Galo de Barcelos (Barcelos Rooster), the symbol of Portugal and typical souvenir
You can’t go to Lisbon and not be tempted by all the beautiful things to buy and bring back home with you. From handicrafts and traditional ceramics to food and drink delicacies, there are so many Lisbon souvenirs to squash in the suitcase to haul home. Don’t wait until you get to the airport until you start to think about gifts to take home, or souvenirs for yourself, check out some of the gorgeous things on sale a hop, skip, and jump from your hotel.
Lisbon is home to so many designer clothes shops on the Avenida de Liberdade, but if you’re looking for beautiful individual crafts, then lose yourself in the Alfama and Baixa-Chiado districts and get your hands on some authentic souvenirs as you work through an itinerary for the city sights.
CONTENTS
The Best Souvenirs From Lisbon And Where To Buy Them
In my recent post, I shared tips on the best vintage stores in Lisbon for those that love a bit of retail therapy, particularly for pre-loved items. Continuing with the shopping theme I wanted to share more inspiration on what souvenirs to buy in Lisbon as well as where to buy souvenirs in Lisbon. I will be sharing an additional Lisbon shopping guide shortly so look out for that as well.
Sardines
Sardines are beloved of the Portuguese but are only freshly caught in the summer months. In the wintertime tinned sardines have to do, check out the olde worlde canned sardine shops such as Conserveira de Lisboa, or The Fantastic World of Sardines, which have shelves lined with brightly coloured tins of fish and seafood that you just can’t leave behind.
You can buy cute souvenir sardines all year round, the ceramic ones are beautiful and painted with all sorts of modern and traditional motifs which make a great souvenir by which to remember your trip.
Pastéis de Nata
Custard tarts, if you haven’t tried the pasteis de nata while you’re in Lisbon, then you definitely need to buy some to eat at the airport. Go to Pasteis de Belem out by the Jeronimos Monastery to grab a packet of the iconic blue and white wrapped treats. If you can’t whizz out to the west of the city before you go, then go to the Manteigaria in the Time Out Market Lisbon and buy a beautifully packed tube of tarts to take home. In both locations, you can see the pasteis being made as the bakers work their socks off in the kitchen.
Moscatel Wine
Many people come simply for the wine regions in Portugal, so you simply cannot visit Portugal without checking out its wine. Port wine is from the north of the country in the Douro valley region, but if you go to Lisbon, you can try the sweet wine from the Central region of Portugal where Lisbon sits. If you have time, you can take a day trip from Lisbon to the local vineyards to lunch, enjoy a wine tasting and buy a few bottles to take home. The Moscatel wine is a delicious fortified wine which is popular in Portugal; if you don’t get to the vineyards, then you can buy it at any supermarket in Lisbon.
Portuguese wine is excellent and very affordable, so it is a fabulous gift to take home (or to keep for yourself). Great places to shop for wine of all varieties are Garrafeira de Santos, the Garrafeira Internacional, and Garrafeira Nacional, which also has a small museum.
Ginjinha
Also an alcohol gift, is a bottle of Ginjinha, a typical liqueur from Lisbon itself. When you’re in Lisbon, you can try this sour cherry liqueur out of a traditional dark chocolate cup. There are two tiny traditional bottle shops to the side of Rossio Square in central Lisbon, where you can both have a taste of Ginjinha and buy yourself a bottle to take home. Try A Ginjinha Espinheira is which is the oldest Ginjinha maker in town.
Portual Magnet Souvenir
Olive Oil
It may seem odd, but a great purchase in Portugal is the olive oil and the olive oil in Portugal regularly wins prizes in international competitions. There are seven different varieties from diverse regions in Portugal, and all are widely available throughout Lisbon, both in supermarkets and traditional shops. For oil that is Inexpensive and of excellent quality Olistori is the best place to buy quality olive oil in Lisbon.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a very traditional handicraft which is still created and sold all over Portugal. You can buy gorgeous hand-embroidered tablecloths and scarves in the markets and boutiques. A Vida Portuguesa and Paris em Lisboa are great places to shop for beautiful things to take home.
Jewellery
Gold and silver jewellery, particularly filigree work, is a craft that you will see all over Lisbon. You can check out plenty of small boutiques in the older parts of town for locally made jewellery, which tends to be simple in design and very affordable. There are branches of bigger name jewellers on the busier shopping streets, or in the malls, but smaller boutiques such as Boheme have some fabulous individual pieces.
Cork, Cork and More Cork
I say this a little tongue in cheek, but you can buy nearly anything you can imagine made from cork in Portugal! In all the busy tourist areas, you’ll see at least one souvenir shop offering cork bags, cork postcards, cork table mats. The Portuguese are very protective over their national reputation as the biggest cork producer in the world and produce more than 50% of the world’s supply for use in the wine industry.
You can find tasteful cork souvenirs if you hunt them out, in Lisbon, take a look at Cork & Co or Pelcor, and you’re sure to find something cute to take home with you.
Lisbon Ceramics
Pottery is a classic Portuguese souvenir, and it’s well worth buying in Lisbon. There are plenty of shops selling everything from the rustic-style earthenware to the famous Bordalo Pinheiro pieces. Go to Cerâmicas na Linha in Chiado for end of line bargains from a variety of designers, or classic everyday tableware. Depending on what catches your eye, you can buy by the piece or from €4.80 per kilo. Fábrica Sant’Anna also has a good selection of well-priced ceramics.
If you’re looking for a day out from Lisbon, then you could go up to Caldas da Raina, about an hour to the north to the Bordalo Pinheiro factory. Celebrated Portuguese artist and ceramicist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro (1846-1905) opened his ceramic factory in 1884. His original concept was to focus on the style and natural motifs of Portugal in the form of tin-glazed pottery, and this continues today. The more significant pieces, such as bowls and jugs, often take the form of leaves or flowers, and there are seasonal collections too.
Azulejos
Everywhere you look in Lisbon, you see tiles. The beautiful tiled facades of the houses were initially done to protect the building underneath from the sea air and prevent the owner from having to remain the house every year. Since the 16th-century, azulejos have been used to protect and decorate buildings in Portugal. The patterns range from typical Moorish geometric designs to hand-painted murals with religious motifs.
Tiles are easy to carry home with you, and you can either buy modern ones or search out antique tiles at Solar Antique, Fabrica Sant’Anna, or Loja dos Descobrimentos.
Where To Buy Lisbon Souvenirs Online
In addition to many of the places linked above, if you happen to miss out of buying anything you can actually check on Amazon as some sellers may be able to ship globally.
- You can also buy Lisbon inspired products like these Portuguese tiled mugs, tea cups and teapots from John Lewis.
- These Portuguese Love Affair candles are just to die for from Touva. Also available in Blue/Gold and Purple. as well as the Gold & Blue Ceramic Candle.
More On Portugal? Also Read:
- Where To Stay In Lisbon
- The How To Get Around In Lisbon
- The Best Guide To Places To Visit In Sintra
- How To See Lisbon In One Day
- The Best Breakfast Spots In Lisbon
- Visiting Pena Palace In Sintra
Found This Post Useful? Pin To Travel Board
Leave a Reply