City guide article

Car for hire

In order to rent a car in Portugal the conditions are that you are 21 years of age and have held your license for minimum of one year; drivers under the age of 25 may incur a surcharge fee and seatbelts are compulsory. The cheapest rates are usually found with the large, multinational companies:

City guideTransportation

Overview

Europecar Website: www.europcar.pt Tel: +219 407 790

Hertz Website: www.hertz.com Tel: +219 426 300

Local rental agencies are found in all major towns, cities and at the airports of Lisbon, Porto and Faro. Local rates start at €30-50 a day with unlimited theft cover and collision damage waivers. Collision insurance is critical if you chose to rent a car as you’ll be liable for any costs should the car be damaged in any way – even minor scratches. Ensure that you look the car over and that any visible marks you see are duly noted on the rental sheet before you sign. Alternatively you can avoid all excess charges in the event of the car being damage, by taking out an annual insurance policy with www.Insurance4carhire.com; this policy will also cover windscreen and tyre damage.

Local Rental Agencies:

Autojardim Tel: +213 549 182 Website: www.auto-jardim.com

Holidays Car Tel: +217 150 610 Website: www.holidayscar.com

More from Transportation

Transportation

Buses

Transportation

Metro

The Metro here is Lisbon is constantly expanding, useful for short rides and to reach Parque das Nacoes. The metro operates between 6:30am to 1am the next morning with tickets and prices based on where you want to go within the two major zones: Crown L and Crown 1. The tickets are broken up like so: one-zone single (in either the Crown L or Crown 1 zones) €0.85 and two-zone (both) €1.15. You can buy tickets from metro ticket offices or at their machines. However there is also the option of the Urban Metro pass which offers an unlimited number of trips within the Crown L zone for 30 days, this pass costs €18.70. There is also the Network Metro Pass which, for €25.55, offers unlimited trips on the entire metro network for 30 days. The Lisboa Card (see ‘Buses’) can also be used on the metro as well as the Bilhete Carris/metro card. To find a metro station look for a big red ‘M’ sign; other signs are corrospondencia (transfer between lines) and saida (exit to the street). Children under the age of four travel free but must be accompanied by an adult.

Read full article

Transportation

Taxi

The taxis are usually beige in colour and have the word TAXI written on the top of the cab. You’ll find most of them in Rossio, Praca dos Restauradores, metro stations and ferry terminals and near the expensive hotels. Fares start from usually €2.50 and there is an additional 20% for trips made between 9pm and 6am. There is also an extra charge for luggage (see ‘From the airport’). Rip-offs occasionally occur; if you believe you have been cheated, obtain a receipt and note the registration number of the cab then talk to the tourist police.

Read full article

Transportation

From the airport

Aeroporto de Lisboa is situated 6km outside of Lisbon; there is a 24hr exchange bureau, car rental agencies and a tourist office (operating daily 7am-midnight, 218 450 660). The Aerobus (number 91) operates the Arrivals lounge, departing around every 20 minutes from 7:45am to 8:15pm. The journey into the city takes a maximum of 35 minutes and makes five stops at different metro stations: Praca Marques de Pombal, Praca dos Restauradores, Rossio, Praca do Comercio and Cais do Sodre. Tickets are €3.40 and offer free passage on the entire city bus service for the remainder of the day.

Read full article