Find out where to shop in Lisbon in this post, with tips on the best stores, brands, shopping malls and outlets in the city!
Living in Lisbon for years, I'm the first person to admit that the city is one of the worst European capitals for shopping.
It's not that the prices are worse than other places, it's the lack of popular brands like Uniqlo, lululemon and Chanel that makes me question why Such a touristy city is not an attractive market for companies.
However, all the time, if you are taking a trip to Europe and are only going to pass through Lisbon, you don't need to worry. The largest city in Portugal still has a lot to offer you in terms of shopping.
In this post, I show you where to shop in Lisbon, with tips on the best shopping malls, shopping streets, outlets, and tips on which brands and stores you need to know while you're on Portuguese soil.
Where to shop in Portugal – Shopping malls, streets and outlets
Colombo Shopping Center
Located in Carnide, close to Benfica, Colombo is one of the largest shopping malls, with more than 300 stores spread over 4 floors. It is very easy to get there by public transport, as the Colégio Militar/Luz metro station is right outside the shopping center.
There you will find several popular stores, such as Zara, H&M, Primark, Mango, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, C&A, Bimba & Lola, Sephora, Douglas, and many others. Portuguese brands are also present, such as Salsa, Tiffosi, MO, Lanidor and Cortiça.
Colombo, without a doubt, is my favorite shopping mall in the city, as you can find everything there. Furthermore, the stores are very large and already have new smart fitting rooms, as can be seen at Zara and Stradivarius.
The food court is also excellent, with all the traditional fast foods such as McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell, as well as healthier options such as Pans, Poké House and Go Natural. If you're missing Brazil, in Alentejo you'll find a great dish of picanha, rice, beans and fries, and there's also an Amor aos Pedaços with pies and brigadeiros.
It's easily an afternoon's stroll, as there are countless stores and several floors. Be patient, as on cold days, rainy days or Benfica games (the stadium is next door), the shopping center is usually quite crowded.
Baixa-Chiado and Armazéns do Chiado
Baixa-Chiado is a historic neighborhood that appears on most routes around the capital of Portugal. But, did you know that this is also one of the best places to shop in Lisbon?
A Garrett street, known as the “booksellers street“, is a paradise for literature lovers. Here, you will find traditional bookstores such as Bertrand, the oldest bookstore in the world still in operation, and several book fairs on the weekends.
On the streets adjacent to Rua Garrett, such as Rua do Carmo, you will find a variety of stores, from national and international, such as Zara, H&M, Stradivarius, Oysho, Nike, Massimo Dutti and Calzedonia.
O Armazens do Chiado, a small shopping center overlooking the Tagus River on the upper floor, it also has some interesting stores, such as a three-story Mango, Fnac, Sephora and Sunglass Hut.
Chiado is also home to one of the most famous streets in the city, the Rua Augusta, full of shops, restaurants, street performances and souvenir stalls. It's a great stop for those who are shopping, as in addition to the traditional stores, you can also sit for a while and enjoy a good cod pastry, glass of wine or pastel de nata. Be sure to take the opportunity to visit the Rua Augusta Arch and Praça do Comércio.
Avenida da Liberdade
Avenida da Liberdade is the destination for those who want to do luxury shopping, as many famous brands only have stores in this region of Portugal.
Along the avenue, you will find stores such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Cartier, Montblanc, and many others. Additionally, for brands that are not present, such as Christian Louboutin, you can also visit the Fashion Clinic, with its large selection of designers.
Even if you don't intend to do luxury shopping, it's worth strolling along Avenida da Liberdade, as there are also brands for smaller budgets, such as Mango, Zara, COS and Maje.
At the end of the avenue, you arrive at Marquês de Pombal and Eduardo VII Park, and with a few more steps you are at El Corte Inglés, a sensational department store with several international brands. Don't forget to visit the rooftop, with several restaurants and privileged views of the city!
If you need to take a break between shopping, my recommendations are Oui Mais Non, close to Gucci, or Zenith in the adjacent streets. If you are looking for a different experience, JNcQUOI could be a good choice.
Here on the blog there is a complete post with restaurant suggestions in Lisbon.
Freeport Outlet
Located in Alcochete, 30 minutes from Lisbon, the Freeport Fashion Outlet is a true paradise for those looking for discount shopping. There are several national and international brand stores, with discounts of up to 80%.
There you can find all types of products, from clothes and accessories to homeware and decoration. Some of the most popular brands in Freeport are Adidas, Nike, Puma, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Desigual, Diesel, Furla, Swarovski, and several others.
As it is a little far from the center, it is worth going by car or using the outlet's official shuttle, which departs from points such as Marquês de Pombal, Martim Moniz and Campo Pequeno. The ticket price is €14 for a return trip, and you can buy your ticket at the Cityrama kiosks in Marquês de Pombal or on the shuttle itself. Pay attention to the times available on the official website, as there are only two shuttles per day.
If you prefer to go by bus, just take line 4703 at Estação Oriente.
As it is an open outlet, several of the general recommendations for outlets apply here. Take a suitcase if you plan to do a lot of shopping, as it is easier to carry. Keep an eye out for discounts that can be found in the information center right at the entrance, and don't forget to take your map and plot a smart route to visit all the stores that interest you.
The outlet also has a small food court, but only restaurants, no known fast food outlets. There you can find Italian, Portuguese food, burgers, seafood and even Spanish tapas.
Best stores to visit in Lisbon
PRIMARK
Primark is an Irish department store known for its low prices. And when I say cheap, I mean shirts for €3, pants for €7 and all kinds of accessories and home decor items.
If you want to try out some current trends, but don't want to invest in pieces you might never wear again, this is the store for you. In addition, there you can also find various shoes, bags, suitcases, underwear, pajamas, workout clothes, children's clothes, hair products, makeup... It's a paradise, and a store that can easily keep you captivated for hours.
It's worth checking the recommendations on TikTok for what's currently in stores, but don't get too hung up on it – the Lisbon locations don't tend to have the brand's best selection.
As it is a store with low prices, it is logical that the quality is not the best, this is the fast-fashion of fast-fashion. But you can find some interesting items, such as tights, compression clothing, and even dupes of famous brands with Skims.
In Lisbon, the largest Primark is in the Colombo Shopping Center, at the Colégio Militar/Luz metro station.
NORMAL
There's a store that doesn't live up to its name, as there is nothing normal about the products sold or the prices charged. Normal brings together beauty and hygiene items, home cleaning and snacks different, many of which are not found in any other store in Portugal.
If you follow the house cleaning niche on TikTok, for example, you may have already seen the famous sponges Scrub Daddy and Scrub Mommy, as well as the famous pasta Pink Stuff (clean everything). You can find all of these products in normal stores.
Different soft drinks, snacks with non-traditional flavors, and even well-known brands such as Maybelline but for a much lower price they can also be found in Lisbon units. It's a real adventure, and the store is set up as if it were a maze that you need to navigate – you enter and can only exit by reaching the cashiers.
You can find NORMAL stores in the Ubbo Shopping Center, in Saldanha, Entrecampos and in Campo Pequeno.
Primor
Primor is a Spanish perfumery that recently started opening stores in Lisbon. I discovered it when I was in Madrid, and what caught my attention were the prices that were completely below the prices in other stores.
There you can find all the popular beauty and hair brands such as Moroccanoil, L'Oreal, Kerastase, Olaplex, Maybelline, essence, Catrice, NYX, Revlon, The Ordinary, La Roche-Posay, Clinique and everything else you can think of . In addition to facial masks, bronzers, makeup brushes, cosmetics... It's a delight for those who like to shop for cosmetics, without a doubt one of the best stores to shop in Lisbon.
At the time of writing this post, Primor stores in Lisbon are located in the Ubbo shopping center and Cascais Shopping. But, in Colombo, there is currently a closed store with a huge Primor billboard, indicating that a unit should open in the country's largest shopping mall.
El Corte Inglés
El Corte Inglés is a Spanish department store, with some units in Portugal. The one in Lisbon, which is close to Eduardo VII Park and the São Sebastião metro, offers everything from clothes, accessories, electronics, home items and much more.
Here the selection of brands is focused more on quality and name, so you can find those that are a little more expensive like Maje, Max Mara Weekend, Jimmy Choo, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, among others.
On the roof you will also find a food court with several restaurants, and an incredible view of the city. In the basement, there is an excellent cinema (there are no advertisements in the middle of the films, like in other chains in Portugal), as well as other restaurants and a supermarket.
I love walking around El Corte Inglés, especially on the first floor which is entirely dedicated to beauty, including a small Sephora and even a Jo Malone London space.
Pay attention to where you entered and where you intend to leave, as the store is a maze and it is easy to get lost.
Portuguese brands to buy in Portugal
In addition to several international brands, in Portugal you will also find fantastic brands that were born in the country, with incredible products. Here are some of my favorite brands:
- Jeans sauce: As the name suggests, this store specializes in clothing. jeans, or ganja as it is called in Portugal. The pants are incredible and come in different styles, such as flared, skinny, cropped and others.
- Lemon jelly: One of my favorites, its main product is waterproof, vegan boots. I wear my black one with a shiny finish all winter and it's super comfortable (it easily replaced my Doc Martens).
- Turquesa Alameda: The flagship are shoes with colorful pompoms, but the brand also has bikinis, boots and other accessories for sale. It's an acquired taste and the price is steep, but customers say it's worth every penny.
- Sometimes: Despite the name, the accessories store is Portuguese and easily found on the streets of Lisbon. There you will find all kinds of accessories, such as earrings, necklaces, tiaras, scarves and even bags, all for a friendly price.
- Alice & Co.: If you like non-classic accessories, you'll love this brand! Earrings, keychains, necklaces and hair accessories that deviate from the traditional and add charm to any basic look!
How tax free works in Portugal
European Union countries have a system of tax-free for tourists. This means that when you make purchases, you can receive a refund for taxes paid, since you don't live there.
Many stores participate in this program, so it is excellent for saving on your purchases. And the best thing is that it is very easy to participate in Portugal:
- When shopping at participating stores, when paying, ask for the document relating to the tax-free In box. The staff will write down some details about you and your purchase, and give you a reference number.
- When arriving at the airport to leave the European Union, before boarding, stop by a kiosk tax-free and validate your purchases. These kiosks are available at Lisbon airport.
- After that, in the boarding area, go to the kiosk of the company responsible for your refund. The name will be written on the documents you validated at the kiosk.
- Most refunds are made instantly, and you go home with the money!
Lisbon shopping itinerary
If you only have a single day to dedicate to shopping, I suggest the following:
- Get off at the Baixa-Chiado metro station, and explore the surroundings, such as the shops in Chiado Warehouses.
- From there, proceed to the Augusta street, and enjoy snacking on a cod pastry while you shop.
- Walk towards the Restauradores metro station, and go up the Avenida da Liberdade for luxury shopping and harder-to-find stores.
- At the end of Liberdade is the Marquês de Pombal and the Eduardo VII park. Follow the park until you reach São Sebastião station, where the The English Court. Take the opportunity to shop and eat something in one of the giant department store's food courts.
- Take the subway on the blue line, in São Sebastião, and head towards Reboleira to Colégio Militar/Luz station, where the Colombo Shopping Center. End your shopping day there.
This is a tiring itinerary, which involves walking and buying a lot. I only recommend following it if you really only have a single day to dedicate to shopping.
Now, if you can split up your shopping days, I suggest:
- Day 1: Explore the Chiado neighborhood, passing through Rua Augusta and walking along Avenida da Liberdade.
- Day 2: Visit Eduardo VII Park and end the tour at El Corte Inglés.
- Day 3: Colombo Shopping Center
- Day 4: Visit to the Freeport outlet, outside Lisbon (on average around 30 minutes by car).
With this itinerary, you can fit in other traditional attractions in the city, especially in the first few days. Here on the blog there is a complete itinerary for those who are visiting Lisbon for the first time.
Conclusion
Here are tips on where to shop in Lisbon. Although the Portuguese capital is not the best city in Europe when it comes to shopping, it is still possible to find several cool brands and good prices in the city. Remembering that you can also check out our Complete post with all the tips on what to buy in Europe, with the best products and brands!
Now, tell me here in the comments: have you already visited Lisbon? How was shopping there?