If you plan to visit Lisbon for 6 days, you’ll have pins and needles in your legs after 3 or 4 days. During our private tours, our local guides provide expert advice on what to see around Lisbon. It’s enough to spark your interest and consider renting a car. There are plenty of travel options for travelling from Lisbon, as you can see in our post on road trips in Portugal :
1- Visit the Sintra Natural Park and the vast northern coastline of Lisbon, discover Lisbon’s incredible vineyards with our guide Sylvain.
2- Cross the river Tagus, be amazed by the Serra da Arrabida and enjoy the many activities that can be found near Lisbon, in the midst of nature. Don’t forget the magnificent beaches of Caparica and Sesimbra.
3- Discover the mythical cities around Lisbon such as Obidos or Evora. Why not extend your journey to Andalusia with a car rental between Lisbon and Spain, visiting cities like Seville or Malaga?
4- Opt for visiting Lisbon without necessarily staying there. While the public transport network is well-developed, renting a car near Lisbon will save you time.
5- Choose to experience the best restaurants near Lisbon by renting a car. Even if we have some very good restaurant tips in Lisbon, we’re sure you’ll find happiness in the countryside, whether you’re looking for seafood or steakhouse restaurant.
Nevertheless, the disadvantages of renting a car in Lisbon are not negligible, and it’s important to consider them before booking :
1- Lisbon is a city that’s difficult to navigate by car due to its narrow, concentrated streets. Parking spot are scarce but you can always park cheaply in private car parks. Looking for another tip ? Go for a compact car or try to find accommodation in Lisbon with parking included.
2- Renting a car in Lisbon at the beginning of your stay is unlikely to be necessary. The historic center can is easy to explore on foot and taxi/Uber won’t break the bank. Do you plan to broaden your itinerary beyond Lisbon and Belém or even as far as the Sintra palaces and Cascais? Honestly, renting a car is more of a plan B. For longer stays (over 4 days), we recommend renting one only after you’ve fully enjoyed Lisbon.
3-Lisbon City Hall’s medium-term plan is to limit car traffic in the city center as much as possible. Street parking spaces are gradually disappearing.
4-Renting a car can be compared to booking a flight ticket: the earlier you book, the better the deal. Summer is the peak season, so we recommend planning ahead to save money. Below, we will present the different rental options.
Welcome to Lisbon ! You’ve just landed in the Portuguese capital, but you’re not planning to visit it (what a shame!). Your goal is to explore the country by renting a car, which is undoubtedly the best option.
No need to drive for miles; the main car rental agencies in Lisbon are located at the airport, next to the metro station.
Among them, we recommend Budget, which offers great prices when you book in advance and, above all, renews its fleet every year : it’s a guarantee of safety while traveling in Portugal
When it comes to finding the best car hire deals in Lisbon, nothing beats price comparators. With this business being a real jungle, we personally trust experts like AutoEurope. This company has been known for its excellent service since 1954! I appreciate the ease of checking prices and their transparency. There are no credit card fees, and you can cancel up to 48 hours before picking up the vehicle! Last but not least, the most important point is their highly efficient customer service.
You may also be wondering if there’s a car rental in Lisbon with no deposit. The answer is yes, with the Interrent Key’n’Go system, which saves you precious time. No more waiting at the counter, no deposit required , you get your keys from an automatic dispenser. Interrent Key’n’Go prices can be checked directly on the AutoEurope website.
Europcar Lisbon has 6 car rental offices in the city centre :
In the Marquês de Pombal and Avenidas Novas areas, Europcar has four car hire offices. This is also where you’ll find the main hotels for seminars and business meetings in Lisbon:
1- Castilho office (open from 9am to 6pm) : R. Castilho 201 A.
2- El Corte Ingles office (open from 10am to 8pm) : Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 31 basement -1.
3- Office next to Parque metro station (open between 08h & midnight) : Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 24 C D.
4- Downtown City Center office (open from 8am to 8pm) : R. Rodrigues Sampaio 142/150.
Office close to the Arroios and Penha de França districts :
5- Alameda office (open from 9am to 1pm and then from 2pm to 6pm. Closed on Saturdays & Sundays) : Parking Empark, Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques.
Office close to the historic districts, just a stone’s throw from Alfama and Graça :
6- Santa Apolonia Station office (open from 9am to 1pm and then from 2pm to 6pm. Closed on Saturdays & Sundays ) : Av. Infante Dom Henrique.
Car hire in Lisbon center with Hertz :
Hertz Lisbon ( located in Rua Castilho 72) is open from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm on weekdays. On Saturdays, the agency opens at 9 am and closes at 1 pm. On Sundays, it opens at 9 am and closes at 6:30 pm, with a lunch break at 1 pm. Its car rental office is the closest to the Amoreiras, Rato, and Príncipe Real districts, and just a short walk from Marquês de Pombal Square.
The two Sixt car rental agencies in Lisbon city center : where to find them
As you can see on the Sixt booking platform, two car hire offices are available in central Lisbon :
1- The first office ( located in Rua Andrade Corvo 31) is close to the PICOAS metro station, between the Saldanha district and the Marques de Pombal business district. This one is open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
2- The second office is located on Lisbon’s most prestigious avenue.: Avenida da Liberdade (number 185). If you live in the Bairro Alto, Principe Real or Sant’ana districts, this office is the most accessible. It is open on weekdays from 8am to 8pm.
The Avis car rental service
Finally, the company Avis operates two car rental offices in the city center. Located on rua Castilho 167E, close to Marques de Pombal, the first one is open on weekdays from 8am to 12.30pm and then from 2.30pm to 6pm. On Saturdays and Sundays it remains open from 9am to 1pm.
The second office is located in Praça martim Moniz, inside the Hotel Mundial. This is the prime location for a car rental service, in the heart of the historic center. If you’re staying in Mouraria, Intendente, Graça, Baixa or Chiado, you will only be a few minutes’ walk away. The only downside is that it is open only during the week, from 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.
Exploring Portugal with a camper van has become more than just a trend in recent years; it has evolved into a new way of travelling. With a vintage VW camper van, you can easily explore Lisbon and sleep in a setting that even 5-star hotel guests can’t imagine. Surfing, exploring, dining in front of a sunset with no crowds… This is the magic formula for a unique holiday. Of course, there are also the new VW models for long road trips across Portugal. Whether you’re a couple or a young family, we offer a wide range of VW camper vans, starting from just €50 per night!
Many motorways in Portugal have automatic electronic tolls, and there are no toll stations, especially in the Algarve. When you book your car, make sure to ask for your ‘VIA VERDE’ box, which will allow you to drive with complete peace of mind. Without this box, you risk being fined and will have to go to a payment office, a step you’ll want to avoid when you’re looking to make the most of your well-deserved holiday.
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