car hire lisbon
Pick up your hire car at Lisbon airport and Portugal's historical capital will just be minutes away. Book car hire lisbon now
the 60-second guide to Lisbon
in its own head
"With our imposing colonial squares, myriad of cobbled back streets and slightly dilapidated grandeur Lisbon boasts the sophisticated ambience of Paris, with the get-down-and-dirty feel of Rio or Cuba."
but more realistically
Sophisticated it maybe but refined and restrained it isn't. Lisbon is a young and vibrant city that likes to party... late and loud.
the vibe
Quiet and cosmopolitan by day, come midnight the streets around Bairro Alto come alive with whatever takes anyone's fancy.
the natives
Quiet and cosmopolitan by day, come midnight the streets around Bairro Alto come alive with whatever takes anyone's fancy.
the weather
Lisbon is home to Portuguese speakers from around the world. They're young, hip and unbothered.
the local speciality
There is nothing the Portuguese like more than a bit of salty cod. Bacalhau is the national dish and you'll find the pungent produce hanging everywhere from cafes to the Post Office.
the celebrity
Curiously, Hollywood actor John Malkovich part-owns Lisbon uber-club Lux and trendy restaurant Bica do Sapato.
did you know?
The city of Lisbon was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1755, the devastating aftermath of which partly inspired Voltaire's Candide.
they say
"The real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon's lovely backstreets." - Lonely Planet
5 to see in town...
- 1. Parque das Nacoes
- 2. Saint George's Castle
- 3: Se Cathedral
- 4: The Oceanario de Lisboa
- 5: Monument to the Discoveries
Parque das Nacoes is the modern face of the historic city. Designed and built for Expo 98 it's a futuristic looking mix of international restaurants, sleek modern buildings, waterside walks and cable car fun.
where to park?
There are 11 different parking lots throughout the Parque das Nacoes, averaging around €2 an hour. Once parked, it's easy to walk from site to site.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Parque das Nacoes
- 2. Saint George's Castle
- 3: Se Cathedral
- 4: The Oceanario de Lisboa
- 5: Monument to the Discoveries
Petering at the top of a steep cobbled walk, Saint George's castle is everything a fortress should be: impressive, imposing and a challenging hike to get to.
where to park?
Rua da Augusto Rosa is probably the closest you'll get. It's just a short - but steep - walk from there.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Parque das Nacoes
- 2. Saint George's Castle
- 3: Se Cathedral
- 4: The Oceanario de Lisboa
- 5: Monument to the Discoveries
Made up of two turreted towers, Lisbon's cathedral looks more like a fortress than a typical church but its imposing gothic style is definitely worth a trip.
where to park?
It's hard to get right next to the cathedral in a car, so it's better to park your hire car in Rua da Augusto Rosa and walk for a few minutes.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Parque das Nacoes
- 2. Saint George's Castle
- 3: Se Cathedral
- 4: The Oceanario de Lisboa
- 5: Monument to the Discoveries
Sharks and manta rays might not be the first thing you expect from a city break but Lisbon's oceanarium - the largest in Europe - is not to be missed.
where to park?
Docas car park, which has a 700-car capacity, is next to the Oceanarium and costs €2 per hour.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Parque das Nacoes
- 2. Saint George's Castle
- 3: Se Cathedral
- 4: The Oceanario de Lisboa
- 5: Monument to the Discoveries
Few nations can boast as many intrepid explorers as Portugal and the Monument to the Discoveries celebrates the great and the good of the age of discovery.
where to park?
There's a car park that backs on to the seafront, right next to the monument. It costs €2 an hour.
and 4 to drive to...
A town famed for its traditional custard tarts. Scoff a pastry or five in the famed Pasteis de Belem then walk them off in the monastery next door.
how to get there?
Travel west from the centre of Lisbon along the coast - Av 24 de Julio and Av Da India - for the five miles to Santa Maria de Belem.
and 4 to drive to...
The seaside town of Estoril is home to the casino that inspired Ian Fleming to write the James Bond novel Casino Royale. Sunbathe by day and have a flutter by night.
how to get there?
Take the A5 west of central Lisbon for the 16 miles it takes to get to Estoril.
and 4 to drive to...
The mountain village of Sintra boasts one of the most colourful castles in Europe. It totters atop a precarious mountain ridge Dracula would be proud of. What he'd have thought of the paintwork is less certain.
how to get there?
Take the A5 out of Lisbon, then the A9 to the IC19, which takes you towards Sintra, just 20 miles away.
and 4 to drive to...
A short trip west from Estoril is the pretty seaside town of Cascais, home to beaches, bars and the dauntingly titled cliff edge, the Devil's Mouth.
how to get there?
Head west on the A5 until you get to exit 10, where you turn off towards Cascais.
ask a Lisbon cabbie!
Local taxi driver Tomas Mota on car hire in Lisbon: "Like every big city in Europe, Lisbon does suffer from a bit of congestion during rush hour - especially if you're trying to cross the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge into Almada. If you want to see the central sights, a good tactic might be to park your car in the Belem area, where there are free car parks, and then take a bus or a tram into the centre of town. Otherwise you could find yourself trying to drive up some very narrow and very steep streets."