Destination guide

Car hire in Lisbon for crew on a break

Last reviewed August 2026 by the NonRevCars editorial team · about a 4-minute read

Lisbon's hilly, tram-friendly centre is best explored on foot — but the coastline on either side of the city is where a car genuinely earns its keep. Sintra's palaces, the surf beaches of Cascais and Ericeira, and the wine country south of the river are all a short, easy drive away.

Why bother with a car here

The city itself doesn't need one — trams, the metro and a lot of walking (bring good shoes, it's steep) cover central Lisbon fine. Where it's genuinely useful is a day trip: Sintra's fairy-tale palaces are 40 minutes out, the beach towns of Cascais and Estoril line the coast just as close, and Ericeira's surf beaches are a scenic hour north.

What to know about driving here

• Driving side: right-hand side.
• Sintra's roads get very congested on weekends and midday — an early start avoids the worst of the queues for parking near the palaces.
• Tolls on Portuguese motorways are common, and some (like the Costa de Prata) are automatic "green" tolls that need a transponder or plate registration — check your rental's toll setup before you go.
• Lisbon Airport (LIS) is unusually close to the city centre, with rental desks in the arrivals area.

Good use of a day off

A classic loop: Sintra in the morning (arrive early), lunch on the coast at Cascais, then follow the Estoril coast road back into Lisbon for sunset. Surfers will want to head north to Ericeira instead — a more low-key, laid-back day.

Frequently asked questions