Car rentals at Lisbon Airport

How to Find Your Car Hire Desk at Lisbon Airport (LIS)

• In-Terminal Desks — Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall: Lisbon Airport, officially named Humberto Delgado Airport, operates two terminals. Terminal 1 is the main international terminal and is where all car hire desks are located. After collecting your bags and clearing customs, exit into the Arrivals Hall, turn right, and follow the clearly posted signs for "Aluguer de Viaturas / Car Rental". All major international and local supplier desks are grouped together in this dedicated zone on the left side of the terminal complex. Have your booking confirmation, driving licence, and credit card ready before you reach the desk to keep the process as quick as possible. Once your paperwork is complete, your vehicle will be waiting in the adjacent multi-storey car park — either P1 or P2 — reachable by a short sheltered walk from the terminal. No shuttle is required for in-terminal suppliers.
• Arriving at Terminal 2 — Important: Terminal 2 at Lisbon Airport is a smaller facility used exclusively by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet. There are no car hire desks in Terminal 2. If your flight arrives at Terminal 2, you must transfer to Terminal 1 to collect your hire car. A free airport shuttle bus runs regularly between the two terminals and the journey takes just a few minutes. Follow the signs for the inter-terminal transfer as soon as you exit the T2 Arrivals area and make your way to T1 before heading to the car hire zone.
• Shuttle to Off-Airport Suppliers: A number of car hire companies at Lisbon Airport operate from off-airport branches located a short distance from the terminal. For these suppliers, after your flight lands and you have collected your bags, make your way to the designated shuttle pick-up point: exit the Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall, turn right, and use Exit 4 next to the Vodafone store. Cross the first zebra crossing and wait at the designated shuttle collection point. Shuttle frequency varies by supplier — some run every 10 to 15 minutes, others on request. Full pick-up instructions will be included in your booking confirmation voucher, so always read this carefully before you travel.

Pick-Up, Drop-Off, and Refuelling at Lisbon Airport

• Out-of-Hours Returns: Most car hire suppliers at Lisbon Airport accommodate out-of-hours returns through a secure key drop box, making early morning or late-night departures straightforward. For in-terminal suppliers, follow the signs for the car hire drop-off area on the lower level of the car park — P1 or P2 — and deposit your keys in the designated drop box at your supplier's bay. For off-airport shuttle-based suppliers, return your vehicle to the off-site branch and use their after-hours drop box. Always confirm the exact out-of-hours procedure with your desk agent when you first collect the vehicle, and allow sufficient time before your flight check-in to complete the return process, particularly if using an off-airport location that requires a shuttle back to the terminal.
• Nearest Petrol Station: The most convenient place to refuel before your car hire return is the BP station located on Avenida de Berlim, just 4 minutes from the terminal — approximately 1.2 kilometres from the airport entrance. It operates 24 hours a day, making it a reliable option regardless of your departure time. For hire cars being returned to off-airport suppliers on the Prior Velho side, there is a further BP station on Avenida Severiano Falcão, which is more conveniently located depending on your approach route. Search for either station in any maps app before your return journey to ensure you top up in time.

Toll Roads — Important Information for Lisbon Airport Car Hire

Lisbon Airport sits in direct proximity to Portugal's main motorway network, and drivers should be aware that several major roads in and around the capital are subject to tolls. The A1 motorway — which connects Lisbon to Porto and passes just east of the airport — is a toll road, as is the A2 heading south towards the Algarve and the A12 crossing the Tagus via the Vasco da Gama Bridge. Most hire cars at Lisbon Airport are fitted with a Via Verde electronic transponder, which handles toll payments automatically and charges them to your credit card, often with a daily or per-journey administration fee added by the supplier. If your vehicle does not have a Via Verde transponder, toll payments must be made online — always ask your desk agent at pick-up exactly how your vehicle handles tolls and what charges apply before driving off. Note that the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge also carries a toll for traffic heading northbound into the city.

Top Car Hire Agencies at Lisbon Airport (LIS)

As Portugal's busiest and largest international airport, Lisbon Airport is served by one of the most comprehensive selections of car hire suppliers in the country. Suppliers with desks directly in the Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Goldcar, Guerin, Enterprise, Alamo, National, Dollar, Thrifty, and Firefly. A wide range of additional local and Portuguese suppliers — including Drive4Move, International Car, Cael, Bravacar, Sadorent, Green Motion, Drivalia, Record Go, and others — operate from off-airport locations served by complimentary shuttle buses from Exit 4 of the Arrivals Hall. Use eCarBookers to compare live rates across all in-terminal and off-airport suppliers in a single search and find the best car hire deal for your trip to Lisbon and beyond.

Getting from Lisbon Airport to Lisbon City Centre

Lisbon Airport is located just 7 kilometres north of the city centre, making it one of the most centrally positioned major airports in Europe. Once you leave the car hire pick-up area, the most direct route into the city is via Avenida Almirante Gago Coutinho heading south, which leads straight into the heart of Lisbon in approximately 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic. Alternatively, the A1 motorway provides quick access to the city from the east. From the city centre you also have easy onward access to the A5 westbound for Cascais and Estoril, the A2 southbound for the Algarve, and the 2ª Circular ring road connecting all major Lisbon districts.