We are renting a car in Lisbon next June and were planning on returning it in Porto. Our last stop before Porto is Coimbra. We are renting a VRBO in Coimbra and parking looks to be an issue, so I was thinking of returning the car in Coimbra and taking the train to Porto instead. What would you recommend? Is it easy to return a car in Coimbra? Is there a particular location that is easier than another? Or is it easier to find a place to just park and leave the car for a couple days until we head to Porto? I appreciate any suggestions you may have!
Posted by
New York, NY
1582 posts
Lindsay - If you did your rental car through Europcar company, the agency is located in the main Football Stadium in the city of Coimbra. It has 3 locations for drop off rentals in the city. If you choose to park your rental, then here is a link to help you find parking around town. You can reserve it online.
https://www.parkopedia.pt/ (On the page it will says "where you are going", just type Coimbra Portugal and links to parking space locations around the city will come up)
https://www.kayak.com/Cheap-Coimbra-Car-Rentals.33315.cars.ksp
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1671 posts
I picked up a car in Coimbrã after taking the train from Porto a few years ago. I’ve, since then, driven through Porto.
The driving is much easier in the Coimbrã area and a taxi to or from the train station to the rental agency is easy and not expensive.
I always recommend Auto Europe. They are a consolidator and usually Europcar is the least expensive car of the options. I’ve used them a number of times and have always been pleased.
Return the car in Coimbrã and enjoy the easy and inexpensive train ride to Porto. Book your train tickets a few weeks ahead and they are extremely inexpensive. You can likely take the train cheaper than driving.