Porto Motorhome Rental, Portugal

RV Rentals and Campervan Hire in Porto

Porto is not only home to the famous wine that shares its name but is also the second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon, and one of the fifth largest cities on the Iberian Peninsula. Porto was settled centuries ago and its architecture and culture have been influenced by its rulers as well as the lands that Portugal once ruled or traded with. Because of its rich history, Porto’s city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Porto motorhome rental, campervan hire or RV rentals in Portugal will afford you an opportunity to explore the city’s many historical sites and the surrounding area’s natural beauty.

The best way to visit Portugal is by motorhome, and one of the best cities to begin your self-drive holiday is the lively, attractive city of Porto, located along the Douro River estuary in the north of the country. Famed for its wine, Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe making it a sensational location to enjoy a self-drive holiday in a campervan, motorhome or RV. But where to begin!

Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything. By applying years of motorhome rental experience with insider knowledge of Porto and the surrounding region, we’ve crafted a short, easy to read page with everything you need to know about hiring a motorhome and hitting those Portuguese roads.

We’ll begin by helping you to choose the perfect motorhome for you and your crew for your self-drive vacation, before suggesting some amazing places to visit, great things to see and do (maybe even throw in the odd scenic drive for good measure) before finishing with some recommended campsites.

Main Motorhome Rental Companies in Porto

It all begins here, hiring the perfect motorhome for you, your partner, friends or family. And it’s a lot easier than it sounds! All you have to do is decide how many of you are going on your Portuguese road trip and work out the sleeping arrangements, now you have an idea of berth size, you’re halfway there.

Don’t worry about insurance or excess, the motorhome rental companies we’ve selected will advise you on the best options. But before you go, make sure that your own insurance policy doesn’t already cover you to drive a motorhome in Portugal.

Below, we’ve recommended more than half a dozen tried and tested motorhome rental companies that put the interests of their customers first, all you have to do is pick one that suits your needs and off you go!

CampiLider Camper Rental, Portugal

CampiLider kick things off with three solid options, all with WC/showers and fitted kitchens, in addition to a host of considerate features like an LED TV, outside awning, bicycle rack, unlimited mileage, to name but a few, and CampiLider will also collect you from the airport.

All of CampiLider’s fleet are built by Elnagh and Roller Team in Italy, both are owned by the renowned Trigano Group. Elnhagh is well-established, they have been manufacturing motorhomes for over 65 years, and Roller Team is regarded as one of the top motorhome brands in the world.

Porto Motorhome Rental Depot: E.N. 109, Olho Marinho, 70, Ovar, Portugal

Located about 28 miles/46 km from Porto Airport (OPO), or 24 miles/39 km from downtown Porto.

Included with Standard Rate:

• Unlimited kms/mileage
• 24 hour assistance
• Tourist info/maps
• 0-2 years old

Campervan

One from the pick of Roller Team’s Livingstone range, is the Comfort 3 berth.

This decent-sized campervan sleeps 3, though it’s compact enough for smaller highways, thereby capitalising on one of the campervans main advantages: it allows you and your crew to slip in and out of the scenery without drama. Cool, calm and collected.

Motorhome Rental

While CampiLider’s Campervan is ideal for 3, if you’re travelling with more people you’re going to need a motorhome. There are plenty of motorhome rental companies in Porto that have a vast choice of stock from which to choose, but CampiLider has applied considerable experience to offer two perfect options, with each differing significantly from the other.

They’ve also maintained the odd-sizing set by the 3 berth Camper, the Family sleeps 5 and the Plus sleeps 7, a nice touch that helps them to stand out from the competition.

• Low Profile Motorhome: Elnagh’s T Loft provides the basis of CampiLider’s -no need to worry about the quality of the hardware then- and it’s perfect for 5 of you. It also comes with cruise control, a feature you’ll be glad of when you’re staring at the endless horizon.
• Coachbuilt/Cab Over Motorhome: The Elnagh Baron, on which CampiLider’s Plus is based, may have traditional stylings but the technology within is anything but. That’s good to know when you’re travelling with as many as 7, and that manual climate control is going to come in handy when the mercury rises.

Rent Easy Portugal

There are plenty of self-drive holidaymakers that will be booking with Rent Easy in Portugal, almost by default. In addition to the proximity of the airport (2 miles/3 km) from Porto Airport, Rent Easy only use Hymer motorhomes, one of the all-time top builders in the business with a reputation that proceeds them.

In addition to owning several high-profile brands as we shall see, Hymer is, arguably, the only motorhome manufacturer that is a household name. And for all the right reason we hasten to add.

Porto Motorhome Rental Depot: Centro Empresarial Vilar do Pinheiro, 75, 4485-860 Vilar do Pinheiro, Porto, Portugal

The location is about 2 miles/3 km from Porto Airport (OPO), or 9 miles/15 km from downtown Porto.

Included with Standard Rate:

• 250 kms per day
• 24 hour assistance
• 0-2 years old

Campervan with Shower/Toilet

A Campervan with a shower and toilet is a great place to kick things off. The City Extra large as well at almost 6 metres long, especially as it only sleeps 2.

It seats 4 in case you happen to pick up any hitchhikers on your Portuguese road trip!

Motorhome Rental

For self-drive holidaymakers that need more space for friends and/or family, you’ll be wanting to check out Hymer’s range of motorhomes at Rent Easy.

All of Rent Easy’s motorhome fleet come fully prepared for the great outdoors with an awning and a bike rack, should you fancy a spin away from base camp.

Inside you’ve got sat-nav, TV, even a reversing camera to get you safely into those tight spots, and as any experienced motorhome renter knows, these are an inevitable part of your Portuguese road trip!

• Low Profile Motorhome: Rent Easy’s Active Extra is also a big option for 2 of you, it’s almost a metre longer than the already-generous Campervan above, and it’s no slouch in the engine department either. The slightly larger Family Classic sleeps (and seats) 4. Ideal for families, then.
• Coachbuilt/Cab Over Motorhome: The Family Extra seats 5 and sleeps 6, despite the maths, it’s great for groups of friends or families, especially if you’re on a budget. The Family First does the same thing but it’s a little longer, which means there’s more space for all who sail in her!

RV Class A

There isn’t much to choose between Rent Easy’s premier range of RV Class A options, but there are distinguishable tweaks.

The Active First (a Hymer Exsis-i 580) and Exclusive First (a Hymer BMC-I 580) both sleep 4, but the Exclusive First is a little longer with more headroom.

McRent Portugal

We already hinted that we’d hear more from the stables of Hymer, without further ado, McRent in Portugal only use hardware courtesy of Dethleffs and Sunlight, a couple of motorhome heavyweights and, for the record, Dethleff RV are one of the oldest motorhome brands in Europe and Sunlight are already Germany’s top motorhome brand, even though they’re just over ten years old.

As for McRent, they’re Europe’s biggest motorhome rental company, all-in-all that makes them a solid option when it comes to hiring a motorhome in Porto. And they’re close to the airport.

Porto Motorhome Rental Depot: Travessa Monte Godim s/n°, 4450-745 Matosinhos, Portugal

Location is about 4 miles/7 km from Porto Airport (OPO), or 5 miles/9 km from downtown Porto

Included with Standard Rate:

• Unlimited kms/mileage
• Kitchen/cutlery
• 24 hour assistance
• 0-2 years old

Poptop Campervan

The word ‘poptop’ usually implies something small, ideal for a couple, say. Not McRent’s Urban Luxury Poptop, it seats and sleeps 4, and that 2-litre diesel engine makes short work of those Portuguese inclines.

That’s not all, it comes with a WC and a shower too. Amazing value.

Campervan with Shower/Toilet

More power (2.3 litres) for fewer people, specifically 2 of you, is a huge plus for McRent’s Urban Plus Campervan.

It has a WC and shower, a snazzy interior and it’s a good looker from the outside as well. For 2, this could be the best option on the page.

Motorhome Rental

A company as large as McRent, with a reputation to match, aren’t going to fall short on their fleet of motorhomes and they don’t disappoint. By renting a motorhome at McRent Portugal your fee will include unlimited mileage, comprehensive coverage and accessories such as an awning, bike rack, gas bottles, balancing wedges etc., and for a reasonable fee, you can hire camping tables and chairs and kitchenware.

But these are the trimmings, the dealbreaker lies in what they have to offer you and your crew for your motorhome vacation, commencing in Porto.

• Low Profile Motorhome: You’ve two options in Porto, kicking off with the Compact Plus, which sleeps 2 with enough space for a child. For 4 the Family Standard ticks all the boxes, it’s large enough for a decent awning and, like the Compact, comes with a WC and shower.
• Coachbuilt/Cab Over Motorhome: You’ll only find the Family Plus in this class at McRent’s in Portugal. And that’s good news, it sleeps 4 adults and 2 kids and comes with everything you’d expect in a family home, except this one does scenic drives and campsites with swimming pools.

Anywhere Campers Portugal

Anywhere Campers had the ingenious idea of making life as easy as possible when it comes to renting a motorhome. Why have a bunch of different motorhome manufacturers with a range of options when you can have just one? And we’re not talking about just one brand, this is all about one model. Period.

Furthermore, why bother with depots when Anywhere Campers will drop off and pick up your motorhome/camper anywhere (get it?) in Europe? It almost seems too good to be true, but it isn’t! Assuming that the motorhome on offer is any good, of course…

Pickup/Dropoff: Anywhere Campers will meet you at your requested pickup/drop off address, with your vehicle at your chosen time.

Included with Standard Rate:

• 250 kms per day
• Free transfer
• Bedding
• Kitchen/cutlery
• 24 hour assistance
• 0-3 years old

Anywhere Campers Rental Vehicles:

Low Profile Motorhome

You’ve nothing to worry about. On the contrary, the Adria Matrix is a great example of a 4 berth motorhome that ticks virtually all the boxes. It looks good, come with everything you need (bathroom, kitchen etc) and it’s spacious inside. Just choose manual or automatic and away you go.

Camperline

Camperline uses a ‘serviced non-depot location’, which simply means that when you make a booking, they will direct you to the location of your motorhome.

Camperline uses a fleet consisting only of Weinsberg and Pilote vehicles. Germany’s Weinsberg (Wolpert Group Karosseriewerke Weinsberg) are almost 110 years old and one of the oldest, established, RV brands in the world.

Pilote started building caravans, and turned their skills to manufacturing motorhomes in 1978 after being founded in France in 1962. Both manufacturers have a good reputation for quality and innovation which bodes well for a reliable service from Camperline.

Porto office: Serviced non-depot location

Included with Standard Rate:

• 500 kms per day
• 24 hour assistance
• Tourist info/maps
• 0-10 years old or more

Camperline RV Rentals include:

Campervan

Camperline’s Classe 0 van sleeps 2adults, and Classe 1 vehicle sleeps 4 people. Somehow, they’ve managed to fit a decent sized bathroom in both of them! This is great news if you’re a couple of and you don’t want to skip on those little conveniences that could make all the difference.

Motorhome Rental

All of Camperline’s motorhomes come with a WC and a shower, that’s one less thing to worry about when perusing their fleet. Let’s get the ball rolling with Camperline’s 4 berth Classe 1 SG.

Bursting full of character, this curvaceous motorhome has a good kitchen and seats and sleeps 4, indeed there is a surprising amount of space once you’re inside, which is handy, especially when you consider that this is their budget option in their range of low-profile motorhomes. If you’re in the market for a little more, see below.

• Low Profile Motorhome: The Classe 111 sleeps 6, not bad for a semi-integrated motorhome, and Camperline’s VIP sleeps 5, but don’t let that give the impression it’s somehow smaller than the 111. Both motorhomes offer oodles of space, and the VIP is technically roomier inside to warrant its snazzy sobriquet.
• Coachbuilt/Cab Over Motorhome: The Classe II is the largest of Camperline’s fleet, having said that, it sleeps as much as the Classe 111 but because of the cabover, there is a noticeable amount more space within. The trade-off is going to be down to personal taste in terms of aesthetics.

GoFree Autocaravanas

Go Free Autocaravanas have gone all out to collect some of the big hitters in motorhome manufacture to represent their fleet of vehicles. They take the cream of the stock from McLouis RV, relatively new to the game at a little over twenty years old, the ever-growing Roller Team who pride themselves on innovation and Caravans International (or CI) who at 35 years old are GoFree Autocaravan’s most established manufacturer.

All three have two things in common, they’re all Italian and all are part of the auspicious Trigano Group.

Pickup/Dropoff: Serviced non-depot location

Included with Standard Rate:

• 400 kms per day
• 24 hour assistance
• Tourist info/maps
• 0-6 years old

Campervan with Shower/Toilet

Caravans International are responsible for the Kyros 2, and they’re probably very happy about it too. This handsome looking campervan could be the jewel in GoFree’s crown.

The Kyros 2 isn’t just about good looks, it seats 4, sleeps 2 and comes with a kitchen, WC and shower.

Motorhome

No cabovers here, all of the GoFree fleet are low-profile models. The Challenger 914 sleeps 3, the Roller Team 264 and McLouis sleep 4 with The Challenger 288 and Magis sleeping 5.

All come with a WC and a shower, which just makes choosing the right one even harder.

Energi Motorhome Rental, Portugal

A South Africa based motorhome rental company, Energi has commercial interests all over the globe.

Founded in 1991 in Johannesburg, Energi Motorhome Rental specialise in providing low-rate campervans, motorhomes and RV’s for your self-drive vacation. And Porto is no exception.

Porto Motorhome Rental Depot: Serviced non-depot location

Included with Standard Rate:

• Unlimited kms/mileage
• 24 hour assistance
• Tourist info/maps
• 3-4 years old

Campervan

A Chausson Flash 515 or similar provides the hardware for Energi’s easy-going 3 berth campervan.

This campervan hire comes with a kitchen, WC and shower -quite a lot of thought has gone into getting all this inside the space- so you can get on with your Portuguese scenic drive without fuss.

Motorhome Rental

Energi Motorhomes offer a meet and greet service at the airport with free transfer to the nearby Energi Camper Van Depot.

All you have to do is arrive at Porto International Airport and Energi’s representative will be carrying a sign with your name on it in the departure lounge, so all you have to do is say hello and be on your way!

• Low Profile Motorhome: Energi’s F is a semi-integrated motorhome that sleeps 5 of you. It comes ready to go with a kitchen, WC and shower, exactly what you need for your self-drive holiday out of Porto.
• Coachbuilt/Cab Over Motorhome: This huge Cabover sleeps 7 of you, one of the largest on this page. Energi’s P motorhome is ideal for large groups of friends and family, and it’s suitably equipped to feel like you’ve brought half your home with you!

Porto Attractions

Starting out at the old town centered in the Zona Ribeirinha and overlooking the River Douro, Porto’s old Baroque style churches and Moorish influenced mosaics exemplify this city’s dramatic past. The National Museum is the oldest museum in Portugal and is a great place to learn about this great country’s past.

With your campervan hire or RV rentals, follow the lead of the Douro River running through the city and ponder on its long documented history of being a main trading point between the Old and the New World. Better yet, get in one of those cruise boats and let the course of the river carry you into the heart of the Douro Wine Region.

About an hour’s drive north in your campervan rental in Porto will bring you to Peneda-Gerês National Park, the only national park in Portugal. This breathtaking area was set aside in 1971 to protect the resident flora and fauna of the region like the red squirrel, roe deer, wild boar and gray fox, and especially the threatened semi-aquatic nocturnal mammal Pyrenean desman.

The Romanesque Route by motorhome rental

Your Porto motorhome rental can also take you north to the Romanesque Route, an area divided into three routes that are connected by roads and have 14 monuments whose architectural heritage is unquestionably tied to Portuguese national identity.

Get off in your Porto motorhome rental and venture out to the Arouca Geopark, which was recognized by UNESCO in 2009. It is set up to for education on geo-conservation and has many activities such as canyoning, canoeing, rafting and mountaineering.

If you return to Porto for dinner you will find a vibrant and cosmopolitan restaurant scene where the latest fusion cuisine can be paired with the sweet wine that the city is known for. If you are craving for something truly unique, try ‘Francesinha,’ a toast with layers of meat inside that goes best with beer not wine. Porto is virtually the only place where you can find ‘Francesinha’ of excellent quality.

Indulge in Beaches and Seafood

Porto is surrounded by Blue Flag beaches in Gaia like Miramar, Granja and Aguda. Espinho is another popular beach destination with deep fishing roots but now also buzzing with nightlife. If you came in search of food, indulge in its wealth of sea food offerings instead.

Porto’s old world charm, surrounding natural beauty, and rich cultural opportunities make it the perfect place to go exploring in campervan hire or RV rentals. Portugal, being one of the best value destinations in Europe along with its size and North-South disposition, makes a Porto motorhome rental a splendid way to make a holiday and tour this corner of the Iberian Peninsula.

Top 9 Attractions and Day Trips from Porto

There is so much to see and do in Porto and the surrounding region that we have to add a little caveat to our ‘top 9 attractions and day trips from Porto’.

There’s more than 9, in fact, there are numerous attractions in and around Porto, so we’ve provided a sort-of framework, allowing you to choose as many, or as little, as you want and join up the dots with some amazing scenic drives, trips to the beach, whatever you fancy in this beguiling country, seeped in history.

Douro Valley

Let’s begin by parking up your motorhome rental in the Douro Valley and heading to Régua or Pinhão station and jumping on the historical train that passes through this sensational world heritage site.

Why the train? The short answer is that this region is famous for its Port wine!

Peneda-Gerês National Park

Step back into the 12th century and check out the ancient granite houses that occupy a portion of the Peneda-Gerês National Park, created in 1971 to preserve the traditions of the past.

It’s worth visiting just for the scenic drive from Porto to the provinces of Minho and Trás-os-Montes.

Amarante

The gorgeous town of Amarante dates back to 360 BC. If you’re lucky enough to get there for the first Saturday and Sunday in June, the annual Festa de São Gonçalo is reckoned to be one of Portugal’s finest, through the traditional cakes aren’t to everyone taste!

Braga

More historical shenanigans in Braga, this one with a decidedly religious theme -indeed, Braga is regarded as Portugal’s spiritual heartland.

But you don’t need to be a devotee to enjoy the architectural splendour of the numerous churches, and the vibrant nightlife will keep you going until dawn.

Guimarães

Considered by the Portuguese as the birthplace of their country, Guimarães is packed full of ancient buildings crisscrossed by medieval streets.

If you plan this one carefully you can see the highlights in a day, but we recommend you park up the motorhome rental and see more.

Aveiro

Let’s leave the self-drive holiday for a while and take a Moliceiros boat down one of Aveiro’s canals.

It’s a great introduction to this colourful town and an ideal way to plan what you’re going to see next, and if you like seafood, you might just have landed in Paradise.

Santiago de Compostela

It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Porto and takes you into Spain, but it’s worth it just for the coastline-clinging scenic drive on the A28.

On arrival you’re greeted by a smorgasbord of breath-taking Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture. Simply, Santiago de Compostela is one of the prettiest towns in Europe.

Fatima

If you want to enjoy Fatima purely for its famed architectural monument, it’s advisable to avoid the pilgrimage months of May and October.

Despite being less than 100 years old, the vast shrine has an ancient feel to it which creates a compelling dynamic that’s well worth your time.

Vila Real

You might be staring at the beautiful The Palacio do Mateus in Vila Real with a sense of Déjà vu as its featured-on bottles of Mateus rose wine.

An ideal place to hang up the driving gloves and meander around the quiet streets, maybe stopping for a glass of the former.

Best RV Campgrounds & Campsites near Porto

You’ve plotted a bunch of scenic drives that, naturally, take in our suggestions for the best places to visit in Porto, but most importantly (thanks to us) you’ve hired your perfect motorhome rental, it even has a WC and a shower. So why do you need a campsite?

As in most countries, you can’t just park up overnight when and where you want to, plus, you’ll be needing a place to dump wastewater and re-charge those batteries, metaphorically and physically. But best of all, they’re great places for invaluable, local advice -just the way we like it.

Parque Orbitur Canidelo

Avenue da Beira-Mar 1605, 4400-382 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Firstly, Parque Orbitur Canidelo is located along the Atlantic Ocean in Canidelo, Salgueiros beach. That could be all you need to know before booking.

It’s only ten minutes from Porto, there’s a playground for the kids and reduced mobility restrooms are on hand if required too.

Pichoses Camping

Pichoses Camping, 4845-024, Portugal

Set in picturesque woodland, Pichoses Camping is more than just easy on the eye, it’s a peaceful environment in which to park up/hook up the motorhome rental and get some serious R&R. If you’re feeling a little more energetic, there’s a good-sized pool to let off steam.

Terra de Iguanas Camper Place

Estrada Principal 76, 3440-471, São João de Areias, Portugal

Terra de Iguanas Camper Place also has a pool, but this sun-kissed campsite is all about the magnificent surrounding views. Highly recommended if you’re fortunate to have bikes onboard the motorhome rental and if you’re travelling with dogs, it’s super pet friendly too.

Istas’ Garden

Rua da Cavada, 617 Madalena, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

It’s not advisable just to rock up to Istas’ Garden on a whim, this campsite has a reputation that proceeds it and is regularly full to capacity. Why? Because it’s small, well-appointed and attractive. Or maybe it’s because of that indoor, heated, saltwater swimming pool.

GarfePark Camping

Rua de Rande, 164, 4830-291, Portugal

GarfePark Camping won’t be outdone by the competition, you’ve guessed it, it has a swimming pool, but it’s also set in a large private estate with plenty of space to enjoy the tranquillity of the municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso in the Braga district. Pets are welcome too.