Luxury on the Road: How to Balance Van Life & Boutique Hotels from France to Portugal

A picture-perfect harbor town on the Normandy coast, Honfleur is the ideal first stop on a van-life journey from France to Portugal. With cobblestone streets, colorful brick houses, and boats bobbing in the water, it has a charm that feels a bit like Copenhagen. Once occupied by the Germans during World War II, the town now feels worlds away from its past—peaceful, colorful, and full of character. Wander through its quaint lanes, enjoy a coffee and crêpe along the harbor, and visit the coastal gardens honoring the artists and poets who once found inspiration here. It’s a welcoming place to ease into life on the road.

• To stay: Aire de Camping Cars

Further down the coast, La Rochelle blends seaside charm with a touch of history. Its lively harbor is lined with French cafés and bistros—the perfect spot to sip wine and sample fresh oysters, the local specialty. Wander past old stone churches, medieval towers, and remnants of the city’s ancient fortifications, all proudly flying little French flags in the breeze. With its coastal energy and old-world beauty, La Rochelle makes for a relaxed and quintessentially French stop before continuing south.

• To stay: Villa Grand Voile

No road trip through France would be complete without a stop in Bordeaux, a city that feels effortlessly French in all the best ways. Stroll along the riverfront lined with grand, wine-colored architecture, and make time for a pastry or history tour through its charming boulangeries and chocolateries. Between glasses of red and plates of steak and charcuterie, venture out to nearby châteaux for a wine tour or two. With its active, outdoorsy vibe and refined food-and-wine culture, Bordeaux perfectly bridges the coastal calm of the north with the warmer, southern pace to come.

• To stay: Yndo Hotel

Driving into Hossegor, it’s easy to see why this seaside town is often called the heart of French surf culture. Whitewashed buildings, pine-lined lakes, and golden dunes set the tone for a laid-back yet effortlessly chic destination. Staying by the lake is perfect for active travelers—there’s a running path circling the calm, motor-free water, where locals paddleboard, swim, and train in the fresh Atlantic air.

Across the dunes lies a wide, sandy beach lined with colorful beach shacks and surf shops—the kind of place that captures the best of French coastal life. The Place des Landais area buzzes with energy at sunset—think rosé in hand watching surfers catching waves under pastel skies.

Despite its popularity among surfers, Hossegor still feels refreshingly local. You won’t find many international tourists here, just a warm, authentic slice of French coastal culture. It’s lively yet peaceful, ideal for solo travelers, couples, and even those on the road with a dog. If your schedule allows, extend your stay, Hossegor is worth more than just a quick stop.

• To stay:

  • Van life: Plage des I’Océanides has a spot to fill your water tank and empty your toilet and is just steps from the beach. However, there are plenty of scenic spots near the dunes where you can pull over and enjoy the views for the night.

  • Boutique hotel: Les Hortensias du Lac

Biarritz is where French elegance meets surf culture. A coastal city that feels both refined and effortlessly cool. Once a seaside escape for royalty, it now hums with a creative, laid-back energy. Narrow streets wind past charming cafés, boutiques, and plazas that open onto some of the most striking beaches and limestone cliffs in Europe.

Parking can be tricky, so van travelers are best leaving their camper just outside the city and exploring on foot or by bike. Once you’re in, you’ll find surfers weaving through traffic with boards in tow, locals sipping rosé at sunset, and ocean viewpoints that stop you in your tracks.

With surf breaks on both sides of town and plenty of seaside cafés perfect for working remotely, Biarritz captures the best of both worlds: a city with coastal soul and endless charm.

• To stay: Park at Aire de Camping Car Mi-Lady—they have electricity, water, and toilet emptying facilities.

Crossing into Spain, San Sebastián feels instantly special, where mountains meet the sea and food is its own kind of art form. Parking can be tight, so it’s best to leave the van just outside the city and explore on foot.

The Old Town is the heart of it all, lined with pintxos bars that make this one of the best culinary cities in the world. The culture here is simple: hop from bar to bar, order whatever their specialty is, and keep moving. Expect croquettes, patatas bravas, padrón peppers, mussels, chorizo, Iberian ham sandwiches, and all the Spanish staples, naturally always paired with a glass of wine or sangria, for the culture.

Between bites, stroll along the seaside promenade with the ocean ahead and mountains framing the city. Wander through Gros, the surfy neighborhood filled with laid-back cafés, good waves, and a relaxed Basque energy. End the night with a slice of Basque cheesecake and a glass of the local sidra—a nod to northern Spain’s tradition.

San Sebastián has it all: world-class food, ocean air, surf breaks, and that kind of effortless vibrancy that makes it one of the most memorable stops in Europe.

• To stay: Park and stay for max 48 hours at Apacamiento Autocaravanas. Close to the center and Bahía de la Concha.

Even if it’s just a quick stop, Salamanca is worth a detour. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Spain’s most beautiful university cities, it’s where you’ll hear some of the purest Spanish spoken, making it the best place in the world to learn the language. The city’s golden sandstone architecture, grand plazas, and castle-like buildings give it a regal feel, while its lively student energy keeps it warm and welcoming. It's a perfect overnight stop to stretch your legs, wander the cobbled streets, and soak up a little of Spain’s academic soul.

• To stay: Hospes Palacios de San Esteban

Just 40 minutes north of Lisbon lies Ericeira—Portugal’s, and arguably Europe’s, best surf town and digital nomad hotspot. As Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve, it delivers on every front: world-class breaks, striking beaches, and a charming old town perched dramatically above the Atlantic. Not to be cliché, but the vibes here are genuinely unmatched. There’s an energy to Ericeira that’s hard to describe: grounded yet inspiring, full of community yet deeply peaceful.

The town attracts adventurous, creative travelers from all over the world—surfers, remote workers, and anyone chasing a slower, more intentional way of life. Between surf sessions, sunset viewpoints, and long lunches of fresh seafood and local wine, it’s easy to understand why so many come for a weekend and end up staying for months.

For van travelers, Ericeira is the perfect place to pause. Park cliffside to fall asleep to the sound of the waves, or check into one of the town’s boutique hotels or surf lodges for a few nights of ocean-view comfort. However you stay, Ericeira has a way of getting under your skin—the kind of place that captures your heart and quietly convinces you not to leave.

• To stay:

  • Boutique hotels: Aethos Ericeira or You and the Sea

  • Van life: On the cliffs in Santo Isadoro or the Praia de São Julião parking lot

Built across seven hills, Lisbon is a city made for wandering. A maze of colorful houses, intricate tiles, and streets that always seem to lead to another panoramic view. With its terracotta rooftops and hilltop castles, every corner feels like a postcard come to life.

Days here are best spent walking aimlessly, hopping on yellow trams, sipping wine in the streets, and pausing often to take in the views over the river and the red suspension bridge (yes, designed by the same architect as San Francisco’s). Indulge in a few pastéis de nata, explore the city’s charming neighborhoods like Alfama and Bairro Alto, and watch the sun set over the Tagus with a glass of Portuguese wine in hand.

Lisbon is effortlessly international, with a large expat and creative community that gives the city its welcoming, bohemian energy. It’s an easy place to lose track of time, one that perfectly bridges Portugal’s coastal calm with its vibrant city life.

• To stay: Vintage Lisbon

The Algarve feels like the exhale at the end of a long journey—slower, sunnier, and impossibly beautiful. This southern stretch of Portugal is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world, framed by golden and red cliffs, turquoise water, and sand that glows at sunset.

Each town has its own rhythm: surfy and bohemian in some spots, quiet and traditional in others. Whitewashed houses spill down the hillsides, flowers bloom in every direction, and everyone seems just a little more sunkissed. It’s a place made for slow mornings, sunrise surfs, and lazy afternoons with a glass of local rosé in hand.

Whether it’s yoga on the cliffs, dolphin spotting along the coast, or exploring coves carved into the rock, the Algarve is where Portugal’s natural beauty truly shines. From the terracotta tones of the cliffs to the brilliant blues of the sea, every view feels like a painting, and every moment is a reminder to slow down and savor it.

• To stay:

  • Boutique hotel: Vila Vita Parc

  • To park the van: Praia do Beliche, Sagres