Car rental in Sintra

About 30 kilometers northwest from Lisbon, at the foot of the Serra de Nistra mountain, is the town the beautiful Sinatra, which is quickly becoming one of the favorite destinations for tourists coming to Portugal and Western Europe in general. The town is surrounded by mountains, which creates a very unique landscape and is very different from Lisbon itself. Sinatra is a favorite summer destination for Portugal's high society, including local stars in the fields of culture, sport, music and politics. The town has a very romantic aroma and is suitable for couples trips, it has a wide variety of parks and palaces, which led UNESCO to declare it a world heritage site in 1995.

Sintra offers picturesque alleys and an ancient town called Sintra Villa, located in the center of the Palacio Nacional. The old square that overlooks the Grand Palace is surrounded by shops, cafes and wonderful country houses, which are the ideal starting point for walking around the town. You can also climb to the high castle or go through the Palacio de Pena which is on the other side of the city. The best way, without a doubt, to absorb the place in an ideal way, is to rent a car and move around the town in a comfortable and compact way.

How much does it cost us?

Most of the people who come to visit Sintra, rent their car in Lisbon, the big city, and drive to the small town in a journey that takes no more than half an hour during the convenient hours. However, it is also possible to rent cars in Sintra itself, since most of the car rental companies work there. A private car for a couple plus two pieces of luggage will cost about 20 euros per day, not including fuel, while family cars cost around 30 euros per day. A comfortable wide station wagon will cost you about 45 euros per day, when it is important to remember that every detail of the vehicle you order changes the price, including the type of vehicle, its size, the length of the rental and of course the period of the year. Everyone who orders a car should talk to the company by phone or online, to make sure that their car is armored with the company, even before the flight to Lisbon, and in addition, you can try and ask for a certain discount, or extras that will make traveling easier.

When to order?

Picturesque towns like Sintra are a sought-after destination in the summer, as it is a type of resort town. The town is very busy with travelers in the summer months, and the priority is to make the reservation as far in advance as possible, even months in advance. Because it is a small destination, you must make sure that the vehicle is indeed available for you, so pre-booking is critical, especially if you have special needs or excess luggage. Sintra is a tourist site not only in season, but also in the transitional seasons you can find something to do there, so booking in advance is critical to the success of the trip.

Most of the major events in Sintra are held between the months of May and August, including the Grand Film Festival, the Sintra Music Festival, the Aura Festival of Lights, the special 16th Century Fair, and the Muscarium Creators' Festival. As in all of Portugal, Sintra also celebrates Christmas and New Year's Eve in an unusual way, with a Wonderland-style Christmas festival, held as mentioned in December. Sintra is not congested most of the time, but when these events are held, and especially in the Christmas market area, to avoid reaching the area with vehicles. However, if you want to fully experience the place, the priority is to take a car and go around the various sites and attractions, on picturesque roads, with good infrastructure, good signage and convenient parking. 

Which car to choose?

The nature of your trip in Sintra is critical to booking the right car. If you only want to spend time in the city center and the old city, the priority is a small and compact private car. If you're coming from Lisbon and certainly if you're continuing into the green areas, it's worth taking an SUV or at least a large station wagon, to make the journey more pleasant and to create space for your many equipment. Try to take a vehicle with a large interior space, because these are very curvy roads, and to make the trips into the mountains more tolerable, try to create a little more legroom for all passengers.

International driving license

To rent a car in Lisbon, Sintra, or anywhere else in Portugal, you will need a valid international driver's license. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that you have taken all the documents relevant to you before you boarded the plane and arrived at the branch of the rental company.

Driving and navigating the city

Sinatra is ideal for getting around by car. indeed There is a lot to see When you go around on foot, but the attractions are not that close to each other and in addition, you will surely want to go and walk in the mountains and parks, so the priority is definitely to choose a suitable vehicle and start wandering in it. Pay attention to elements such as two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles that move around the town and remember that the roads are of a reasonable level, but not of the highest level. Respect the signs and give the right of way whenever possible. Try not to get tangled in the woods and work with navigation apps, and don't be afraid to make a U-turn to get back to a place you know or have been through before. The town changes a bit during the big festivals and there is a bit of congestion, but it is not something significant that will ruin your trip. Also the access to the areas outside the city, and the steep roads are relatively comfortable and should not cause you any problems, even if you are afraid of a driver who is not an urban driver. The access to the highways is easy and simple, and you won't have any trouble getting in and out of the town.

Parking in Sintra

The parking problems in Sintra do not exist. You can find parking spaces everywhere in this wonderful town, and you won't have to deal with parking tickets or parking lots. Try to park in the regulated places and not block the traffic, and check in advance where you can park when you leave the town. There will be some congestion in the festival area, but in any case, it will not be something that will ruin your day and at most, you will have to walk a few minutes, and enjoy the magical atmosphere in the town.