By legal status
- Publicly legal: aires and car parks with a rule that allows overnight stays
- 15
- Private · paid: campsites, private aires and camper parks
- 42
- Tolerated: no known rule bans it (it is not a permit)
- 28
Facilities
- With drinking water
- 57
- With grey or black water disposal
- 51
- With electricity
- 51
Algarve: can you stay overnight in a motorhome?
In Portugal, Lei 66/2021 allows an overnight stay (with occupants, from 22:00 to 7:00) of up to 48 hours in the same municipality if there is no municipal regulation, with no limit in places the municipality authorises. It is banned in Rede Natura 2000, protected areas and zones covered by the coastal plans (POOC), except in authorised places.
Some verified public aires
Área de Serviço de Autocaravanas de Alcoutim (margem do Guadiana)
Alcoutim
- Local by-law
- Free
- water
- disposal
- electricity
Área de Serviço de Autocaravanas de Alferce — Rota Serrana
Monchique
- Local by-law
- Free
- Max. 72 h
- water
- disposal
- electricity
Área de Serviço de Autocaravanas de Salir — Rota Serrana
Loulé
- Council notice
- Free
- water
- disposal
- electricity
Each one with its full listing, its linked source and directions in the app.
Algarve: the municipalities with the most places
- Silves11 places
- Albufeira9 places
- Lagos7 places
- Olhão6 places
- Aljezur5 places
- Loulé5 places
- Vila Real de Santo António5 places
- Vila do Bispo5 places
Frequently asked questions
Algarve: how many motorhome aires are there?
Algarve: VanLife has 85 places to spend the night: public aires, car parks, campsites and camper parks. 45 carry the "Verified" seal.
Algarve: are there free motorhome aires?
Algarve: yes, 17 places are free with the price confirmed. In the app you can filter the map to see only those.
Algarve: where can I empty my motorhome waste water?
Algarve: 51 places have grey or black water disposal, and 57 have drinking water. Emptying anywhere other than a disposal point is prohibited.
Other regions
Algarve: every place, on the map
In the VanLife app you see the map of every place, the legal seal of each one with the rule linked, its facilities and whether your vehicle fits. Free, and no account needed to browse.
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