Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is the ideal starting point for exploring Portugal by car: Sintra, Cascais, the Alentejo, Porto and the Algarve are all within easy reach. Here's how to rent smartly and avoid common pitfalls.
International brands (Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Budget, Enterprise) and local operators (Guerin, Sadorent, Turiscar) have desks at Terminal 1 of Humberto Delgado Airport.
HelpVoyage compares offers on one screen: filter by unlimited mileage, excess, insurance type and customer rating. Online booking guarantees the vehicle and locks the price, especially in high season (June-August, Easter, May bank holidays).
- City car (Fiat 500, Renault Clio, VW Polo): €15-25/day outside high season, €25-40 in summer. - Compact (Peugeot 308, Seat Leon): €25-38/day. - SUV / crossover (Renault Captur, Nissan Qashqai): €35-60/day, recommended for the Algarve and inland roads. - Estate / MPV: €45-75/day for families.
Beware of €5/day offers: they often hide a high excess, limited mileage or mandatory insurance added on site.
In Portugal, third-party liability insurance is mandatory and included. The excess is often €800-1,500 and can be reduced or waived with comprehensive cover (€10-25/day extra).
Watch out for: - Inspect the car with the agent and photograph scratches. - Check fuel level and mileage at pick-up. - Lisbon's streets are narrow and hilly: a small city car is more practical than a large SUV. - Portuguese motorways (A1, A2, A6) are toll roads with electronic tolling: most rental companies offer a paid transponder. - City-centre parking is expensive: prefer hotels with parking or peripheral car parks.
Lisbon → Sintra: 30 km, 35 min. Pena Palace, Monserrate, Quinta da Regaleira.
Lisbon → Cascais and Estoril: 30 km via the coastal N6, 45 min. Beaches and villages.
Lisbon → Porto: 315 km via A1, 3h. Coimbra and Aveiro on the way.
Lisbon → Algarve (Lagos): 300 km via A2/A22, 2h45. Beaches and cliffs.
Lisbon → Évora and Alentejo: 130 km, 1h30. Medieval town, dolmens, vineyards.
About €15-40/day for a city car, €35-60/day for an SUV. Prices double in July-August.
A French licence is usually sufficient. A credit card is mandatory for the deposit.
A small city car for Lisbon and towns, an SUV for the Algarve, Alentejo and mountain roads.