A Week in Lisbon by Car: Balancing City Days and Outings

How to split seven days between Lisbon's neighbourhoods and the coast or hills, with realistic driving times, parking tips and where to stay.

Days 1–3: Lisbon without the car

Pick up your rental at Lisbon Airport and drive straight to your hotel, but plan to leave the car parked for the first three days. Central Lisbon is compact and steep; driving between Alfama, Baixa and Chiado means one-way streets, tram-only lanes and parking that can cost €15–25 for a few hours in a garage. Instead, buy a rechargeable Viva Viagem card at any metro station and use the Metro (green line to Baixa-Chiado, blue to Restauradores) plus trams 12 and 28. Stay in Príncipe Real or Avenidas Novas if your hotel includes parking; both are quieter and within a 15-minute walk of the main sights.

A sensible city rhythm: morning in Alfama and Graça for the miradouros at Senhora do Monte and Portas do Sol, afternoon in Belém for the Jerónimos Monastery and the riverfront, and a evening in Cais do Sodré or Bairro Alto. Book Belém's monastery online a day ahead to avoid the queue. Skip driving to Sintra on a weekend; the IC19 backs up badly. If you want a half-day outing, take the train from Rossio to Queluz-Belas (20 minutes) and visit the palace gardens, then return before the evening rush.

Day 4: Cascais and the Estoril coast

Drive out on the A5 to Cascais (about 30–40 minutes from central Lisbon outside rush hour; allow an hour if you leave after 9am). Park at the Cascais Marina underground garage (roughly €1.50 per hour) rather than circling the old town. Walk the seafront to the Boca do Inferno, then follow the coastal road west to Guincho for the beach and the view back to the Sintra hills. In summer, Guincho is windy and popular with surfers; the water is cold, so most visitors walk rather than swim.

For lunch, avoid the obvious seafront tourist menus and drive 10 minutes inland to Estoril, where the back streets behind the casino have simpler tascas. Return to Lisbon via the marginal road (N6) if you have time; it hugs the river through Oeiras and Algés and takes about 45 minutes without traffic. Book a hotel in Lisbon with secure parking for this night too, because driving back into the city after dark is easier than finding a last-minute room in Cascais in high season.

Day 5: Sintra and Mafra

Sintra deserves a full day, but go early. Leave Lisbon by 8am and take the A16 or IC19; the Pena Palace car park fills by 10:30. Park at the Sintra train station garage (around €5 per day) and take the 434 bus up to Pena and the Moorish Castle, or drive to the Moorish Castle car park first and walk down. The Quinta da Regaleira is a 15-minute walk from the historic centre and less crowded in the late afternoon. Skip the Sintra tram in summer; it is slow and often full.

On the way back, detour 20 minutes north to Mafra for the vast palace-library; it closes at 5:30pm and is far quieter than Sintra. Return to Lisbon via the A21 and A8 (about 45 minutes). If you are staying near Entrecampos or Saldanha, you will avoid the worst of the city-centre traffic on arrival. One tip: keep a €5 note for the often-unmanned car parks at smaller monuments.

Days 6–7: Setúbal and the Arrábida hills

Drive south over the 25 de Abril bridge on the A2 to Setúbal (about 45 minutes). The Livramento market is best on a Saturday morning; nearby, the Forte de São Filipe gives you a view over the Sado estuary. From there, the N10-4 climbs into the Arrábida Natural Park, where the road to Portinho da Arrábida is narrow and often one-way in summer. Park at the entrance and walk down to the beach; the water here is clearer and warmer than at Guincho.

For the final day, keep it simple. Return the car at Lisbon Airport and use the Metro (red line to Saldanha or Alameda) for any last shopping. If you have a late flight, store luggage at the airport or at a hotel in Avenidas Novas. Avoid the temptation to add a second out-of-town stop on departure day; the Vasco da Gama bridge can add 30 minutes in the evening peak. Book your Lisbon hotel for the whole week rather than splitting stays—the daily outings are all within an hour's drive.

Questions, answered

Is it worth hiring a car for a week in Lisbon?

Only if you plan at least three out-of-city days. For a city-only visit, parking and traffic make a car a liability. A week split 3 city days and 3 outings is the practical balance.

Where should I stay in Lisbon if I have a car?

Choose a hotel in Príncipe Real, Avenidas Novas or near Entrecampos, where garages are common and main roads are close. Avoid Alfama and Bairro Alto unless your hotel has confirmed parking.

What is the best month for driving around Lisbon?

May, June and September offer mild weather and lighter traffic than July–August. Avoid the last week of August, when Portuguese families return from holiday and the A5 and A2 are busy.

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