Cheap parking in Lisbon: where to park in Lisbon?

Are you traveling to Lisbon by car or planning to rent a car on location? Find out where the parking lots are situated and what are the traffic rules in Lisbon.

If you are planning to stay in Lisbon for more than three days, it’s an excellent option to have a car on site, public transport access to some of the touristy sites is a little bit limited and this is even more true for sites that are a little of the beaten path, including some of the best beaches, etc.

If you are travelling to Lisbon with your vehicle, or if you plan to rent a car in the Portuguese capital for a few days, an essential question arises: Where can I park the car? Where to find parking in Lisbon?

Also read : 35 best things to do in Lisbon
The best area to stay in Lisbon

Parking in Lisbon: Paid street parking

Almost the entire city center is equipped with street parking meters. Carefully choose where you park your car in Lisbon, making sure you find the nearest parking meter displaying all the information about timetables, rates, etc. Parking spaces vary from one area of the city to another: in the old town, there are red areas, where the maximum parking time is 2 hours. In other zones (yellow and green), you can park for up to 4 hours, and eventually extend your parking time by simply purchasing a new ticket and placing it on the dashboard.

Parking is usually charged Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Saturday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Parking is therefore free on Sundays.

On this map (click here) you can find all the parking areas in Lisbon, indicated in green, yellow or red.

Parking in Lisbon: Free street parking

If you do not want to pay for parking in Lisbon, another option is to park outside paid parking zones and use public transport to access the city center. For example, you can park in the street free of charge near the Olaias Metro station located outside the paid parking areas, and then you can take the Metro to reach the center.

To park close enough to the old town without having to pay, try parking your car in the street near Santa Apolónia station where you can either walk to the centre or take the train and Metro.

Park in an indoor car park

There are many covered car parks in Lisbon. Usually, the parking rates vary between €20 and €30 for a full day.

In the old town, the Praça dos Restauradore is one of the Lisbon’s cheapest car parks, costing 20€ per day.

Another option for parking in Lisbon is to book in advance your car park as close as possible to your hotel or other chosen accommodation in Lisbon. The advantage is that you do not have to worry about the availability of a parking space or the safety of your car. Moreover, by booking online, you will benefit from free cancellation, flexible arrival time, covered and secure parking spaces, and guaranteed parking spots with an unlimited number of entrances/exits.

Booking your parking space online will cost you less than if you purchase it the day you arrive. It’s also less of a hassle when you arrive in a city with which you are unfamiliar!

Park in an outdoor parking lot

Photo credit: Pxhere

The cheapest car parks in Lisbon are outdoor parking lots. You will find some near the center, like Doca do Jardim do Tabaco, costing only €8 per day.

There are 9 other outdoor car parks managed by Emel, the company that manages the Lisbon ticket machines, with a daily rate of only €3. Here’s where to find them:

– Alameda (Rua Jorge Castilho)
– Avenida Brasília – Avenida Brasília
– Avenida do Colégio Militar (Quinta da Luz)
– Avenida Lusíada – Avenida Lusíada
– Entrecampos (Rua Sanches Coelho)
– Parque das Nações (Zona Sul)
– Rua de Campolide – Rua de Campolide
– Rua Marquês da Fronteira (Palácio da Justiça) – Rua Marquês da Fronteira (Palácio da Justiça)
– Sete Rios

On this map of the Emel site, if you uncheck all the options, selecting only the “Bilhete Diário” option, you will see these car parks appear in grey. You can park there for about €3 per day.

Main photo credit : Flickr – Jerome Dahdah