Lisbon is a picturesque city spanning seven hillsides overlooking the glittering Rio Tejo and the 25 de Abril, a bridge often likened to San Francisco’s famous Golden Gate. A maze of winding cobbled streets criss-crosses the city running alongside clunky vintage trams and passing balcony-like terraces which overlook a rolling wave of pretty terracotta rooftops. There’s little you can’t do in the city – follow the local crowds on a hedonistic night in Barrio Alto, dine on fresh catches of the day in waterfront restaurants and delve into one of the continent’s most history-rich spots. However, you shouldn’t discount the nearby coastal town of Cascais or fairy tale-like Sintra best reached using your Lisbon car rental.

Dining in Lisbon

If you’ve nabbed your own Lisbon car hire, you can skip the city’s central tourist restaurants and make a beeline for one of the local favourites. Start the day by driving out to Belem to try the famous pasteis de belem, an historic café which has been baking the city’s famed custard tarts for more than 150 years. While you’re in the neighbourhood, park your Lisbon car rental up along one of the historic winding streets and dive in for a spot of lunch Enoteca de Belém where you can gorge on classics like cod bacalhau, grilled octopus and Iberian pork. Your foodie adventure doesn’t have to stop there. You can top off the day with a visit to Cervejaria Ramiro. Nothing says Lisbon like plates of Portuguese clams, grilled prawns and locally caught crab finished with a prego, a garlicy steak sandwich.

Attractions in Lisbon

History buffs and culture vultures are well catered for. However, the sprawling city and distance between the attractions mean those with a Lisbon car hire are at an advantage. Start with an amble around the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos before making a dash for the 15^th-century Manueline Monastery or the Castelo São Jorge which tops a steep hilltop in the Alfama neighbourhood.If you want to simply park up your Lisbon car hire at your hotel, you can hop aboard one of the vintage No. 28 trams which clunkily heave up and around the steep, cobbled streets. Then there’s the museums and galleries. Art lovers shouldn’t skip the Museu Gulbenkian which houses an impressive collection of work, while those looking for something quirkier could try the unique Museu Nacional dos Coches where there are more than 100 royal centuries-old coaches.

Lisbon driving routes

Why stick to the city when a Lisbon car rental gives you the opportunity to whisk yourself to some of the lesser known spots nearby. First-timers to Portugal shouldn’t miss a day trip down to Sintra, one of the country’s most celebrated towns. Along the way, you’ll pass winding coastal and mountain roads. Stop en route be a beach bum for the morning in Cascais. Alternatively, add a little more time to your Portuguese adventure and take the old road which hugs the beautiful coastline down to the sunny Algarve.

Lisbon car rental

Picking up a car rental couldn’t be easier at Lisbon Portela Airport. There is a great selection of cars to choose from and you can get from the airport into the city in under 30 minutes. Parking in the city can often be tricky, so it’s best to pick a hotel with free spots where you can leave your Lisbon car rental overnight. The narrow streets and lack of signage mean your best bet is nabbing a GPS, particularly good if you also plan to explore outside the boundaries of the city. Lisbon has a packed schedule of events and festivities across the year and if you plan to visit during Easter or the festive season, be sure to score your car rental as far in advance as possible.