By legal status
- Publicly legal: aires and car parks with a rule that allows overnight stays
- 41
- Private · paid: campsites, private aires and camper parks
- 66
- Tolerated: no known rule bans it (it is not a permit)
- 27
Facilities
- With drinking water
- 103
- With grey or black water disposal
- 69
- With electricity
- 54
Northern Portugal: 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 Autocaravanas de Baião (Pavilhão Multiusos)
Baião
- Council notice
- Free
- water
- disposal
- electricity
Área de Serviço para Autocaravanas de Mondim de Basto (Largo da Feira)
Mondim de Basto
- Local by-law
- Free
- water
- disposal
- electricity
Área de Serviço de Autocaravanas de Valpaços
Valpaços
- Local by-law
- Free
- Max. 72 h
- water
- disposal
- electricity
Each one with its full listing, its linked source and directions in the app.
Northern Portugal: the municipalities with the most places
- Bragança7 places
- Terras de Bouro7 places
- Vila Nova de Gaia7 places
- Vila Nova de Cerveira6 places
- Montalegre5 places
- Esposende4 places
- Guimarães4 places
- Viana do Castelo4 places
Frequently asked questions
Northern Portugal: how many motorhome aires are there?
Northern Portugal: VanLife has 134 places to spend the night: public aires, car parks, campsites and camper parks. 95 carry the "Verified" seal.
Northern Portugal: are there free motorhome aires?
Northern Portugal: yes, 44 places are free with the price confirmed. In the app you can filter the map to see only those.
Northern Portugal: where can I empty my motorhome waste water?
Northern Portugal: 69 places have grey or black water disposal, and 103 have drinking water. Emptying anywhere other than a disposal point is prohibited.
Other regions
Northern Portugal: 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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