Lisbon tourist guide – car hire Lisbon, Portugal
In 2013, Lisbon was awarded a well-deserved distinction as Europe’s leading City-Break Destination.
Lisbon tourist guide
The capital of Portugal and the second oldest European capital (after Rome), successfully combines a wealth of historic and cultural heritage with an almost year-round good weather and privileged geographic location on the Atlantic coast, only a short drive away from many wonderful Atlantic beaches.
The City of Seven Hills, as Lisbon is frequently referred to, is also one of the least expensive capitals to visit in Europe, offering an excellent value for money and affordable prices of many tourist services, including car hire.
Cheap car hire Lisbon city centre
Lisbon sightseeing – the neighborhoods of Lisbon
The strict city centre of Lisbon is divided in a number of neighborhoods, being the division based not so much on clearly defined boundaries, but rather on common historic or cultural identity.
See the map of Lisbon neighborhoods (bairros) most popular with tourists.
As a tourist in Lisbon you are most likely to visit the following areas of the city:
Baixa – Downtown Lisbon
Lisbon Downtown, or Baixa de Lisboa, is the historic centre of the Portuguese capital.
See general map of Lisbon tourist attractions.
Baixa is known for its unique architectonic style, owned to the historic figure of Marquis de Pombal, responsible for the reconstruction of Lisbon after the fatal 1755 earthquake. Pombal introduced the pioneer earthquake-proof construction system featuring a flexible wooden frame, so called ‘Pombaline cage’ designed to distribute evenly the earthquake forces and prevent the building walls from falling.
Before the era of modern shopping centres Baixa was the best city location for shopping. Here you could buy custom-tailored suits, hand made shoes, jewelry and the finest watches. Baixa’s layout is a perfect grid of parallel and perpendicular streets, many of them named after the trades they used to host in the past, for example Rua dos Sapateiros (The Shoemaker Street), or Rua da Prata (Silver Street).
See map of Lisbon Downtown (Baixa de Lisboa).
The most central street of Baixa, Rua Augusta is a large pedestrian-only avenue offering a vast choice of shops, street cafes and restaurants. Rua Augusta connects the Rossio the popular with tourists Rossio Square with Praça de Commercio Square (also known as Terreiro do Paço), overlooking the Tagus River.
At the western limit of Baixa, by the Gold Street (Rua do Ouro) there is one of the most popular landmarks of Lisbon Downtown, the Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa), also known as Carmo Lift. It connects Baixa to another Lisbon neighbourhood, Bairro Alto (the Upper Quarter) and Chiado. Although, as many claim, queuing for sometimes nearly an hour just to experience the lasting about a minute elevator ride, is one of most overrated tourist attractions in Lisbon, the metal construction dating back to the beginning of the 20th century is well worth a picture or two. Santa Justa Lift, designed by the architect Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard is commonly, and mistakenly, linked to Gustave Eiffel.
Chiado – Lisbon shopping
Take the Santa Justa Lift or walk up the rather steep Rua do Carmo (Carmo Street) to get to Chiado, the most elegant district of old Lisbon.
The streets of this rather small neighbourhood are lined with quaint boutiques, old bookstores and charming cafés. The two most emblematic sites of Chiado are the Armazens do Chiado department store and A Brasileira Café. In front of Brasileira the bronze statue of the most acknowledged poet, Fernando Pessoa is the tourists’ delight.
Bairro Alto – Lisbon nightlife and fado
The upper quarter of old city centre of Lisbon, is called Bairro Alto. A popular residential and shopping area during the day, in the evening time Bairro Alto transforms into a vibrant centre of Lisbon nightlife. Different music subcultures as well as gay community peacefully coexist in and around many of Bairro Alto clubs and bars.
Tourists are most likely to look for fado venues in Bairro Alto. Fado is a traditional Portuguese music genre, compared to blues by ones and to soul, by others. The soulful fado music is traditionally performed by the singer, usually a woman, accompanied by a classical guitar and a Portuguese guitar. The most famous fado venues of Bairro Alto, such as Café Luso are often very busy and require reservation well in advance. In a number of smaller fado places, however, you will be able to enjoy a display of genuine Portuguese culture and cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere and at more affordable prices.
Fado restaurants abound also in other historic neighborhood of Lisbon, Alfama.
Alfama – the heart and soul of Old Lisbon
The oldest quarter of Lisbon, Alfama, spreads south from Castelo São Jorge (St. George’s Castle) to the banks of Tagus River.
Spared by the 1755 earthquake, this fascinating neighborhood looks much the same as in the times of Moor domination in Portugal.
Although there are not many examples of grandiose architecture in this rather poor (in the past and at present) areas of Lisbon, Alfama continues to attract tourists with its fascinating maze of narrow streets, somewhat worn-out facades of densely built townhouses, old bookstores and charming little cafés. Alfama makes not much effort however to please the visitors, living at its own pace and ignoring the mainstream tourist frenzy.
No visit to Lisbon will be complete without a stroll along the atmospheric alleys of Alfama all the way up to the castle, Castelo São Jorge, one of the best viewing points in the city. When visiting Alfama remember to wear comfortable shoes, as the steep, cobblestone streets are not the easiest to walk on.
See map of Alfama.
Lisbon sightseeing – tram 28
One of the undeniable tourist attractions of Lisbon is the old tramway system, preserved and still operational in the oldest parts of the city.
The over 100 years old, tiny tram carriages, appropriate for the narrow streets and sharp turns provide an unforgettable experience going up and down the hills at surprising speed. The most popular is the legendary 28 tram (eléctrico 28), will take you on a fascinating scenic tour from Baixa up towards Castelo São Jorge, including emblematic locations of Alfama, amongst them Miradouro de Santa Luzia viewpoint. In Alfama do not miss out on the best fado restaurants: Baiuca and Parreirinha de Alfama, amongst others.
Avenida da Liberdade and marques de Pombal – the most elegant part of Lisbon
The old quarters of Lisbon are connected to the newer city centre by a large boulevard, known as Avenida da Liberdade. Built in the style of the Paris Champs-Elysees, the avenue is lined with luxury hotels and exclusive brands stores, amongst them Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana and Luis Vuitton.
To the north, Avenida da Libedade ends at the large Marques de Pombal roundabout and a monument to the 18th century Portuguese statesman, responsible for the reconstruction of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. You can reach Marques de Pombal area on foot from Baixa (Downtown) as the distance is only a little bit over 1 mile.
Lisbon tourist attractions in Belém
While you can easily move on foot in the old city centre, transportation will be needed to get to Belem, a riverside area approx. 5 miles west of Lisbon Downtown.
In 15th and 16th centuries, Belem was where the Portuguese explorers set off from. Today, this area of Lisbon is one of the most densely packed with tourist attractions. The ‘must-sees’ of Belem are:
- The Belem Tower (Torre de Belem) – a fortified lighthouse to the old port of Lisbon
- The Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) – a modern and grandiose tribute to the role of Portuguese in the Discoveries
- The Jeronimos Monastery – an impressive example of the typical Portuguese Manueline style of architecture
- The Belem Culture Centre (CCB) - the museum and exibition centre containing an exquisite collection of contemporary art.
Last but not least, many tourist in Belem, apparently influenced by the tourist guide books seem very inclined to queue for sometimes long time, in order to try the traditional Portuguese custard pies, pasteis de nata, from a Belem pastry shop, which claims to hold the best recipe for this delicacy.
Lisbon Docas – a perfect place for a night out
On the way from Lisbon to Belem, in the area of the 25 April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril), the old docks warehouses hide a pleasant surprise: a large selection of restaurants, bars and clubs.
Known as Docas (docks), this area of the Alcantara neighborhood of Lisbon, is a perfect location for the afternoon and night out. The vibrant nightlife of Docas competes with the animation of Bairro Alto through a modern, airy design and great views over the river and the spectacular 25 April Bridge, especially pleasant on a warm summer night.
Expo area – the best of modern Lisbon
Lisbon sightseeing is not only about the past. In order to see the modern face of the Portuguese capital, visit the Expo area in the northwestern part of the city.
This residential and services zone of Lisbon was built entirely ‘from scratch’ for the Expo ’98 World Fair. The industrial (and very unattractive) grounds were completely transformed into a modern waterfront area featuring innovative, eye-catching architecture. Amongst the most interesting examples of Lisbon Expo architecture are:
- Vasco da Gama Bridge – the longest bridge in Europe with a total length of 17.2 km / 10.7 mi.
- Oriente Train Station – one of the world’s busiest transportation hub. The building of the station, designed by Santiago Calatrava is topped with a mesmerizing , gravity-defying structure.
- Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre
- Vasco da Gama Oceanario – the largest indoor aquarium in Europe, featuring rare species of maritime fauna, amongst them the sun fish. Find out more information about Lisbon Oceanario.
The leading theme of all the Expo area, also referred to as The Nation’s Park (Parque das Nações in Portuguese) is ocean and water elements are present in form of artificial water ways and fountains, not to mention the splendid views of the Tejo River.
Unlike the hilly old town of Lisbon, the flat Expo is a wonderful place to jog, cycle, skate or simply stroll, especially if you are on a family trip to Lisbon and have a pushchair with you. The youngest tourists in Lisbon will surely enjoy many of Expo’s play areas and installations for hands-on activities for children. Double the fun for the little ones and after a visit to Oceanarium take them to the Science Museum, Pavilhão do Conhecimento.
Visit Lisbon – city tours
If you don’t like to venture on your own in the labyrinth of old Lisbon, or, if the time you have for Lisbon sightseeing is limited, organized city tours are available from a number of private operators.
For example, you can opt for a hop-on, hop-off double decker bus tour along the most popular tourist sites of Lisbon, including Marques de Pombal area, Baixa and Belém. The tours, usually available in a variety of languages are a fun and inexpensive way of discovering Lisbon, in a company of fellow travelers. See an example of Lisbon city tour company.
For a more personalized (and more expensive) experience of Lisbon sightseeing, try local, independent tour operators, often offering tailor-made programs according to the customer’s needs and interests.
Visit Lisbon on board of an old Portuguese-made UMM jeep, guided by a Lisbon born and raised tourist guide - We Hate Tourism Tours.
Holiday in Lisbon – should I hire a car?
Sightseeing in Lisbon city centre does not require an own means of transportation. Most of the city’s landmarks can be reached by metro, bus, tramway or simply on foot.
View detailed map of Lisbon public transportation, including metro, busses, tramways and trains.
See map of Lisbon metro.
The somewhat chaotic and frequently heavy traffic in Lisbon city centre, as well as the scarcity of parking places is an argument against renting a car in Lisbon. Especially if you are a first time visitor to the Portuguese capital, you might find a hire car more of a hassle than a benefit.
However, if you are a returning visitor to Lisbon who had already ‘ticked off’ the most obvious monuments and sights and want to venture a little further from the city centre, a Lisbon hire car might be exactly what you need.
There is a wealth of fascinating places to visit in a short drive from Lisbon: unique historic monuments, vibrant tourist locations and excellent beaches.
Driving outside Lisbon is usually a stress-free experience, the roads are good and it will not take much of your time to get to the beaches of Lisbon coast, along the so-called Cascais line, or must-see historic locations as Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alcobaça, Obidos, Batalha or Tomar.
You can also, rather quickly and without much difficulty, drive from Lisbon to Troia, Caparica, Serra da Arrábida or Setúbal on the other side of the Tagus River.
Prices of Lisbon car hire – great off-season deals
If you are still in doubt whether to hire a car during your holiday in Portugal, take into consideration the cost of Lisbon car hire.
Generally, Lisbon car rental market is on the cheaper side, compared to the rest of Europe. This is most evident outside the tourist season when, with the surplus of car hire fleet, the prices of Lisbon rent-a-car services can drop to around £45-70 for a week.
The cheapest offers of Lisbon car hire, however, are usually available in the lower classes of rental vehicles. Bigger cars, especially minivans and minibuses with capacity for up to 7 or 9 people are not so easy to find at such competitive rates.
Given the great weather in Portugal, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunny days throughout the year, it is sometimes well worth to avoid the busiest (and the hottest) summer months and plan your holiday in Lisbon for autumn, spring or even winter.
See Lisbon weather chart.
Best Lisbon car rental deals – compare offers and book online
Regardless of the time of the year you choose to visit Portugal, it is always a good idea to compare prices from many providers before booking car hire in Lisbon. Internet search engines, such as Cartrawler, are a great tool to help you to spot the best car rental deals. In order to benefit from low rates on Lisbon car hire, it is also recommendable to book well in advance.
When searching for Lisbon car hire on Cartrawler, you will be able to choose offers from major rent-a-car companies, for instance Europcar, Hertz Car Hire Portugal, Budget, Avis Rent-A-Car or Goldcar, as well as from local providers: Guerin, Auto Jardim, MultiAuto, Drive4Less, Go Rent or CAEL Rent A Car.
Usually, car hire deals available at Lisbon Airport (Portela Airport) are slightly more competitive than car rental in Lisbon city centre.
