Shopping in old masonry and nostalgic little shops. This is the unique shopping experience which Portugals capital offers to its visitors. Those Traditional shops are thus identifiably, if their shops name is written in black cobblestones infront of the entrance. Such kind of shops are in family possession since generations. You can be sure that those shop owners are true masters in their field.
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Lisboans enjoy slow shopping. Hurry, rush, and hastiness, is not the usual way of shopping in Lisbon.
Traditional shops have their opening hours from 9:00am to 7:00pm. The lunch break is usually from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Big shopping malls have no lunch break, and keep their gates open until 11:00pm. Sometimes even until midnight.
Most of Lisbons shops are located in Baixa and Chiado. Bairro Alto is the place for shops with young and spacy fashion.
Typical products from Portugal are azulejos (tiles), ceramic wares, embroideries, copper, and cork works, as well as baskets. Portugals culinaric attractions are ewe’s cheese, honey, olives, and of course the wine. One of the most popular products from Portugal is the olive oil. This product can be found around almost every corner in Lisbon.
There is also loads of silver and gold jewelery in Portugals capital. Most of them are located in Rua Dom Pedro V. and Rua de S. Bento. Antiques are also richly available in those places. One of the most important antique shops is Andrade in Rua do Alecrim 48/50. Andrade offers many furniture and art objects from the 17th and 18th century. Another interesting antique and jewelery shop is Ourivesaria Alianca in Rua Garrett 50. The shop itself is a true attraction.
If you are searching for books, you could take a look into the book shop called “Ler Devagar” in Rua da Barroca 57. This is one of the most popular book stores in the city. A good antiquarian bookshop is Livraria Barateira in Rua Nova da Trindade 26. Not to be scoffed at Livararia Bertrand. This kind of antiquarian bookshop in Rua Garrett 73-75 is an institution of Lisbon since more than 200 years.
Amoreiras Shopping Center de Lisboa accommodates more than 275 shops, 50 restaurants, and 10 cinemas. The shopping mall in Avenue Eng. Duarte Pacheco, is probably the most important one in the city, and open until midnight. Another huge shopping mall is Centro Comercial Colombo in the district of Benfica. Not only one of the biggest shopping malls in Lisbon, but also in Europe. Stylish shopping is possible in the shopping mall of Centro Comercial Vasco da Gama. It’s not that big as in Amoreiras Shopping Center de Lisboa and Centro Comercial Vasco da Gama, but furnished very modern with a stylish character. The shopping temple is known for its perfect fashion shops. Spanish shopping in Portugal? El Corte Ingles belongs to a Spanish mall chain, and can be found in Avenida Antonio Augusto Aguiar.
Ceramic works can be found in Rua Dom Pedro in the shop called Albuquerque e Sousa. The guest can find a wide range of antique tiles from the 17th century until today. Crystal works of top quality and classic design are available in Atlantis. The crystal and glass shop is located in the shopping malls of Amoreiras, Colombo, and Vasco da Gama. Sant’Anna is one of the oldest ceramic and tiles manufacturers of the city. Their shop is located in Rua do Alecrim 95. If you want to see the factory, you have to go to Calcada da Boa Hora 96. Traditional porcelain from Portugal can be found in Largo do Chiado 20-23. Vista Alegre is world famous for the good quality. The former Royal Warrant Holder offers wonderful porcelain objects, and a lot of souvenirs for the tourist.
Other souvenirs, mainly handmade, are available in following shops: Casa de Bordados Ilha Verde offers embroideries from the Azores, and the Cape Verde Islands. The shop can be found in Rua Paiva de Andrade 4. Famous handicrafts from Madeira are offered in the Madeira House in Rua Augusta 131. If you are searching for traditional Portuguese handicraft, you may succeed in Rua da Madalena 87. Ceramist wares, textiles, tiles, jewelery and even toys are availabe there in the shop called “Santos Oficios“. Traditional Portuguese carpets can be bought in Trevo (Avenue Pscar Monteiro Torres 33a).
Of course there are also a lot of market places in Lisbon. One of them is Feira da Ladra on the “Campo de Santa Clara”, behind the church “Sao Vicente die Feira da Ladra”. This market takes place every Tuesday and Saturday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, and is known for its typical character as a flea market. Mercado Campo de Ourique is a popular location to buy fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Mercado Campo de Ourique can be found in Rua Coelho da Rocha. Mercado da Ribeira Nova is a huge market hall from the beginning of the 20th century. The hall is populated mostly by farmers who want to sell their products. There is also some place for Portuguese handicraft on the first floor. Mercado da Ribeira Nova is located directly to the opposite of the railway station “Cais do Sodre”.
Lisbons most important fashions shops can be found in the traditional shopping district Baixa. The shops of a lot of international designers are located there. Especially the street called “Avenida da Liberdade” is well known for its tasteful fashion shops. Chiado is known for many club and streetwear shops. Hats can be found in Chapelaria Azevedo (Praca d. Pedro 69). The old hatter exists since 1886. If you are searching for sexy clothes for men and women, you may find your luck in the shop of Fatima Lopez in Rua da Atalaia 36.
A colossal range of CD’s, books, and computer accessories, is the pride of FNAC, a giant store in the shopping mall of “Shopping Center Armazens do Chiado”. The best place to go if you are bored in Lisbon, and you are searching for a thrilling book to kill time.
Last but not least the wine. Wine has a huge tradition in Portugal, and so a bottle of special port wine can be a nice souvenir from Lisbon. Casa Macario is one of those special places, where it’s possible to buy good and old port wine. The store is located in Rua Augusta 272. Another fabulous address for Portugals typical port wine is Solar do Vinho do Porto in Rua de Sao Pedro de Alcantara 45. The wine store delights the visitor with a wide range of port wines. If you don’t want to spend too much money for your Portuguese wine souvenir, you could take a look to Garrafeira Internacional in Rua Escola Politecnica 15-17. This certain place is famous for its well-balanced cost effectiveness. The consulting service is extraordinary competent and friendly.