We can all agree that Portugal is one of the most beautiful countries you can visit due to its picturesque and historic atmosphere. Some people decide to visit Portugal to enjoy the sophistication and historic landmarks of the two largest cities, Porto and Lisbon. On the other hand, you can visit amazing beaches such as Sintra, enjoy impressive waves in areas such as Peniche or Nazare. Of course, you can visit Alentejo, which is a rural area famous for winemaking.
Therefore, you should get a rental car, which will help you experience and explore as many areas as you wanted in the first place. The more you are in Portugal, the more you will see and check its impressive landmarks, hospitable people, sleepy villages, scenic road trips and home-made meals.
The main idea is to make your own adventure when reaching this country, which will offer you an amazing and one-time experience.
The best course of action is to pick up and drop off your rental car at the airport, or choose a rental closest to the airport, which will help you save money. Faro, Porto, and Lisbon airports are not only options you can find in the country, but they come with a wide array of options and car models you can choose. We recommend you to set aside at least three to five days per city, meaning you should spend that much in Porto and Lisbon, which are hospitable, interesting, and appealing cities in Europe. Check out this site: leiebilguiden.no/Portugal/faro/ to learn more about renting a car in Faro.
If you are into adventure, you can explore other areas that are not touristically popular. It means they are rarely explored by foreign tourists, which brings additional authenticity while enjoying and visiting inner cities. We are talking about the country’s interior such as the inland parts of Algarve and Alentejo region.
You should know that Portugal wildlife suffers occasionally from devastating wildfires, especially in southern areas of country. Therefore, we recommend you to check the latest forecast, especially if you wish to travel by car rental. Another important consideration is visiting Nazare, no matter whether you are a surfing enthusiast or not. This town comes with the most powerful waves in the Atlantic, which makes it appealing for tourists from all over the world. Of course, you should familiarize yourself with rental conditions including fuel and mileage policies beforehand.
Remember that Spain and Portugal are members of EU, meaning you can make cross-border trips. For instance, people visiting Porto can take a side trip to enjoy Galicia. At the same time, you can check out Andalusia after seeing the Algarve. Remember that some car rentals will allow you international one-way options, which comes with a higher price tag.
Compared with other countries in the Western Europe, you should remember that Portugal comes with cheapest car rental prices. For instance, in low season you can find a manual car for five euros per day, while automatic options are more expensive. Still, we recommend you to book your favorite car before flying, because that way the car rental company will have it ready for you to use it the moment you decide to land in any main town in Portugal.
You should remember that the tourist season in Lisbon lasts between April to October, which is the warmer half of the year. The number of tourists reaches peak from June to September. Of course, summers can be very hot, but everything depends on your location, meaning it is hotter next to the Atlantic coast than the inland areas.
Lisbon is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, meaning it is appealing to visit it off- season when the number of tourists is smaller. You should remember that Portugal features mildest winters in Europe, with rain during November and December. The average temperature is twenty-two degrees in May, while in November it is eighteen degrees.
Compared with Lisbon, you should know that Porto’s weather is comparable, since the city is three hundred kilometers north. However, the winter temperatures can be lower. Porto has two times more rain than Lisbon, while the precipitation is at highest between October and April.
The best moments to visit Porto is in late spring to late September, where the average high temperature is between twenty and thirty degrees during hot summer days. However, the southern regions are known for year-round amazing weather. We recommend you check here to learn more about renting a car.
We are talking about the Algarve region. People come from all over the globe between April and October, while July and August are busiest months, since the ocean is the warmest and people are taking vacation from other parts of Portugal.
Remember that the Algarve features the rainy season in December and January, but winters are mild and travelers from across Europe can compare the winters with their summers. You can surf in Portugal in any time of the year, while most people consider ocean to be too cold between October and February.
Therefore, if you decided to visit during winter months, the Algarve is the best area for enjoyment. However, during summer, you can choose a wide array of areas, meaning the northern areas are also perfect for surfing and enjoyment. As mentioned above, you should know that Nazare comes with global record as the place where the largest waves arrive, especially during the winter months. Even if you are into watching the amazing nature without surfing and getting wet, you should visit Nazare all year
round.
The most sensible thing you can do is to pick up a rental car next to an airport. Of course, you should visit the main towns that come with relevant airports and car rental agencies next to them. You should conduct comprehensive research before embarking, because you can find wide array of different agencies available on the market.
The most popular areas are Porto Airport, which is in the northern parts of the country. Lisbon airport is the capital, meaning you will get numerous options available the moment you set foot outside of an airplane. Faro Airport is on the south, perfect for people who wish to explore the beach areas.
Lisbon airport is the largest, meaning you can visit it from numerous destinations across the globe including Americas, Asia, Africa, and the rest of Europe. Of course, you can find numerous low-cost airlines that function in all main airports in Portugal. Apart from airports, you can pick up a rental car in other locations, such as international hotels and train stations. Some rental providers will offer you meet-and-greet service, meaning you can pick up and drop off a rental car at numerous locations in different Portuguese towns and cities that do not have airports, such as Setubal, Albufeira, Aveiro, and Coimbra, among others.
You can find numerous providers in Portugal that will offer you one-way rentals, which is highly appealing for tourists that wish to travel long distances. That way, you can explore an entire country without returning a car where you picked it up. Therefore, you can travel from Porto to Lisbon and leave the car in Lisbon afterward.
Of course, you must pay an additional fee for the ability to get a one-way rental. At the same time, you can talk about international driving options, because people tend to travel from Portugal to Spain and leave car there. As a result, you should talk with the car rental company, which will directly affect your situation and determine whether you should do it or not.
Portugal is a country of the friendliest, accessible, and beautiful people, meaning it is safe to explore it without thinking about potential problems that may happen. Numerous travelers state that it is one of the best destinations in Europe, way ahead of countries such as Italy and France, since the country comes with relaxed pace of life and a pleasant atmosphere. You should know that the road networks in Portugal are in decent shape, meaning traveling is simplified. Highways are in perfect condition, while secondary roads are also decent and enjoyable.
You should still get a GPS for your vehicle, which will help you find the paths in rural areas, allowing you to visit historic towns and cities that are known for complicated and narrow roads.
As mentioned above, Portugal is one of the safest countries to travel by yourself or family members. The crime rate is low, and police is trustworthy, while the emergency number is similar as all other EU countries or 112.
They have a laidback and relaxed driving culture, meaning you should not worry about potential issues. Of course, be ready to notice a few reckless drivers, but that happens everywhere, meaning you should be focused while driving.
You can find numerous mountain ranges in Portugal where you will find narrow and steep roads, meaning you should be extra careful. Still, Portuguese mountains are not as high as in other countries including Spain, meaning you can handle them properly. The highest elevation is in interior areas, which is far from touristic landmarks and attractions.
The main problem that can happen in Portugal, especially in the last decade are forest fires that are becoming serious issues in southern and inland parts of the country. In most cases, they start at eucalyptus plantations that are prone to wildfire during the hottest months. These fires are affecting entire villages and farmlands, meaning they can spread fast. You should check out weather conditions and reports for the next few weeks of your stay, while planning everything to determine whether you are entering risky areas or not.
