Car rental in Lisbon

A trip abroad, regardless of the destination, can include travel by public transportation, such as buses, trains, and airplanes for domestic flights, and it can also include car rental and independent driving between the various sites. Car rental in Lisbon is usually done by travelers who are planning a trip to the cities the neighbors and to other destinations throughout Portugal, a trip that is relatively long and includes a lot of travel. Those who go on a short vacation, which focuses entirely on the city itself, can rely on the excellent transportation solutions in the city and do not always need a car to enjoy complete independence. There are buses, taxis available, metro and tram who work around the clock and guarantee a comfortable ride around Lisbon. You can get from place to place, within the city, very easily and sometimes renting a car can be expensive and less profitable if you don't plan to go out of the city to the near or far surroundings.

As in large and very touristic cities in the world, driving around Lisbon It is not an easy challenge. The roads may be very congested and locating the attractions and sites with the vehicle may be complex. At the same time, thanks to the excellent navigation apps and also a little preparation in advance, you can handle the task if you choose to rent a car and drive in the city itself and spend a pleasant vacation in beautiful Lisbon. For those planning to stay in the city for more than three days and/or leave it, renting a car is an ideal solution, which may make every vacation more successful and enjoyable.

There are quite a few car rental companies that offer their services to tourists. These companies allow the collection of the vehicle at the airport after landing or at other collection points, according to the customer's choice. Most travelers collect the ordered vehicle immediately after landing at the airport and from there they continue to the city, which is not far from it. You can rent an automatic car or a car with a manual transmission and it is important to book in advance, especially if you are planning a vacation in Portugal during the summer months, between June and August, which are known as the peak tourist season in the country. During this period, crowds come to it from all over the world and also quite a few Israelis looking for vehicles to line it up properly. Comparing the different options is necessary and is the right way to find the perfect deal.

City driving

Driving in Lisbon, as mentioned, can be very challenging for the Israeli tourist, and in fact - for any other tourist. Lisbon is known for being among the most difficult cities to drive in Europe and for good reason. The roads there are not new, they are very narrow in some places, the local drivers are not always patient, the signage is not everywhere and it is not easy to find free parking spaces. Driving may not be an easy experience and it is important to consider the issue of renting a car in the city properly if you are planning a short stay there. Public transport, as mentioned above, covers the whole city and taxis, as well as Uber, are relatively cheap. There is even excellent public transport suitable for day trips close to the city with direct trains to Sintra Sintra and Kashkaish (Cascais) and buses to Obidos Obidos, Mafra and Sesimbra. 

To explore the more isolated and remote areas of central Portugal and get out of the big city, it is necessary to rent a car, which can serve you properly. The speed limit on highways is 90 km/h, while the speed limit within the city is 50 km/h and is also valid for built-up areas and towns and villages. On highways you are allowed to drive at a speed of 120 km/h and it is important to pay attention to this in order not to receive a fine. When driving in Lisbon, be sure to have all the travel documents, such as an international driver's license and all the relevant forms for renting the car, including the insurance documents. Wearing your seat belts is mandatory, Both the driver and the passengers in the car and it is very important to know the local traffic laws which are very similar to the Israeli ones if you plan to be on the road for quite a few hours. 

Parking and signage in the city

The most prominent difficulties in the city for drivers are the lack of parking and poor signage throughout Lisbon itself. Ambiguous road markings, hidden traffic lights and random signs are very common in Lisbon, which makes traveling in the city a real challenge and a great difficulty for those who arrive there for the first time. In the historic part of Lisbon, parking is almost non-existent, especially in the areas of Baixa, Chiado and Alfama. stay in one from the hotels in the city, parking spaces are sometimes offered during the visit, although it is a very limited number of parking spaces so there may not be any available spaces and their availability will be problematic during the vacation. In the center of Lisbon there are quite a few streets with one direction of travel, which makes it even more difficult to find the parking places and the driving itself. 

So, where should you park?

Despite the challenge of finding free parking spaces in Lisbon, it is possible. You can find free parking in the city, and sometimes free. Such parking will usually be found near subway stations. Paid parking will be plentiful in many places, where the more central the place, the higher the price for parking. Green parking areas are less central areas of the city, occupying two thirds of Lisbon. Parking in them is possible for four consecutive hours and is the cheapest option. The yellow parking areas are more central in the city and occupy about a third of all parking spaces. Even in them you are allowed to park for four consecutive hours. The red parking zones are expensive and will cost twice as much as the green ones. You can park in them for up to two hours continuously. Besides the color marking, it is also important to pay attention to the signs in the place. For example, if there is a sign with the inscription "Residentes" (residents), it means that the parking space is reserved exclusively for residents of the city. The vehicle of tourists who choose to park in such a place may be towed or blocked. 

There are places in the city where you can park for up to 24 hours. Some of them are close to subway stations. In order to get a free parking space, you should arrive there before 9 in the morning or after 19 in the evening, so the chances of this are very high. In Rue Jorge Castilho, near the Areeieo station (green line) you can find low-cost long-term parking and also not far from Avenida Alvaro Pais, close to the Entre Campos station (yellow line). 

tip - To streamline the parking payment process and make it less cumbersome, it is recommended to install the ePark application on your smartphone, which is suitable for visitors to Lisbon. It requires a minimum charge via PayPal or a credit card of 10 euros and saves the use of coins. If you return to the car earlier than expected, you can cancel the parking reservation and pay only for the time you actually parked in the spot (as opposed to the machines on the spot). You can also add hours (if you found yourself traveling in the city beyond the time you planned and your car is waiting for you in the parking lot) and also use its map to check the possible parking lots and the characteristics of the area you are in (is it a residential area, for example, and more).