Parking our cars in Lisbon can be challenging. Many factors must be considered:
1- In the historic center : streets are narrow, restricted to traffic, and, above all, impractical to drive on. In Lisbon, finding a car park in Alfama is an achievement.
2- Car parks are usually expensive and often reserved for residents.
3- Be careful: a free parking space doesn’t mean it’s available. You need to pay attention to the signs that restrict access. Parking spaces may be reserved for city hall services, the state, political parties, hotels, and more.
In other words, if you plan to stay in downtown Lisbon, it’s not recommended to have a vehicle on-site. You’d better stay in a hotel with a car park or rent a car at the last minute when you’re ready to leave Lisbon.
Public car parks are limited, which can spoil the start of your stay as you may quickly get lost. Additionally, the city officials are very efficient at impounding vehicles. The company that manages car parks in Lisbon is called EMEL, which is owned by the city hall. On their website, you can check the map of their paid car parks in Lisbon.
If you’d like to park affordably in Lisbon, we recommend booking your parking spot in advance in private, covered car parks.
One of the most practical tools available is Parclick. This intuitive site allows you to compare rates between the different private car parks in Lisbon.
Parclick is a secure platform for booking parking spaces in Lisbon, with no time limit, allowing you to explore the city with peace of mind!
If your vehicle is missing, there’s a strong chance it has been impounded. You can argue all you want, but trust us, the authorities in Lisbon are highly efficient!
Before panicking and assuming theft, the Portuguese authorities offer a very practical service that helps you locate your vehicle.
Just send a text message to 3838 with the word ‘Reboque’, followed by a space and your license plate number (memorize it!). If your car has been impounded, you’ll receive a reply with its location. It works really well ( I’ve tested it myself … :/ )
So, how much does this misfortune cost?
For a light passenger vehicle:
- A €68 fine right from the start. If you catch the officer writing the ticket on the spot, that’s the end of it.
- This €68 fine is followed by a towing fee of €84.
- On top of these two fines, there’s an additional fee of €20 per 24 hours. So, let’s be clear: don’t waste any time.
In total, it will cost you at least €172.
On weekends and evenings, many streets offer free parking. Be sure to check the signs indicating the applicable areas. In Lisbon, it’s also common to come across arrumadores—homeless individuals who will wave you down and help you park in exchange for a small coin
These individuals, never reliable, might direct you to park in unauthorized areas. We recommend staying alert to avoid this kind of situation, as Lisbon city police are particularly quick to put a boot on your car or have it towed. The ideal solution remains to book accommodation in Lisbon with a car park !
What should I do if there’s a yellow boot on my tire?
First and foremost, do not attempt to deflate the tire or remove the boot yourself as the fine for doing this is very steep (at least €300).
Instead, call the parking authority EMEL at 21 780 31 31. Their call center is open from 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.
If you’re looking for free parking in Lisbon, there are some areas of the city without parking meters:
1. Benfica – Located outside the city centre, this well-known suburb is a residential area with plenty of free parking, especially near Estrada da Benfica.
⚠️ Note: Parking is not allowed on game days.
🚇 The nearest metro station is Colégio Militar on the blue line.
📍GPS coordinates : 38.749745, -9.193878
2- Close to the city centre, the Penha de França district offers some free parking zones. These extend from Paiva Couceira Square, past the Alto de S. João cemetery, and down to Santa Apolónia.
📍GPS coordinates: : 38.718586, -9.123222
4- By the river, free parking is available in the Alcântara district. If it’s hard to find spots near the Lx Factory, you’ll have better luck heading towards the Higher Institute of Agronomy.
🚋 Trams 18 and 15 take you directly to Commerce Square. The Alcântara train station connects you to Cais do Sodré.
📍GPS coordinates: 38.702374, -9.180843
5- In Belém, except for the pastry shop and gardens, most parking spaces are free. Go to the upper districts.
📍GPS coordinates : 38.703622, -9.195574
6- In Campo de Santa Clara, there are usually parking slots available.
Remember not to park your car on fair days, i.e., Tuesday morning and Saturday morning (so Monday evening and Friday evening).
📍GPS coordinates:. GPS coordinates : 38.715712, -9.125255.
7- Near Parque das Nações, you can find free parking between Sacavém station and the streets of Moscavide.
There is also a completely free parking area near the Pedro Arrupe College.
📍GPS coordinates: 38.793518, -9.098438.
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