The “Leave the car behind and celebrate Christmas”, promoted by the Lisbon City Council in partnership with EMEL - Lisbon Municipal Mobility and Parking Company and the Carris bus company.

“From November 23rd to December 23rd, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (and Monday the 23rd), from 15:00 to 24:00, park your car and come and see the Christmas lights without paying for transport or parking”, appeals to the municipality, in a statement.

Parking will be free in EMEL parks in Campo Grande (Jardim Mário Soares), University (Avenida Professor Gama Pinto), Alcântara (Rua das Fontainhas) and Avenida de Pádua (Olivais).

The Campo Grande and Universidade parks will have a direct connection to Baixada, through an exclusive and free 'shuttle' (bus service) from Carris, departing every 30 minutes, until 9:30 pm from Campo Grande and at 22:30 from Cidade Universitária, with stops at Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade and Restauradores.

In the case of the Alcântara and Avenida de Pádua car parks, the first will have a direct connection to Baixada via tram 15E and the second via bus line 708.

The city explains that to take advantage of this free service “just access these parking lots, where the EMEL and Carris teams” will guide the operation.

“It was an initiative that we launched last year and which was very well received by the population. We know that this festive season always attracts thousands of people to downtown Lisbon to shop, stroll or simply see the Christmas lights and this is the ideal answer for them to be able to come without worrying about traffic and parking”, highlights the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), mentioned in the note.

The initiative will be reinforced with the extension of opening hours, until 24:00, at four “Navegante” parks in the city (Colégio Militar, Ameixoeira, Telheiras Nascente and Telheiras Poente), which can be used free of charge, during these dates, between 3:00 p.m. and 24:00.