Shopping in Lisbon: Where to Go and What to Buy

Lisbon is a great place to shop for things you won’t find at home: hand-painted tiles, colourful tinned fish, cork goods, ceramics, Portuguese soaps, port and design pieces. Here’s where to shop in Lisbon, from historic shops and markets to concept stores and malls.

Quick answer: head to Chiado for historic shops and Portuguese brands, Príncipe Real for concept stores and design, Avenida da Liberdade for luxury, LX Factory for independent shops, and the Feira da Ladra flea market for antiques and curiosities. Buy tinned fish, ceramics and cork as souvenirs.

Why shop in Lisbon

Lisbon still has old family shops that sell one thing and do it well: gloves, hats, buttons, tinned fish. Alongside them, young designers have opened shops selling modern takes on Portuguese crafts. Prices are often lower than in other Western European capitals, and many things are made in Portugal.

Where to shop

• Chiado: elegant streets with historic shops, bookshops and Portuguese heritage brands. Bertrand on Rua Garrett opened in 1732 and is often called the oldest working bookshop in the world. See Chiado.
• Príncipe Real: concept stores, independent designers, small galleries and shops selling Portuguese-made fashion and homewares. See Príncipe Real.
• Avenida da Liberdade: international luxury brands along a tree-lined boulevard. See Avenida da Liberdade.
• LX Factory: a former industrial site in Alcântara, now full of independent shops, cafes and the Ler Devagar bookshop. See LX Factory.
• Baixa: high-street shopping on pedestrianised Rua Augusta, plus tinned fish shops and old haberdashers in the side streets.
• Campo de Ourique: a quiet residential neighbourhood with local shops and a market with food stalls. See Campo de Ourique.
• Malls: big shopping centres such as Colombo, Amoreiras and Vasco da Gama (at Parque das Nações) are handy on rainy days. See Lisbon on a rainy day.

Historic shops

Lisbon City Council runs a scheme called Lojas com História (Shops with History) to protect old family businesses. Look for the small plaque by the door. A few well-known examples:

• Luvaria Ulisses: a tiny glove shop on Rua do Carmo, open since the 1920s, where you sit at the counter to be fitted.
• Conserveira de Lisboa: a tinned fish shop in the Baixa dating from 1930, with its own retro brands wrapped in paper.
• A Vida Portuguesa: a long-running shop selling classic Portuguese brands of soap, stationery, ceramics and food, with branches in Chiado and Largo do Intendente.
• Bertrand: the old bookshop in Chiado, with a good shelf of English-language books on Portugal.

Markets

• Feira da Ladra: the flea market at Campo de Santa Clara, near the National Pantheon, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It usually runs from about 9am until late afternoon, but many sellers pack up after lunch, so go early. Expect old tiles, vinyl, clothes, books and plenty of junk. See Graça.
• LX Factory’s Sunday market: LX Market has handmade goods, vintage clothes and local food stalls every Sunday. Hours are usually longer in summer than in winter.
• Food markets: see Lisbon food markets and the Time Out Market.

Haggling

Fixed prices are the norm in shops. At the Feira da Ladra and other flea markets, a bit of polite bargaining is normal, especially if you buy several things. Keep it friendly and have small notes and coins ready.

What to buy

• Tiles: hand-painted azulejos, new or antique. Only buy antique tiles from reputable dealers, because tiles stolen from old buildings do end up on the market. See azulejos.
• Tinned fish: sardines, tuna and mackerel in bright retro packaging. Light, cheap and easy to pack. See Portuguese tinned fish.
• Cork: bags, wallets and homewares. Portugal is the world’s biggest producer of cork.
• Ceramics: including Bordallo Pinheiro’s cabbage-leaf plates and bowls.
• Soaps: beautifully wrapped Portuguese soaps and colognes.
• Port and wine: wine shops will often wrap bottles for travel. See the port wine guide.
• Food gifts: olive oil, ginjinha and pastries that travel well.
• Linen and wool: embroidered tablecloths, tea towels and wool blankets from the mountains make light, useful gifts.

See Portugal souvenirs. If you’d rather make your own tile than buy one, try a tile-painting workshop.

A half-day shopping route

Start in the Baixa for tinned fish, walk up to Chiado for bookshops and heritage brands, then carry on uphill through Bairro Alto to Príncipe Real for design shops. Finish with a drink in the Príncipe Real garden. Allow 3 to 4 hours.

A flea market morning

On a Tuesday or Saturday, take tram 28 or walk up to Campo de Santa Clara for the Feira da Ladra early in the morning. Afterwards, visit the São Vicente de Fora monastery nearby, then wander down through Alfama for lunch.

When to shop

Weekday mornings are quietest in the centre. The big sales in Portugal usually run in January and again in July and August, when many shops cut prices. In December, the Baixa and Chiado are busy with Christmas shoppers and lights. See Christmas in Portugal.

Tips

• Opening hours: many small shops close on Sundays, and some close for lunch. Malls usually open every day until late.
• Tax-free: non-EU visitors can claim VAT refunds on larger purchases in participating shops. There is a minimum spend in one shop on one day, so ask about it. Ask for the form when you pay and keep your receipts for the airport.
• Luggage: pack wine and olive oil in your hold luggage, not your hand luggage.
• Handmade? “handmade” tiles in tourist shops are often factory-made. Look for a maker’s name if it matters to you.
• Hills: the walk from the Baixa to Príncipe Real is steep. Carry a light bag, or drop your shopping at your hotel halfway.

FAQ

What is Lisbon famous for buying?

Tinned fish, tiles, cork goods, ceramics, Portuguese soaps and port are the classic buys. They’re all made in Portugal and easy to find in the centre.

When is the Feira da Ladra?

The flea market runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays at Campo de Santa Clara, usually from about 9am. Go early, as many sellers pack up after lunch.

Are shops open on Sundays in Lisbon?

Malls and many shops in the Baixa open on Sundays, but many small independent shops close. LX Factory’s Sunday market is a good option.

Can tourists get tax back in Portugal?

Yes, if you live outside the EU. Shop in a participating store, spend over the minimum in one shop, get the tax-free form and have it checked at the airport before you leave.

More: things to do in Lisbon and unusual things to do in Lisbon.

See also: shopping in Porto.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.