Camping in Portugal records 7 million overnight stays

As reported by travelBI, citing data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), the country’s 257 operating campsites welcomed around two million campers last year, down 4.6 percent from 2024, and the total number of overnight stays also fell 3.4 percent year-on-year.

Domestic visitors accounted for the largest share of overnight stays, with four million recorded throughout 2025.

The summer season had particularly high demand, when Portuguese campers represented 72.4 percent of all overnight stays, or roughly seven in every 10.

Busiest month

August was the busiest month for domestic tourism, with overnight stays by Portuguese campers reaching 1.33 million.

Meanwhile, international visitors were more prevalent during the winter months, helping sustain activity outside the main summer season.

In January 2025, foreign tourists accounted for 66.9 percent of all overnight stays at campsites, making them the largest source of demand during that period.

Leading markets

Germany, Spain and France remained Portugal’s leading international markets, each recording around 200,000 guests.

According to travelBI, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom rounded out the top five, with about 100,000 guests each.

The figures show the seasonal nature of camping in Portugal, with domestic tourism driving demand in summer and international visitors contributing more during the quieter winter.