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Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is also the largest city in Portugal. NUTS Lisbon region and district of Lisbon too are part of it. Lisbon’s municipality area is 33 square miles. Greater Lisbon or Grande Lisboa sub-region is the second important economic and financial hub of the Iberian Peninsula.

Lisbon has a mild Mediterranean climate influenced by Gulf Stream. It is warm during all the months of the year. Summer’s day temperatures range from 26 to 29 degrees C. The night temperatures are 16 to 18 degrees C. Winter temperatures are within 8 to 15 degrees C. Fall and spring seasons too are mild. It rains during October – April.

You can find buildings portraying various styles of architecture- Traditional Portuguese, Romanesque, Manueline, Gothic, Baroque, Post-Modern and Modern. Its upper districts have some outstanding monuments and boulevards. Examples of these are Liberty Avenue (Avenida da Liberdade), Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, Republic Avenue (Avenida da República) and Avenida Almirante Reis. Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, its opera house is quite active primarily during winter and autumn.

Belem tower guards Lisbon harbour’s entrance and was constructed during 1515. It is the country’s symbol and has been listed by UNESCO as a monument - World Heritage. It is built in Manueline style and has motifs of sculptures, Discoveries and denotes historical persona like St. Vincent. Its architect - Francisco de Arruda designed some Portuguese fortifications at Morocco and so it has Moorish influences.

Sintra, a municipality and town is situated in the sub-region of Grande Lisboa (Lisbon Region). You can use rental cars for reaching it since it is easy and convenient to book and use rental vehicles. It is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO because of its Romantic architecture of the 19th century. Cacém and Queluz cities are part of Sintra. It is visited by tourists from Lisbon since it has 19th century’s Pena Palace, Sintra Cascais Natural Park, Castelo dos Mouros and 15th-16th century’s Palácio Nacional de Sintra which was the home of Portugal kings during summer. Tourists also throng Sintra Mountain Range (Serra De Sintra) which is one of Lisbon’s biggest parks.

Mafra, Lisbon’s town and municipality is situated in Greater Lisbon region (district of Lisbon) at the west coast. Tourist surfers throng Ericeira since it is a sea side town. Mafra also has the famous Mafra National Palace (“Palácio de Mafra”). Its architectural style is baroque. This palace inspired José Saramago, a Nobel Prize laureate to write the novel “Baltasar and Blimunda”. Another interesting site surrounding it is a game reserve and a wildlife area - Tapada Nacional de Mafra. Australia’s Maffra town was named after Mafra.

To rent-a-car in Lisbon, please note that your age should be minimum 21 years and this restriction depends on the car you choose. Not only that, your license should be at least a year old. For good car hire deals in Lisbon, use popular websites like Spain Travel Car which offer car hire in Lisbon at the lowest prices.  

Lisbon on the Atlantic coast is the biggest port and the capital of Portugal. It is a charming city with a variety of architectural pieces of art, ranging from the medieval fortress “Castelo de São Jorge” towering above the city, to the modern “25 de Abril” Bridge across the river Tagus, which is similar to the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The Santa Justa Lift (Elevador) was designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel and connects the downtown streets with the uphill Carmo Square. From the top you can enjoy great views of Lisbon Castle, the Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. Other places to visit are the Tower of Belem and the monastery “Mosteiro dos Jerónimos“, with the tombs of the kings and the famous seafarer Vasco da Gama. The Tile Museum „Museu Nacional do Azulejo“ has an extensive exhibition of the typical Portuguese art of tile painting. With a cheap hire car you can visit the small town Fatima (130 km north of Lisbon). It is famous for the religious visions that took place in 1917 and the Basilica, built to commemorate the Marian apparitions. The town now is a famous pilgrimage destination. 25 km west of Lisbon on the Atlantic coast are the famous resorts Estoril and Cascais. Book your rental car at Lisbon airport or in other locations in Portugal online to obtain the best rental price.

Portugal is a relatively small country with a rich culture and proud heritage. Tourists visiting Portugal are usually drawn by the mild climate and beautiful sandy beaches of the country. Portugal is regarded as one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Europe by many of our clients booking Portugal car hire.The coastline of Portugal stretches some 800km and all along it are some stunning villages and historical cities like Lisbon or Porto. The country borders with Spain to the north and the east and to the south and west lies the Atlantic Ocean.

The Archipelago of Madeira forms also part of Portugal. These island group is found 1000 kilometres southwest of Lisbon in the Atlantic Ocean. The airport on Madeira in the town of Santa Cruz on the east side is just an hour flight from Lisbon and also serves the other island of Porto Santo with smaller planes. This archipelago is really something special to enjoy.

To the south of Portugal we find the popular Algarve. The Algarve coastline stretches 161km and has some of the finest beaches of Portugal. The region is popular with people taking a family holiday to Portugal and visitors who come to this area on golfing holidays. The Algarve has some of the finest golf courses in Europe and caters for golf players of all budgets and handicaps. Faro international airport is the natural gateway to this part of the country. At the airport we find all kind of tourist services, amongst them travel agencies, bars, restaurants, banks or car hire.

One of the most well know tourist resorts on the Algarve is Albufeira. It is a mere three-hour flight to Faro airport from most major European capitals with flights to the main airport in Faro. Albufeira boasts almost all-year sun, has great beaches and low prices, which are the main reasons why so many European visitors make the journey every year.

There is an extensive network of major routes that connect the Algarve to the rest of Portugal and the nation’s main cities. That is why renting a car when you arrive at Faro airport is certainly recommendable if you would like to discover the country on your own. Faro car hire is a useful way to travel around the Algarve. There are many interesting routes in the area that offer some truly amazing views. Remember that driving a rental car in the centre of large towns and popular resorts is best avoided if possible, because many of the streets are narrow and other vehicles parked alongside the street can make it difficult to pass with your rent a car. Bear in mind that in Portugal it is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear seat belts. There may be heavy fines in case you do not comply with this rule. Children under 12 years old are not allowed to travel in the front seat of the rental car.

Towards the centre of the country we find the capital, Lisbon. Lisbon sits on a hilly terrain beside one of the most magnificent harbours in Europe. The area also has excellent beaches. Lisbon is internationally recognized as one of Western Europe’s most unspoiled cities. Many tourists also succumb to the temptation of visiting the delightful Sinatra and Cascais which are both easily accessible from Lisbon.

While travelling by car around Portugal, the discerning tourist cannot fail to be impressed by the numerous small villages. Many of these villages offer stunning geographical locations, one more reason to consider to rent a car in Portugal and discover the country at your own pace.