Experience Portugal at Lisbon Airport – find cheap car hire at Lisbon Portela Airport

A new interesting initiative is taking place at the main international gateway to Portugal, Lisbon Portela Airport.

See, Hear and Taste is the name of an extensive programme of cultural activities held in different areas of the airport, including art performances, concerts, exhibitions of crafts, presentations of Portuguese fashion and design, culinary shows and wine testing.

The programme has been developed in response to the results of a passenger satisfaction survey in which a lack of cultural offer at the airport was appointed. In order to enhance the passenger experience at the country’s main airport, and combining the useful with the pleasant, ANA (the Airport Authority of Portugal) have undertaken a creative attempt to use the airport as a platform for sharing knowledge about Portugal.

According to the Creative Industries team behind the See, Hear and Taste initiative, for many, the airport is the first and the last contact with the country they have been visiting, thus, there is no better place to positively influence the perception of it.

Get to know Portugal – cultural events at Lisbon Airport
The list of entities involved in See, Hear and Taste programme is extensive and includes names and brands highly recognizable in Portugal: São Carlos National Theatre, Portalegre Tapestry Manufacture or Confeitaria Nacional, just to mention some

Amongst the events that already took place at Portela Airport were: the musical play by Filipe de La Féria, focused on the work of Amalia Rodrigues, performances by the choir of São Carlos National Theatre, fado and Portuguese guitar concerts, a display of nativity scenes, as well as a range of exhibitions featuring Portuguese gastronomy, pastry and viniculture.

Promoting ‘Portugality’, as the Portuguese identity is generically described by the creators of the Lisbon Airport initiative is delivered in an unassuming and entertaining way and has been given a very positive response from the passengers. More events are scheduled to take place at Lisbon Airport in 2013.

Buy Portuguese – new airport store in Lisbon
At Lisbon Airport, the passengers also have a chance to get familiar with some of the best Portuguese products.

At new shopping area, an upscale Portuguese merchandise store ‘Portfolio’, a special emphasis is given to Portuguese quality, featuring handcrafts, fashion and design, food and wines.

Quality products created exclusively for the new Portfolio brand can be purchased in Portfolio Selection zone.

See video about Portfolio store at Lisbon Airport.

Portfolio is an interactive area, where clients have a chance to taste some of the products, get advice about wine from both qualified sales assistants and advanced touch screen technology and learn the story behind some of the most iconic Portuguese goods, for instance cork products, hand painted porcelain and glassware.

Lisbon Airport car hire – compare prices online
The new destination store at Lisbon-Portela adds up to the already well developed passenger services at the airport.

The travellers arriving at Lisbon Airport can count on a wide selection of car hire companies. Car rental desks of Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Budget, Goldcar and the Portuguese car rental brands Guerin and Auto Jardin, are located at the arrival hall, close to the parking (P1) area.

Read more about Lisbon Portela Airport car hire and prices

Prices of car rental from Lisbon Airport vary a lot, according to the time of the year. While at the peak of the tourist season, in July and August, Lisbon car hire can be quite costly, off-season deals are usually very reasonably priced.

For cheapest Lisbon Airport car hire, use internet search engines, such as Cartrawler Portugal: frequently rent a car offers found online are more advantageous than the ones offered directly at the desk of car hire agencies.