Lisbon is one of Europe's great surprises — a capital city that feels intimate, architectural treasures at every turn, and a food scene that's drawing travellers from across the world. As a car hire base it's exceptional: Sintra and the Atlantic coast are 30 minutes away, the Alentejo wine country is an hour south, and the entire length of the stunning Portuguese coast is within a day's drive.

Picking up your hire car in Lisbon

  • Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) — Car hire desks are in the arrivals area of Terminal 1. Most major suppliers are represented. The airport is only 7km from the city centre.
  • City pick-up — Many suppliers operate city-centre locations on Avenida da Liberdade and near the cruise terminal. Useful if you're exploring Lisbon first before picking up a car.
  • Book early for summer — July and August see prices spike at Lisbon airport. May, June and September offer the best value with excellent weather.

Driving in and around Lisbon

  • Lisbon's hills (Alfama, Bairro Alto, Graça) have extremely narrow streets — a small car is strongly recommended. Many alleys are one-way or pedestrianised.
  • The A1, A2 and A5 motorways radiate from Lisbon to Porto, the Algarve and the Atlantic coast respectively — all excellent and well-signposted.
  • The Vasco da Gama Bridge (across the Tagus, 17km long) is the fastest route south — toll applies.
  • Parking in Lisbon: pay-and-display on streets (blue lines), or underground car parks beneath Praça dos Restauradores and at Parque Eduardo VII.
  • Many Lisbon streets have trams — give them right of way and don't block tracks.

Where to go — best drives from Lisbon

Sintra (30 mins) — fairytale palaces, Moorish castles and forested hills above the Atlantic. The road from Sintra to Cabo da Roca (Europe's westernmost point) is a dramatic 20-minute cliff drive. Setúbal Peninsula (45 mins) — the Arrábida Natural Park has beaches of Caribbean clarity in the most unlikely setting, just 40km from Lisbon. Évora (1.5 hrs east) — a UNESCO-listed Roman and medieval city surrounded by megalithic standing stones. Óbidos and the Silver Coast (1 hr north) — a perfectly preserved medieval walled town followed by some of the Atlantic's finest surf beaches.

Don't miss: The coastal road from Cascais to Sintra (the N247) hugs dramatic Atlantic cliffs for 25km and is one of Portugal's most beautiful short drives.
Price tip: Lisbon is one of the world's most competitive car hire markets — always compare at least 4–5 suppliers before booking. Local and regional companies often undercut the big brands significantly.
Book for Lisbon now: Compare live prices from 900+ suppliers at Lisbon car hire. Prices from $18/day. No booking fees.