THE ULTIMATE sightseeing experience and fun way of getting around Lisbon and enjoying the sights has been launched in the capital.
It takes the form of a GPS guided, talking three-wheeler two-seater yellow tour car which has been pioneered by American company Go Car GPS-Guided Tours.
The 50cc mini cars can be rented for 20 euros an hour from 16 Rua dos Douradores in Lisbon’s Baixa but drivers will need to take along their driving licence.
The idea for the three-wheeler originally arose in the United States in San Francisco and Miami and so far Lisbon and Barcelona are the first European cities to introduce the cars as an innovative and more environmentally friendly way to explore these historic cities.
“This is the perfect vehicle for getting around the city. It’s small, fun and practical and its soft-top roof can be folded away,” said João Mendes, one of Go Car’s managers in Portugal.
“This car has bags of character and personality and tourism routes have been prepared to make getting around and discovering the city fun,” said Leonel Soares, the company’s other manager.
Best invention
“We have already covered 90 per cent of what’s important to see in Lisbon from the Expo site to Baixa and Belém,” said João Mendes.
The guidance systems – so far are available in Portuguese, English and French but will soon be available in Spanish and German – draw the tourist’s attention to landmarks and points of interest around the city.
Go Car, which was attributed the Best Invention in 2004 by Time magazine, is easy to use by following the user friendly audio directions.
“It’s just like a traditional tour bus except you are in a nifty yellow convertible, handling the routes yourself with the benefit of directional prompts,” concluded João Mendes.
For more information, call 210 965 030 or visit www.gocartours.eu
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