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Latest update: 7 August 2023
Anyone who has ever been to Lisbon knows you walk up and down hills all day. Good for the calves and buttocks, but sometimes it’s nice to drive around a bit. Not with a hop-on hop-off bus, because we want to be in the driver’s seat ourselves. And press the gas, push hard! So we try a GoCar tour in Lisbon.
GoCar with ‘stupid’ helmet
The GoCar tour starts with a lot of complaints. “Ugh, we have to wear a helmet.” “Wow, it’s way too hot for that, isn’t it?” “It’s so itchy!” We all complain about how stupid it is to wear a helmet in such a small cart. Before our GoCar ride through Lisbon starts, the helmet seems useless to us. Well… in retrospect, we need them. As soon as everyone is a bit used to the GoCar, we forget the sights and tear through Lisbon’s streets as fast as possible.
GoCar driving (or racing) through Lisbon
GoCars are small yellow cars for two people. The guide tells us that this is super easy if you have ever ridden a scooter. And if you’ve never ridden a scooter, it’s also super easy. That’s a relief because I, for one, have zero experience with scooters and mopeds. You do need a driver’s license for the GoCars in Lisbon, by the way. Otherwise, you have to let someone drive you. That’s just as much fun, by the way. Today we will see a bit of the historic part of Lisbon and then go via the waterfront to Belém and back.
A lot of attention: the GoCar is a tourist attraction
According to the GoCar site, this is the first GPS-guided storytelling car. Unfortunately, the radio doesn’t work for everyone, so we don’t get much of the story. And actually, nobody cares. At one point, when I drive in the front and look back, all I see are smiles from ear to ear. We are a lovely bunch of happy faces with helmets on. These happy faces and cool GoCars soon become an attraction themselves. Many people point to us on the street and take pictures of the GoCar.
Discover Lisbon with a guide or GPS
Because we are with a relatively large group, two guides on a scooter accompany us. They ensure we get the space to cross the streets and stay together as a group. And, of course, they show the way and occasionally tell us something about what we see. You can also rent a GoCar without a guide, hit the road with GPS guidance, or get lost in the city. The GoCars are Dutch made, by the way.
Well-deserved break at Le Chat Lisboa
Halfway through the tour, we stop at Le Chat Lisboa. The guide tells us that he has never dropped off a group here for a drink before. It is a good choice. The view is excellent, and we enjoy our sangria. I think the staff has never seen snacks disappear so quickly. We were starving, sorry!
Sightseeing during the GoCar experience?
After this stop, we continue with the GoCars along, among other things, the monastery of Belém. We see a large part of Lisbon, but quickly. I definitely need to come back again to see it all better. In terms of cultural and historical awareness, it is better to rent a GoCar in Lisbon individually. With a large group, you drive through a city differently (read: race). Now I’m too busy overtaking the one in front of me and finding out the top speed of the GoCar. I think we hit about 60 kilometers per hour. So no, a helmet is not a bad idea at all.
GoCar in Lisbon: go for it!
The GoCar tour is a very fun group activity in Lisbon. We leave the GoCars super excited and spend the rest of the day bothering other people with stories about how cool it was.
More Portugal inspiration?
Useful links for your Portugal trip
- Accommodation. All-time favorites: Booking.com and Campspace. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. Try WithLocals for experiences with Portuguese locals. Book your ‘free’ walking tours with Freetour.com or GuruWalks, and try bike tours with Baja Bikes.
- Attractions and museums. Interested in a 5% discount on museums and other attractions? Use this discount code at Tiqets: KIMOPREIS22
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. If you want to compare prices, check out Discover Cars.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Momondo, Transavia, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Guidebooks. I love paper guidebooks to flip through. Buy them at Bol.com or Amazon.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? There is plenty of choices all over. For the Dutch: ANWB vakanties, Tui or Vakantie Discounter. Or choose a trip with Shoestring, Sawadee, or Corendon. Other options are D-Reizen and Sunweb.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Train and Bus Travel to Portugal with Busbud or FlixBus. And reserve buses and trains on the go with 12Go or Omio.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Yoga retreat. Or maybe treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Portugal.
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
Note: I got to try the GoCar for a discounted price because of my blog. What I’ve written, was entirely up to me. It represents my personal GoCar Lisbon experience.
First published: October 2016. Updated since.
