Driving in Portugal as a Tourist : Honest Guide for First Timers

Portugal has it all—stunning beaches, dramatic mountains, and charming medieval villages straight out of a postcard.

While planning our 24-day family trip, we quickly realised buses and trains wouldn’t take us everywhere we wanted to go.

Some of Portugal’s most scenic places are simply easier to reach by car.

We don’t usually drive around as mid-range travellers, but in Portugal it became necessary.

Over those 24 days, I drove for about 7 days—around Lisbon’s outskirts, through small towns, along parts of the Algarve, and on Madeira’s mountain roads.

The first day felt confusing, with fast local drivers, roundabouts everywhere, and parking to figure out. But it never felt intimidating.

If you’re trying to understand what driving in Portugal is like as a tourist, this post is based entirely on first-hand experience.

I’ll cover the rules travellers often misunderstand, share Portugal-specific driving tips, and explain when driving a car actually makes sense—so you can plan without extra stress or unnecessary costs.

What driving in Portugal was like for me as a tourist

Driving in Portugal felt confusing on day one, comfortable by day two, and enjoyable by day three.

Leaving Lisbon Airport towards Nazaré, roundabouts, highway exits, and lane changes felt overwhelming at first.

Once my wife and I learnt how to read the blue overhead road signs showing highway numbers and lanes, things became much easier.

By the third day, I genuinely enjoyed driving. With help from locals, I figured out self-service fuel stations, roundabouts, lane choices as a slower driver, and toll gates.

Green farms, windmills, and occasional ocean views made the drive nicer.

If your first day feels messy, don’t panic. Ask locals at hotels or restaurants—people are patient and happy to help.

How I stopped relying on Google Maps and started trusting road signs

In Portugal, following road signs is easier than constantly watching Google Maps once you understand the road codes.

On my first day driving from Lisbon to Nazaré, Google Maps told me to stay on the A8 for over 100 km.

Once I was properly on the highway, I noticed the overhead signs clearly showed A8, with arrows marking exactly which lanes continued on that road. That’s when it clicked.

The route was simple, but I kept checking the screen every few seconds, worried I’d miss an exit or lane split.

Once I started matching the road number on Google Maps to the same number on the signs, I barely looked at the screen. I only checked it again when entering towns or finding hotels.

The takeaway is simple: note the road number on Google Maps (make sure you have good 4G mobile data access), then follow the road signs.

This works especially well outside cities and in tunnels where GPS can lag.

Where driving in Portugal as a tourist feels easy

Driving in Portugal feels easiest on highways and between towns, and most stressful inside cities.

Highways are smooth, well marked, and easy to follow. Medium-sized towns are manageable too.

Cities like Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, and busy historic parts of the Algarve are narrow, crowded, and parking is difficult.

I avoided city driving completely. That single decision removed most of the stress.

Use the car to move between places, not inside them. That one rule makes driving in Portugal far more peaceful.

Driving in Portugal vs taking the train or bus

Driving makes more sense in Portugal when places have limited public transport or when you want to make several stops in one day.

We drove from Sintra to Albufeira because we wanted to stop at beaches, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, and places like Óbidos along the way.

Doing this by train or bus would have been slow and restrictive.

Your itinerary should decide whether you need a car.

You can plan a Portugal trip using only trains and buses and skip places that require driving, or build your route around a car and include harder-to-reach spots.

We almost skipped Madeira because driving felt intimidating. In the end, we rented a car and it became the highlight of the trip.

A car is not needed for every trip.

Porto to Aveiro works perfectly by train, and Costa Nova from Aveiro is easy with buses or Bolt.

Mixing driving with public transport keeps costs down and stress low.

Traffic rules tourists often misunderstand while driving in Portugal

Portugal lane disciplines and overtaking

Portugal drives on the right-hand side of the road. Despite some online comments, I never saw Portuguese drivers driving on the wrong side.

Here’s how lane discipline and overtaking actually work:

We saw these rules followed very strictly. On the narrow road from Fanal Forest to Funchal, overtaking was rare and drivers respected the solid lines throughout.

As a first-time driver in Portugal, stay in the rightmost lane, let faster drivers pass, and always watch the road markings. Do this, and driving feels calm and predictable.

Roundabouts and right of way: what confuses tourists most

Roundabouts are everywhere in Portugal, and this is what confuses most tourists.

Before you enter, quickly check Google Maps and note which exit you need. You must choose your lane based on that.

I learnt this the hard way in Funchal while returning from Nun’s Valley. I stayed in the outer lane and didn’t exit, and the car behind almost hit us.

Locals expect this rule to be followed strictly, and roundabouts are probably the only place where Portuguese drivers actually stick to speed limits.

Slow down, decide your exit early, and follow the lanes. Once you get this, roundabouts stop feeling scary.

Pedestrians crossings are given most importance

Pedestrians always have priority at crossings in Portugal.

Here’s what to know:

I didn’t drive inside cities and walked everywhere instead, but I saw this rule followed consistently.

It made my experience as a pedestrian in Portugal cities much easier.

Following the pedestrian-first rule in Portugal isn’t just about avoiding fines. Locals are used to cars stopping, and some people cross fully expecting drivers to slow down.

How toll roads work

Portugal has many toll roads, and some of them are fully electronic. Here’s what you need to know:

While renting our car in Lisbon, I asked for driving tips and was told to always use the Via Verde lane so I wouldn’t have to stop. I followed this everywhere, and toll roads felt effortless.

Always confirm with the rental company that the toll device is active, you will be fined heavily otherwise.

How do fuel stations work in Portugal

In Madeira, while returning from Fanal Forest after sunset, I refuelled at a small-town station.

The lady there showed me how to use the pump, and after that, fuelling felt straightforward.

Parking realities tourists should be aware of

Where to park near attractions in Portugal

Do not try to park right in front of attractions like palaces, cathedrals, or museums.

If the attraction is in a historic centre, it is usually inside a pedestrian-only zone. If not, it is often in a narrow shared vehicle–pedestrian area packed with tourists and tuk-tuks. Driving closer rarely works.

Instead, park 200–300 metres away and walk in. This is completely normal in Portugal.

We experienced this in Alcobaça, where parking a short walk away was far less stressful than circling near the monastery entrance. The walk was easy and saved us time and frustration.

Free parking works better than paid parking

Free parking takes slightly longer to find, but it is usually simpler and cheaper, especially for budget travellers.

Roadside parking is clearly marked. White lines usually mean paid parking.

Blue–lined spots are often free from Saturday 2PM until Monday 8AM

Large public parking lots are the easiest option. No apps. No payment confusion. Paid parking can be a headache.

Some paid parking places require local apps like Via Verde Estacionar and sometimes even a NIF number.

We faced this at a shopping centre in Funchal and struggled to pay without the app.

If you see a large free lot a short walk away, take it.

Parking mistakes tourists should avoid in Portugal

We ran into the Google Maps issue at Praia Formosa in Funchal. The pin led to a place with no road access.

We drove around aimlessly until we searched for parking and found the actual lot about 450 metres away.

Always check parking signs and don’t take chances. Parking mistakes in Portugal are expensive.

How parking affects where you stay overnight

Hotels with parking often charge extra or offer garages 100–500 metres away. Some hotels inside historic centres do not allow car entry at all.

In Nazaré, our hotel parking was about 200 metres away.

We had to inform the hotel in advance so they could reserve a free spot and share a digital access key.

In Sintra, we stayed close to the historic centre and were given clear instructions on where to park and when car entry was allowed, as restrictions start early in the day.

Always tell your hotel in advance if you’re arriving by car. It avoids last-minute stress.

What driving is like in different parts of Portugal

Lisbon and Porto

Driving in Lisbon and Porto is stressful and not worth it for tourists.

Both cities are hilly and busy. Roads are narrow, and you share space with trams, buses, cars, crowds and too many tuk-tuks, especially in Lisbon. I didn’t drive in either city.

Getting around Lisbon by metro and buses was easy, and most of Porto’s highlights are best explored on foot.

Skip driving here. Public transport works better.

The Algarve: southern coastal region

Driving in the Algarve feels easier and more relaxed.

Roads are wider and traffic is lighter compared to Lisbon and Porto. I drove here for a day and found it simple.

The Algarve has a long coastline, but most drives are not right by the sea. Many coastal views are reached on foot along hiking trails rather than by car.

Driving works well here, just avoid going into historic town centres.

Madeira Tropical island with hills and beaches

Madeira is the most enjoyable place to drive in Portugal.

The drives are part of the experience. Roads pass through tunnels and open up to views of green mountains, cliffs, and beaches. Stopping at viewpoints feels natural.

I am comfortable driving on hilly roads and managed fine, but Madeira’s steep climbs and sharp curves do need confidence. An automatic car helps a lot here.

Rural Portugal and small towns

Driving in rural Portugal feels slow and calm – unless the roads become narrow.

Roads are narrower, but traffic is light. I found countryside driving easy in most places.

Sintra is the main exception due to crowds and traffic.

Driving in Portugal with family and kids

What families should know about child seats

Child seats are mandatory in Portugal and strictly enforced.

For child safety, never let go of the car seat, even for a short moment. This matters even more in places like Madeira, where roads are steep and winding.

We sometimes removed our baby briefly to feed him while driving slowly on straight roads, but we realised this was still not allowed. If the police notice, you can be fined, even if it feels harmless.

Portugal does not relax safety rules for tourists, so it’s better not to take chances and definitely not risk baby’s safety.

Keeping luggage in front seat

Keeping luggage on the front seat is not allowed in Portugal.

As budget travellers, it’s tempting to rent a smaller car to save money. But if you have more luggage, this can quickly become a problem.

We rented a small car, and with one stroller and two large suitcases for a month-long trip, the boot space was tight.

We briefly considered placing the stroller on the front seat, but hotel staff in Sintra warned us clearly that we could be fined if caught.

Choose your car size based on luggage, not just price. Saving a little on rental is not worth paying a fine later.

5 tips unique to driving in Portugal for first-time tourists