We will be arriving in Lisbon from Washington DC on Wednesday November 21st and leaving on Sunday the 25th to drive to the Algarve to visit relatives (I am Portuguese)for a week then returning to Lisbon on 12/2 for one night and flying home on 12/3.

I have been reading this site extensively and the debate about renting a car in Lisbon and need some advice. We will likely be staying at the Pestana Palace during our first 4 nights in Lisbon and like the flexibility of having a car to drive to the coast to visit, Sintra, Obidos, Estoril etc. and the hotel provides parking. We want to spend time touring Lisbon and are hoping to have the opportunity to meet Lobo and the LDC.

We are thinking of renting a car at the airport to use during our Lisbon stay and then drive to the Algarve. While in Almancil, we thought we could drive to Evora from there - also considering driving to Seville- is that doable? Thanks in advance for all your thoughts - I travelled to Portugal many years ago with my mother and am anxious to return with my DH and close friends to have them experience my wonderful Portuguese heritage!

Do not rent the car to get around Lisbon. Driving there is not easy (and often crazy) and you'll be driving around for a while before finding parking space. Use public transporation which is good. Pestana Palace is an excellent hotel!!
For more Lisbon (and Portugal) travel info, see www.golisbon.com

Have a great trip!

Use the Metro in Lisbon. It's cheap and easy to use...

My advice is to not drive while in Lisbon. For our trip last year, we picked up our rental car at the airport after we were finished touring Lisbon and on our way to the Algarve. While we were staying in Lisbon, we used the train to take a day trip to Sintra and it was super easy. Perhaps you can do the same - use public transportation for day trips out of Lisbon, then pick up the rental and go to the Algarve.

I also have a trip report (offers more details) and photos entitled "Portugal Trip Report" found under my screen name

We usually rent a car to go everywhere on our trips in Europe except when we're in larger cities. They all have superb trams, subways, buses, etc. to get around. Lisbon is no exception. The train takes you to Belem too, which is excellent!

If you want to go to lots of outlying areas, I'd take a tram to a car rental location and head out from there.

Another vote for public transportation in Lisbon. Not only is Lisbon's subway system the cleanest and most efficient one I ever used, but the other compenents of Lisbon's public transit system, specifically the trams and the elevadors, are historically significant "sites" in and of themselves.

And don't hesitate to use taxis if you need them, they are also very cheap. A trip from near the Gulbenkian museum (a must-see !) to Belem which is almost crossing the entire city...costed me 7 euros last year.

Thanks for all your advice. I think we will wait until we are leaving Lisbon to rent the car although there are 4 of us travelling together who will have to go back to the airport with luggage to pick up the car??

How long is the drive to Faro? And has anyone travelled from the Algarve to Selville by car?

3 hours, non-stop

I am in Lisbon currently...the Metro is extrememly easy to use as there are only four lines. I took the train (not the Metro) to Sintra then caught a bus to Cabo Da Roca and on to Cascais and then caught another train back to Lisbon. Very simple and completed this side trip in one day.

welcome in town

anyone looking for information on the central portugal region north of Lisbon take a look at
www.gekkoportugal.com

I agree with everyone who recommends leaving the car rental until you're ready to leave Lisbon. I think the easiest way to orchestrate the rental is to pick up the car at a location near your hotel, and then drop it off at the airport. We have done this several times with a rental from carjet, and there is no extra charge and no extra hassle.

EmilyMarie, what sort of weather do you expect in Lisbon/Algarve in late November? I am planning to take that week off and want to go somewhere I haven't visited before. I realize it's not the optimal time to go, but if it's just a little chilly yet sunny I might be interested in spending my vacation time there... thank you.

The last 2 years we have had a lot of rain in november.

In looking at historical tempuratures, I'm expecting a lttle on the cool side maybe in the 60s but we never let weather get in the way - we're so excited about our trip and we're pretty efficent packers ready for any climate.

Another question? We are now thinking of taking the train from Lisbon to Faro for our week-long stay in the Algarve instead of driving - although I've been told the drive down the coast is lovely. Is there a car rental at the Faro train station or will we need to go to the airport to pick up a car. We'll be returning to Lisbon for one night for our flight home. Thanks for your advice.

In any trip to Lisboa, make SURE you make a stop at their Port Wine Institute-to sample a few of Portugal's finest-it's a lovely experience, and a real highlight of my trip -you enter what looks like a private club, with leather armchairs, a fireplace, a stone wall, and wood beams, and you are handed a thick book of port wines, and so you choose what you want, tawny, light, they have them all, the rarest to the least expensive-and you can sample a few, or as many as you want-or, if you want a full glass of one, you can get that too. They serve appetizers as well. Here's a link to pictures of the Institute-a very fine place to go indeed, highly recommended:

http://www.toursforyou.pt/Eng/Portug...vinhoporto.htm

I also need some Lisbon trip advice. My husband and I will be visiting Lisbon in November using Sheraton points for our hotel room. If anyone has information on which hotel would be the best location for seeing the city- please let me know. The Sheraton Lisbon Hotel & Spa Rua Latino Coelho, or the Le Méridien Park Atlantic Lisboa at Castilho 149? Also, has anyone stayed at the Convento do Espinheiro Evora, 7000? We try to use hotel points whenever possible. Thanks!

to chime in; certainly all can be done via taxis; buses and metro/trams. we are staying at the pestana and in fact have been walking for the majority of the visit; using the 15 tram otherwise; this is only about 3 blocks from pestana near the museo du carris (tram/trolley museum). Everything is easily accessed; I will be venturing out on the train tomorrow; will report back on that. apparently even this is a great way to see the coast and sintra etc.

enjoy your time here...