Car rental at Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Compare car hire at Lisbon Airport for Sintra, Cascais, the Alentejo and the Silver Coast.

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Renting a car at LIS

Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport lies within the city's northern limits, a short drive from the centre and close to the motorways heading north to Porto, west to Cascais and Sintra, and south across the Tagus to the Alentejo and the Algarve. A rental car is the easiest way to explore beyond the capital: the palaces of Sintra, the beaches of Costa da Caparica and Comporta, Évora's Roman temple, and the Silver Coast towns of Óbidos and Nazaré.

Inside Lisbon, though, a car is a burden. The centre is hilly, many streets are narrow or shared with trams, and parking is limited. Most visitors explore the city by metro, tram and on foot, then collect a car for the rest of the trip, either on arrival or by returning to the airport after a few days. Portuguese motorways are excellent but many are tolled, so check how each rental handles tolls when you compare offers.

Where to pick up your car

LISLisbon Airport

Car rental desks at Lisbon Airport are in Terminal 1, in the arrivals area after baggage reclaim, with cars in the rental car park beside the terminal, a short walk from the desks. Terminal 2 handles departures only, so every arriving passenger comes through Terminal 1. Some budget and local companies are off-airport and run shuttles from signed stops outside arrivals; your voucher gives the meeting point. On your return, if your flight leaves from Terminal 2, drop the car at Terminal 1 as instructed and take the free shuttle bus between the terminals, allowing extra time for the transfer and the Terminal 2 security queue.

Driving around Lisbon: what to know

  • Many Portuguese motorways are tolled. Most have booths that take cards, with green 'V' lanes reserved for Via Verde devices, while some use electronic gantries only. Rental cars often come with a toll device for a daily fee plus the tolls used; ask how it works before you drive off.
  • On the 25 de Abril and Vasco da Gama bridges across the Tagus, the toll is charged only in the direction heading into Lisbon, so you pay on the way back from the south bank, not on the way out.
  • Lisbon's trams have priority, and parking on or blocking tram lines can get a car towed quickly. Street parking is paid in most central areas, and parts of the historic centre restrict older vehicles, a standard modern rental cars meet.
  • Sintra's historic centre and the roads up to the palaces are narrow, winding and congested, with very little parking and some access restrictions. Many visitors park on the edge of town, or take the train from Lisbon and use local buses up the hill.

Tips to avoid extra charges

  • Carry your licence, passport and rental agreement whenever you drive, as Portuguese police can ask to see all three at roadside checks.
  • A credit card in the main driver's name is usually needed for the deposit. The hold is lower if you take the company's own excess cover, so decide in advance rather than under pressure at the desk.
  • Choose full-to-full fuel and leave time to refuel before returning, as traffic on the Segunda Circular ring road beside the airport can be slow at rush hour.
  • Automatics are a minority in Portuguese rental fleets and sell out first in summer, so book early if you need one, along with child seats and larger family cars.

Lisbon Airport on the map

Open in OpenStreetMap · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Car rental at Lisbon Airport: questions and answers

Where are the car rental desks at Lisbon Airport?

In Terminal 1's arrivals area, which every arriving passenger passes through, as Terminal 2 handles departures only. Cars are in the rental car park beside the terminal, a short walk from the desks. Off-airport companies meet customers at signed shuttle stops outside arrivals, as shown on your voucher.

Do I need a toll device for a Lisbon rental car?

It's strongly recommended if you'll use motorways. Some Portuguese motorways have electronic-only toll gantries with no booths, and paying those later without a device is fiddly. Rental companies usually offer a device for a daily fee plus the tolls you use, which are charged to your card after the rental.

Is it a good idea to drive in central Lisbon?

Generally not. Steep hills, narrow streets, trams, one-way systems and scarce parking make it stressful, and public transport is good. If your hotel is central, collect the car when you're leaving the city, or park it in a hotel or public car park and leave it there until you need it.

How long does it take to drive from Lisbon Airport to Sintra or the Algarve?

Sintra is roughly 30 to 40 minutes away by motorway outside rush hour, and Cascais takes a similar time. The Algarve is about two and a half to three hours south on the A2, crossing the Tagus on the 25 de Abril or Vasco da Gama bridge. The A2 is tolled.

Can I drive a Lisbon rental car into Spain?

Usually, with permission. Most companies require you to declare it at booking and charge a cross-border fee that extends the insurance. Badajoz, just over the border, is roughly two and a half hours away. One-way rentals ending in Spain cost considerably more than returning the car to Portugal.

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Before you pick up: the airport car rental checklist

Deposits, excess, fuel policy and the photos to take before you drive off.

Read the checklist