Lisbon is one hell of a crazy city but certainly isn’t campervan-friendly. Much like its little sister, Porto, Lisbon does not accommodate campervans, and can quite frankly verge on being unsafe in places. There is a high number of break-ins so finding a spot that is safe and secure is our primary goal. In this post, we discuss two places to park overnight in Lisbon. Both of these spots are located a short 20-minute drive from the city centre and are perfect if you are looking for a bit of peace and quiet amid this hectic city.
Wild Camping in Lisbon
This spot is located slightly North East of the city centre on the bank of the Tagus Estuary. This spot is tucked away behind an automotive warehouse and overlooks the water. It is as close as you will get to a scenic spot to park overnight in the heart of Lisbon.
Although this spot is not the most central, it is within reasonable proximity to Parque das Nações. This area of the city has been redeveloped and now boasts trendy waterfront cafes, a fantastic shopping mall, an aquarium, and even cable cars. There is so much to do and see you could easily spend a day exploring here.
This spot is essentially a typical cobbled parking lot. It is extremely flat, and has plenty of room for whatever sized vehicle you may have – even a big ole’ bus!
Unfortunately due to the nature of this place to park overnight in Lisbon, there are no facilities here. However, we did find some toilets a mere 100-200m from the car park on the path leading along the waterfront.
You will find a few bins dotted around within a couple of hundred meters of this spot, but nothing substantial.
One of the best things about this spot to park overnight is how well connected it is to the city centre of Lisbon despite being 3 miles (5km) away. Firstly, there is a cycle path that runs along the waterfront which takes you into the heart of Lisbon. Furthermore, there is ample public transport that operates in this part of Lisbon, typically taking 20-30 mins and costing 2€. Finally, we recommend downloading the FREENOW app, similar to Uber. The taxis we took using this app we surprisingly cheap and best yet, everyone spoke English. The average cost of the taxi was 5€ each way.
Location
what three words: sigh.muddle.walking
38.742193, -9.097863
Price
Free
Toilets
No
Water
No
Bins
Yes, there are a few small bins dotted around the carpark. No recycling.
Signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Campsite in Lisbon
This campsite in Lisbon, the Fábrica do Braço de Prata, is located a mere 200m from the previous spot we discusses. It is in a small compound that is not only a campsite, but also an area where local artists can express themselves, musicians can play, and a good time can be had by all. There is even a bookshop and pizza van here.
It has big hippy energy. Although this is not our scene, we could appreciate the culture and diversity experienced here.
Although we didn’t particularly like this campsite, it is in fact the only campsite in Lisbon. So if you are in need of charging up, doing some chores, or even if you prefer to stay in a secure place then this is your only option.
We do believe that during summer there could be a lively atmosphere, making it a fun place to stay for a night or two.
Facilities
This campsite has all the typical facilities including fresh water, a dumping area, showers, and bins. Personally, we thought they were in an appalling condition, even the electrical hookup area looked one socket away from a major fire. The shower curtains were mouldy, however, we couldn’t fault the shower’s water pressure and temperature. And finally, the toilets we ALWAYS unflushed and caked in poo – arguably more of a reflection of the clientele than the campsite owners.
This campsite’s one saving grace is the fact you can use their laundry facilities free of charge. Oh, but the dryer doesn’t work – at least it didn’t when we visited in December 2022.
The majority of the available spots to park overnight were flat, but many were not. Furthermore, the spaces were small, and it felt like we were packed in like sardines. We recommend trying to bag a spot in the central area as it is considerably flatter than the outer spaces. Also, if you need electricity, make sure to bring a long extension lead as many spots are not close to an electric hook-up.
Unfortunately, this campsite cannot accommodate really large vehicles. We believe it could accommodate a camper 10m campervan, but anything longer wouldn’t fit.
Price
We do consider this spot to be a little on the expensive side considering the state and upkeep of the campsite. At 25€ per night, we expected a little better. However, we do respect that it is the only campsite in Lisbon and is pretty close to the city centre. We would probably not stay here again unless we needed some electricity!
You do not need to book in advance, however, we recommend giving the site a call first, as it can get very busy – even during the low season.
Location
10 Rua Fábrica de Material de Guerra, 1950-128, Lisboa, Portugal
38.743475, -9.100798
Price
Free
Toilets
No
Water
No
Bins
Yes, there are a few small bins dotted around the carpark. No recycling.
Signal / 4G
Good 4G and signal.
Overall we recommend staying at the free wild camping place to park overnight in Lisbon as well, it’s free. Not only that, but it is also quieter, and has waterfront views, something we consider to be priceless! Furthermore, both of these places in Lisbon to park overnight are very close to each other, so we really see very little benefit to staying at the campsite.
If you have any questions regarding where to park overnight in Lisbon…or Portugal in general do not hesitate to comment down below.
Or why not check out all the great overnight parking places we have been to so far here! (or just in Portugal)
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