Car rental Lisbon
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Lisbon guide
Lisbon is the capital and largest city in Portugal. The town is located in the south-west of the country, on the northern bank of the River Tejo – about 9.3 mi from the estuary itself. There live approx. 548,000 people in Lisbon itself (2011), but if we take the entire metropolitan area with, the population rises to around 2 million.
Lisbon is built in an initially very hilly terrain. This is shown today at the high number of “stairwells” – and in that in several places in the city there are cable cars (so-called “funiculares”). Lisbon’s history stretches back to ancient times, and its status as the capital has held since 1256.
Attractions
The oldest district – Alfama – is characterized by narrow streets and alleys, and was largely spared in the great earthquake that struck Portugal in 1755. There are several preserved edifices from roman and Moorish times, and these of course belong to the city’s main attractions. Among these are the Romanesque Cathedral of Sé de Lisboa (Santa Maria Maior) from 1147 and the fortress of Castelo de São Jorge (also from the 12th century).
Otherwise, each part of the city has its distinctive character. The new downtown area built up after the 1755 earthquake is called Baixa. It is characterized by wide streets and large, open spaces. The main street, Avenida da Liberdade, is 90 metres wide and 1.5 km long. Otherwise, Praca do Comercio – Lisbon’s largest open space – is a focal point. In this part of the city are also located the busiest business districts.
Another business district – Chiado – is located a little west of Biaxa. Here you will find a number of shopping streets with elegant shops of all kinds. Lisbon’s most popular restaurant district – Bairro Alto – is a little northwest of Chiado. It is characterized by older buildings, and here there are also a couple of particularly beautiful churches – among others. Igreja de São Roque from 1566.
Other districts that can be mentioned include Alcantara (especially because of the impressive 18th-century Palacio das Necessidades castle)and Belém, where we find lisbon’s most famous building (Torre de Belém from 1521) and the monastery of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (1496). Both are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aqueduto das Águas Livres – a nearly 20-mile aqueakboatfrom the 18th century is a popular lawsuit. As for more modern sights, there is another bridge dominating the cityscape of Lisbon – the “April 25 bridge” over Tejo, opened in 1966 as one of the world’s longest suspension bridges.
Explore Lisbon with car hire
Although having a rental car in the centre of Lisbon is not particularly appropriate, you will hardly regret seeing more of the surroundings. You should not drive far outside the capital until you find beautiful villages and other sights that make your visit richer in experiences. Here are some selected suggestions for driving with Lisbon as a starting point.
Cascais – Noble Seaside Resort and Playground
The Cascais district and the town of Estoril are within Lisbon’s administrative boundaries. This is the capital’s richest and most luxurious district– where nobles and celebrities prefer to stay when they are in Portugal. Here you will find, among other things, the world famous Casino Estoril, which is said to have inspired Ian Fleming to write his first book about James Bond (Casino Royale). In the port of Estoril, the luxury yachts of some of the world’s richest people are often located in the streets, you may stroll past a famous, and in the restaurants it is luxurious and opulent. Everything is neat and tidy in this part of Lisbon and you should treat yourself to a drive by when visiting the capital.
- From the center of Lisbon it is about 25 kilometers to Estoril. You drive straight west, and spend about 20 minutes on the trip.
Sintra – King’s Village
Sintra is perhaps the most popular destination for tourists who are in Portugal on holiday. The small town is located just outside Lisbon and was the home of Portugal’s former kings and nobles. Both in the center of the city and the surrounding area you will find several impressive castles, fortresses, villas and mansions. This is also today the most different place to live in the country, as evidenced by the restaurants you will find here. Several of them have stars in the Michelin Guide, and you usually have to book a long time in advance if you want to stop by to eat. There’s a lot to get to in Sintra, and you should set aside all day if you want to catch up with all the sights.
- From lisbon city center to Sintra it is 29 kilometers. The driving time at normal traffic is about 25 to 30 minutes.
Óbidos – Portugal’s most beautiful village?
This charming village is located on a hill, with great views of a beautiful landscape, where you can see the Atlantic Ocean from here on good weather days. It is considered one of the best preserved medieval towns in Portugal. The city centre is dominated by an impressive castle and fortifications that surround the houses. The streets are cobbled and cozy, with many small shops and restaurants that are family-run. There are also other sights in Óbidos that are worth catching up with, including several of the churches and museums. Here in the area you should taste the local variety of fish soup, accompanied by the wines produced in the district. Many choose to take a weekend in Óbidos, especially those who are romantic landscaped.
- From the centre of Lisbon to Óbidos it is 85 kilometers if you choose the fastest route. Then you have to drive the A8 motorway which runs all the way to the village. The driving time will be about 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Évora – Unique city with Roman-era architecture
Évora is also among the small towns in Portugal that are worth stopping by if you have a rental car when you are in Lisbon. It is located northeast from the capital, in the direction of Seville in Spain. The entire center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is easy to understand when you are there. Here you will find several impressive buildings and monuments from the time when the Romans ruled in this part of Europe. There are also several palaces in the city, but most houses are medieval. The entire historic center is surrounded by a fortress wall that is well preserved. Évora is a popular destination, and you will find many good dining and accommodations here.
- The fastest route from Lisbon to Évora is to drive the A2 and A6 motorways. The route is then about 135 kilometers, and the drive will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Mosteiro da Batalha – One of Europe’s finest monasteries
Monasteiro da Batalha is a monk monastery in the Dominican Order located in a village in the direction of Porto. The monastery is built in gothic styleand is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. It was established in memory of a battle in 1385, hence the name “Batalha”, which can be translated as “batalje” in Norwegian. It took more than 100 years to build the entire complex– which is understandable when you see all the details of the magnificent edifice. Naturally, Mosteiro da Batalha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it still has some religious features, the monastery is primarily a museum today. You can visit it all week, and there is easy parking and many pleasant dining options in the nearby.
- The fastest route from Lisbon to Mosteiro da Batalha is if you drive the E1 motorway to Aveiras de Cima, and then the A15 motorway further. The distance is then about 121 kilometers, with a driving time of about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Parking and traffic with car hire
Finding parking in the streets of Lisbon is a challenge, and especially in the Old Town. The city center is divided into three zones,with different prices for the parking, and various restrictions on how long the rental car can be parked. You pay at the vending machines that are on the sidewalks and put a receipt in the windshield of the car. The largest hotels usually have parking facilities, and parking garages are scattered around. It is recommended to focus instead on hotel parking or parking garages,rather than looking for street parking, and then use tram and metro in the city centre.
Lisbon has words for being one of the more difficult European metropolises to drive in. If you have a rental car with navigation, you will hardly have any difficulty finding your way. However, traffic can be dense, there are many narrow and one-way streets in the city, and drivers are not always as patient. Please note that many people fail to use the directional hands when turning.
Airport
The official name of the airport in Lisbon is Umberto Delgado Airport, but both the short version Lisbon Airport and Portela Airport are also used. It is located just a few kilometers north of the center of Portugal’s capital. In passenger volume, this is one of the 20 largest airports in Europe. In total, approximately 31 million passengers are served a year. The Portuguese airline TAP has direct flights from most European capitals. There are of course also direct flights with other major airlines and low-cost airlines, and in addition there are a good deal of charter flights to Lisbon.
The vast majority of international flights park at Terminal 1, while Terminal 2 serves the most low-cost carriers such as RyanAir. Car rental companies have their counters gathered in Terminal 1, right near the parking lot. Please note that there is also a petrol station adjacent to the parking lot. As of today there are 14 companies you can rent a car from at the airport. All are among the best known international companies, such as Hertz, Thrifty, Sixt, Avis, Budget and Europcar.
- The distance from the airport and into the city center is not more than 8 kilometers if you drive the fastest and shortest road. With regular traffic, the drive takes about 20 to 25 minutes.