My partner and I are looking to spend 3 weeks in Spain and Portugal during September/October this year. Other than a couple of days at either end of the trip we are hoping to spend the majority of our trip in a camper van. So far, we haven't booked flights but we are looking at flying into Lisbon and flying out of either Lisbon or somewhere in Spain, possibly Barcelona (yet to weigh up drop-off costs of camper van etc.). We would really appreciate some guidance on feasibility and recommendations of places to see. We obviously don't expect to see everything but want to do what we can well. We are in our mid 20s, love the beach (he surfs), the outdoors, hiking and just exploring new places. We aren't that interested in history or shopping, but do want to get to know the culture.

Pretty much all that we have determined is when we pick up the van in Lisbon we head south along the coastal roads to Faro. We have had Arrabida, Comporta, Porto covo, Zambujeira, Odeceixe, Arrifana and Lagos suggested to us as places to visit. We haven't determined how long we should spend at said places.

Other than that, we are considering just continuing towards Barcelona but maybe stopping at Seville, Rhonda, Camanito del ray, Sierra Nevada, Malaga, and Valencia. To be honest, I don't have much of a clue of what to see in Spain...there are too many options!

Considering van drop-off costs versus limited time, do you think it is best to end our trip in Spain or back track through the centre of Spain to Lisbon. Is there much to see other than Madrid?

Do you have any recommendations on places that a 'must do' or even places that you thought were overrated?

On a side note, does anybody recommend a camper van company? I had a look last night and they all seem so expensive. I am considering hiring a camper van through Air bnb but that means we will have to end our trip where it began.

Any help is very much appreciated!!

Thanks

I think you are being overly ambitious -- there is WAY too much to see and do in the areas you are hoping to cover for this plan to make sense to me! JMO.

Have you plotted any options on viamichelin to get a sense of the times and distances involved? Doing so might be a good starting point...

I had a quick look on google maps but I guess I figured we would cover a couple of places in one day in southern Portugal rather than making a big stop out of each. My research is only in its infancy so I haven't worked out how much time is worth spending in certain places.

The Iberian Peninsula is very, very, VERY large, and it holds an extraordinary number of different districts, each with its own history and its own treasures. I would think you would benefit enormously from consulting a few guidebooks -- perhaps in your local library.

campers can be slow and tricky to manoeuvre or find places to park to visit sights. Look at coast of accommodation and camping. If you take in the fact you may need to Hook up then costs can be equal to some accommodations.
It is a law that there is no wild camping allowed.

While it sounds like a good idea, it isn't for all the reasons above. Better to rent a car, stay in cheap hotels, and then drop the car near the Spanish border. Rent another one for your trip thru Spain.

Thankyou for the input! It's pretty clear our plans need a lot of tweaking.

We would really prefer to have a van in portugal but have started to research accommodation options for Spain in case we just hire a car instead.

Does anybody have recommendations for places to see/avoid in southern Spain? I've briefly researched the cities I listed but it hasn't really narrowed it down.

<i>Does anybody have recommendations for places to see/avoid in southern Spain? I've briefly researched the cities I listed but it hasn't really narrowed it down.</i>

You need to tell us more to give meaningful answers.
What have you researched? The cities you ask about are Seville, Malaga, and Valencia. The latter may not be considered to be in the south of Spain.
What have you read to avoid?
Places to/must see can be found on any tourism related website or guide book.
What is drawing you to Spain and Portugal?
Other than wine, food and history, as we have more than enough to satisfy every visitor to the peninsula.