ticketed event, with live music, djs, bars and of course pizza. I stayed in the car park in my van, but you can also pitch up a tent or get a taxi out of there when it closes. Be prepared for a party!
LUZ
Luz is a cute town, with a lovely beach [which sometimes is good for surfing]. There are little cafes and restaurants along the beach front for snacks and drinks too.
Santa da Luz - great spot for food and drinks
Saffron - I’ve heard good things about this Indian restaurant, so it’s worth a go for your curry fix!
Salema Eco Campsite
BUDENS
Salema Eco Camp - a great campsite half way between Sagres and Lagos. They have a lovely restaurant on site which I worked at, and they have a shop where you can hire bikes to ride down to the nearest beach, Salema. They have also just opened a remote working space behind their reception, so is a great spot for digital nomads.
Mata Nacional do Barão de São João - this is a great spot for some hikes! I’ve linked an All Trails link for some specific ones to try. Look out for the random sculptures everywhere - apparently these are made by a local artist living in the village!
Forte de Almadena - this is an epic spot for sunset or sunrise. It is a bumpy road to get there, but the views are worth it. The beach at Praia da Boco de Rio below is also a nice quiet spot for a sea swim.
Salema beach is also lovely, and next door Praia das Cabanas is an off the beaten road beach with little caves. This would be an epic spot for a beach bbq!
Burgau is a cute little town near Salema - nice to walk around and another lovely beach!
My favourite sunset spot at Praia do Telheiro
SAGRES
The Laundry Lounge - a place to do your laundry, work from, enjoy a delicious meal and even some live music.
Three Little Birds - great spot for some dinner [their chicken burger is unreal].
Picnic Sagres - great for your morning coffee and bakery run.
The Hangout - good food and music.
Tonel Beach - a great surfing beach [but can get quite busy].
Praia do Beliche - another surfing spot, and you can park at the top with epic views over the ocean.
Fortalexa de Sagres - this is a bit of a tourist spot, but also a place where people park up. At the moment the rule is 2 night if it is not in a national park, and this seems to be ok to do here.
Farol de Sagres - The lighthouse is Sagres’ famous landmark, and a great spot to watch the sunset. Bring a beer, sit on the rocks and enjoy.
Parque de Campismo Orbitur - this is where I stayed a lot whilst in Sagres - it is a huge but lovely campsite about a 2 minute drive from Tonel beach, with all the facilities you need and lots of space for vans nestled under the trees in the shade.
My favourite sunset spot in Portugal is a sort of secret beach off the beaten track called Praia do Telheiro. It’s a little tricky to get to as the road is super bumpy, but go slow and you’ll be fine. The beach is great for surfing and is very quiet, but just be careful on you way down - it is a bit of a scramble down some rocks.
VILLA DE BISPO
Odeceixe Mar Beach
There is a great little snack bar called Snack Bar Caravela in the middle of Villa de Bispo which does very tasty prawns, clams and fries. Basic but delicious!
Next to Furgoperfecto Vila de Bispo is a bit of forest where a lot of vans park up at. It’s a great spot to be close to some gorgeous beaches, including Priar de Cordoama and the neighbouring Castelejo Beach. Both of these are good for surfing.
ALJEZUR
The old town of Aljezur is cute to have a walk around, and you can hike up to the castle which is a great view point looking down on the town [it takes about 20 minutes]. Grab an espresso and pastel de nata at the cafe on the bridge called Quiosque De Ponta first.
Praia da Arrifana is a gorgeous spot - for beach, surf and chilling! I parked the van at the top, and its a bit of a walk down the windy hill to the beach but it’s worth it!
Sea You Surf Cafe is a little cafe at the top of Arrifana, serving good food.
ODECEIXE
Further north from Aljezur is Odeceize, and there are some stunning beaches around here including Odeceixe Mar Beach. This is a great spot for surf, and you can swim or paddleboard along the river that joins the sea.
There are also some great hikes around the coastline here, and hidden little beaches and coves.
I didn’t go but have heard good things about the food at Kiosk Agapito.
Watching the record breaking swell at Nazaré
NAZARE
Nazaré is a little town towards the north of Portugal, and due to it having the largest underwater canyon in Europe it is known for its big waves! In October 2021 I was lucky enough to be here for the record-breaking swell, and - honestly - it was one of the most intense and emotional moments of my life. Watching nature do it’s thing like that as breathtaking, and watching the big wave surfers, like Kai Lenny, take on monster 90ft waves was something I’ll never forget. Definitely wroth a visit if the waves are pumping!
LISBON
I have only been to Lisbon for a night, so there is still much to explore but I did spend the day working and eating my way around LX Factory, which has a flea market, shops, bars and restaurants.
ERICERIA
Last year I stayed in Ericeira at Ericeira Camping and Bungalows, and loved it. You can walk down to the beaches and the surf is great.
Oh la la does delicious acai bowls - definitely worth a try.
There is so much more to explore in this beautiful country, so keep an eye on updates to this blog! And you can follow my adventures in the van on Instagram here.