Car Rental - Lisbon

Lisbon’s seven hills give it a real sense of drama, and you’ll certainly feel it when exploring in your Lisbon car rental. This is a city with highs and lows, districts stacked on top of each other, alleys to lose yourself in and shops selling fresh, flaky pastries. Backstreet music clubs are worth looking out for where the locals enjoy the traditional folk music known as fado, and just try to resist the scent of that Lisboan specialty, bacalhau – salt cod.

This is a place that isn’t short of great vantage points. Park your Lisbon rental car and look down on the sprawling city from one of its many hills, or gaze out to the Atlantic Sea. Castelo de Sao Jorge is almost impossible to miss, and the castle and palace ruins are also well worth a trek to the top.

Built by the Moors in the 11^th century – you can still see traces of their life here – it was later the home of the king of Portugal before the Spanish adapted it to protect the city. It’s now a National Monument, and there are three daily guided tours.

Lisbon is divided into various districts and, while there’s crossover between them as they blur into each other, they all have their own unique character. Belem is where you’ll find Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument, with its tremendous view, and the unmissable 16^th century Belem Tower – also called the Tower of St. Vincent.

Both the tower and the Jeronimos Monastery, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture which sits nearby, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s just 20 minutes from our Lisbon Airport car rental office. This area is also the home of the traditional pasteis de nata pastry – try it at Pasteis de Belem, where they’ve been making them since 1837.

The Bairro Alto is known for its nightlife, but its neighbor Chiado is also a very popular destination. A pretty area with many 18^th century buildings, it’s a great place to shop, people-watch from cafés or browse in the numerous bookshops. One of them, Bertrand on Rua Garrett, is certified as the world’s oldest, opening its doors in 1732.

Another stalwart is the Restaurante Tavares, here since 1784 and Portugal’s oldest. The interior is beautiful and the food doesn’t rest on its laurels. Look out too for the Chiado branch of A Vida Portuguese, specializing in vintage and retro products designed in Portugal. Each neighborhood is more unique than the last, and you can easily explore each of them with a Lisbon rental car.

There are some vast plazas in Lisbon, with the stately Praca do Comercio being the largest of them all. With its statue of King Jose I and the painted buildings along the edges, it’s a symbol of Portugal’s former maritime power. The Rossio Square – aka the Pedro IV Square – is busier, however, a place where people gather, sit and chat.

The art deco Café Nicola is here, as well the imposing Rossio Station and the city’s main street, the Avenida da Liberdade. Take a break from exploring Rossio in your Lisbon car rental with a traditional Alentejan meal at Casa do Alentejo. Climb the stairs and you’ll find a fine interior and food to match – pork and clams, oven baked rabbit and a range of regional desserts are an authentic taste of the country.

Whether you fit all of this into a couple of days, or stay longer and cram in the Navy Museum, Cathedral and Oceanarium, what’s certain is that Lisbon isn’t short on things to see and do. Take a look at our Travel Guide and check off as many as you can with Hertz car rental in Lisbon.

Car rental in Lisbon grants you access to other nearby gems. The city lies on the Atlantic Ocean on Portugal’s west coast, and is easily reached by car from all other locations in the country, as well as from its neighbor, Spain.

Driving around Lisbon is relatively easy, although you’re advised to avoid driving in the OId Town if possible. The roads here are very narrow, there are cable cars and it can be tricky to find parking  in Alfama, Chiado and Baixa.

If you’re lucky enough to find a parking space, you’re likely to see a sign reading ‘Estacionamento Proibido’, which means no parking. If you’re exploring the Old Town, it’s best to do so on foot. Or park further away if you’re exploring in your Lisbon car rental.

Portugal’s speed limits are generally 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas, 120km/h (74mph) on expressways and 90km/h (55mph) on out-of-town roads. Still, it’s worth checking signs for the route that you are on. You’ll drive on the right, overtake on the left and, as in all of Europe, cell phone use is illegal whilst driving, and seatbelts are compulsory.

If you leave Lisbon to travel by expressway, many of these are toll roads – some require pre-payment while on others you can use cash. When driving your Lisbon rental car, always allow enough time to plan your route accordingly.

A couple of roads line the outskirts of Lisbon, meaning you can avoid the center and any charges for your Lisbon car rental. The IP7 cuts through the west of the city, heading south via the stunning Ponte 25 de Abril bridge to open up Portugal’s south-west corner.

Further out is the A36, which surrounds much of the city and then links up in the north-east with the A12 to cross the Ponte Vasco da Gama bridge. This is Europe’s longest bridge at 10 miles, spanning the Tagus River and stretching some way inland. There’s a toll when heading north, but it’s toll-free when driving south.