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Lisbon is Portugal’s vibrant capital, characterised by its colourful architecture, beaches, markets and medieval castles. Lisbon is a cultural city with endless amounts of things to see and do. To experience everything, consider hiring a car to get you around. Although Lisbon is rife with low-cost and efficient ways of getting around, such as its metro and tram systems, the best way to truly explore and get around without restrictions is by car. The best ways of finding cheap car hire in Lisbon are:
Booking in Advance: One of the golden rules about booking anything is booking in advance. This can help you avoid potentially higher prices, and allow you to secure your ideal vehicle ahead of busier periods. You’ll probably want to think about booking even further in advance during the peak tourist season of June-August.
Hiring from Airports: Car hire at airports tends to see lower prices than in inner city areas.
No matter your reason for visiting Lisbon, Enjoy Travel offers an extensive range of vehicles to suit your needs and preferences. When you’re looking for the best convenient and trustworthy car hire in Portugal, choose Enjoy Travel.
You can find excellent prices on car hire across Portugal and Europe from some of the most trusted suppliers. Lisbon’s winding roads and scenic landscapes serve as the perfect backdrop for a road trip around the city.
As with the rest of the country, Lisbon sees a high footfall of tourists from June to August when the weather is at its hottest. So, if you’re planning to hire a car during this time of year, we recommend booking your vehicle around 2 months in advance. This can help keep costs low and increase your chances of securing your ideal vehicle.
Driving in Lisbon is cited as being relatively easy, with signposting and easy-to-easy navigate roads. However, people who are new to Lisbon or tourists may find driving a little more difficult. Here are some of the main rules and regulations to take into consideration when driving in and around Lisbon:
There are many parking garages/multi-storey car parks in Lisbon, due to street parking being difficult with many narrow or one-way streets. On-street parking is available, with parking meters dotted around with various fares depending on the zone. There are also many free parking spaces around the city with free parking between certain times of day– these are usually blue, yellow and red zones.
If you don’t want to park in the city centre, Lisbon’s outer suburbs and zones also host Park & Ride facilities– you can park your car and catch a bus or tram into the city. This tends to be a cheaper and more convenient option for tourists or locals.
Lisbon is a diverse, cultural and vibrant city, with something for everyone. From its history to its beaches and stunning pastel-coloured buildings and Manueline architecture, there is much to do and see here.
Some of the best attractions in Lisbon include:
Transport in Lisbon is abundant, with trams, buses and the metro being the main transport options. The transport in Lisbon is low-cost, efficient and reliable, with various routes taking you to Lisbon’s main attractions and its airport. The main types of transport in the city include:
Lisbon’s trams follow various routes throughout the city– payment options include cash or ticket machines. You can expect Lisbon trams to cost around €3 per journey, making them an inexpensive and reliable way to get around the city quickly and efficiently.
Lisbon’s metro is also a great way to get around, with various payment cards available depending on how often you intend to use it. For occasional journeys, you can expect the cost to be around €1.80.
Santa Apolónia train station
Rossio railway station
Station do Oriente
Cais do Sodré train station
Buses are the most widespread form of public transport, with services covering most of the city and surrounding areas. A single ticket for Lisbon’s buses is expected to cost around €2-€3 per passenger.
Almada
One of the closest cities to Lisbon, Almada is a great place to spend the day or head to on a road trip. The city hosts parks, nature reserves, a lively shopping district and entertainment venues like a concert hall and theatre.
Distance from Lisbon: 7.5 miles
Setúbal
A municipality in Portugal, this place is perfect for tourists who want a more laid-back experience. Here, you can find markets, historic monuments, national parks and beaches, among many other exciting attractions.
Distance from Lisbon: 30 miles
Trafaria
A short distance from Lisbon, Trafaria is known for its many beaches and historic monuments– if you enjoy a beach day or want to work on your tan, this is certainly the place for you.
Distance from Lisbon: 10.7 miles
Planning beforehand is definitely recommended for Lisbon, as while there is much to see and do, it can get very busy and hard to get around. Familiarise yourself with the roads, main timings and which attractions you most want to visit, and you’ll surely find that your trip is convenient and straightforward.
Lisbon, as with the rest of Portugal, follows the same rush hour timings as the UK– that is, 8-10am and 4-6pm on weekdays. Try to avoid driving during these times as you may find the roads are very congested.
While driving may be difficult in some areas, it can allow you to access and reach certain areas of Lisbon and its surroundings that may not be covered by public transport.
Having a car means you can get around the city on your own timings, and won’t need to worry about delayed or cancelled public transport, or the metro/trams being a little too busy during certain times of day.
As parking can be difficult to find and navigate in Lisbon, this may be a potential drawback of hiring a vehicle. Traffic and unfamiliar roads may also act as a deterrent to vehicle renters.
The variety of vehicles available for rent in Lisbon includes small, medium and large economy cars, with makes/models including VW, Fiat, Peugeot and SEAT, and estate cars like Mercedes C 220 Wagon. Also available for hire are 7-9 seaters or minivans. These vehicles are available from some of Europe’s most trusted car hire suppliers and are available from both downtown Lisbon and Lisbon Airport.
The right vehicle for you depends on your personal circumstances– those who may need more room in the car would benefit from a 7-9 seater, which is a popular choice among groups of friends or families. Business travellers may opt for estate cars, and couples or solo travellers may choose small or medium cars.
Enjoy Travel works closely with some of Europe’s most trusted suppliers, which include Avis, AutoUnion, Drive on Holidays, Europcar, Hertz, Keddy, Movyng, OK Mobility, Alamo, Budget, Carwiz, Centauro, Drivalia, ECHO Rent-A-Car, Enterprise, Goldcar, GreenMotion, Guerin, Key-n-Go, KlassWagen, National, Record Go, Right Cars, Thrifty, United Rent-A-Car and WheeGo.
To ensure absolute satisfaction when booking your vehicle, ensure that before you book you are aware of the services offered by the company/supplier, and read reviews to ensure they align with your expectations.
Name | Review | Rating |
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Mariana Lopes | Picked up a Renault Clio at Lisbon Airport and the whole process was super smooth. Perfect for zipping around the city. I booked through Enjoy Travel and their website was super easy to use, with clear information and great filters that helped me find exactly what I needed. | |
James Holloway | We had a great trip driving a Peugeot 3008 down to the Algarve. Booked with Centauro, and everything went perfectly, quick pickup, friendly service, and a spotless car. Would definitely rent from them again! | |
Rita Silva | Rented a Fiat 500 for a few days in Lisbon with Surprice. The car was ideal for tight city parking and way more fun to drive than expected. The pickup was smooth and the team was helpful throughout the process. | |
Paul Jennings | Our Ford Focus worked well for a family road trip. Staff were helpful and gave us directions to avoid toll roads. | |
Sofia Duarte | The Seat Leon we hired was in excellent condition. It was our first time renting in Portugal and everything went smoothly. | |
Andrew Bennett | Hired a Mercedes A-Class for a business trip. Very professional service and the car was immaculate. | |
Carla Nunes | I was visiting family and chose a Volkswagen Golf. Easy check-in and out and really efficient service. | |
Daniel Cruz | We rented a Citroën C3 and took it up to Sintra. Great little car and no complaints with the rental process. | |
Emma Whelan | The Dacia Duster was bigger than we expected which worked out great for all our luggage. Very good experience overall. | |
João Vieira | We had a small issue finding the rental desk at the airport but once we got there, picking up the Toyota Yaris was easy enough. | |
Laura Mills | Our Skoda Octavia was perfect for longer drives outside Lisbon. Very clean and fuel-efficient. | |
Tomás Pereira | Booked a Nissan Juke for a weekend getaway. Loved driving it along the coast and the return process was fast. | |
Hannah Bishop | The Hyundai i20 handled Lisbon’s hills better than expected. Staff were friendly and gave us a local map too. | |
Miguel Ribeiro | The experience was decent but we had to wait a bit for our Opel Astra. Otherwise, no major issues. | |
Zoe Grant | We chose a Mini Cooper for a romantic trip and it was ideal. So much fun driving through the scenic roads near Cascais. | |
Carolina Matos | Really liked the ease of picking up the Volkswagen Polo. Car was spotless and drop-off was just as smooth. | |
Jake Foster | Hired a BMW 1 Series and it made the trip even more enjoyable. Everything was seamless and the staff were super helpful. | |
Filipa Marques | We drove a Peugeot 208 and explored a bit of central Portugal. The rental staff gave us great tips and were very efficient. | |
Leo Armstrong | Our Renault Captur was comfy and reliable. Would definitely use the same company again on our next visit to Lisbon. |