Lisbon is a bustling city and is packed with a lot of history, culture, food and activities. Loads of people head here every year and it is getting increasingly popular. The thing about the city is that once you visit it, you can’t resist coming back. Now if you are like me then you probably feel like taking a couple of souvenirs from Lisbon back home.
I pondered on this a bit and in the end I took back quite a lot of food. Yes! That’s me! I’m a big foodie. That worked for me because we were driving and we live in the Netherlands. But don’t be disheartened because there are loads of non-perishable options.
Many of these souvenirs from Lisbon are made by specialized artists or use material that is grown within the country. Cork products are a very good example. Anyways, here are some really cool items that you should consider buying if you are looking for souvenirs from Lisbon.
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Table of Contents
Souvenirs From Lisbon: Accessories
You would be surprised by the number of cool accessories that you can buy in the city. These are very often handmade and sometimes even mass produced. I bought myself a gorgeous handmade denim bag while I was there and have used it everywhere. You just need to keep your eye out for a good deal. Here are a couple of interesting options that you should keep on your radar.
1. Cork
Did you know that Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world. I have always loved cork products. Soft and durable, they feel good and they look good. When you walk into any of the souvenir shops in Lisbon you will see wall to wall of different kinds of cork products.
Spectacle cases, shoes, tiles lined with cork, bracelets, bags and more. The options are endless when it comes to the different ways in which cork is used. In fact, many of these items are produced in Portugal and exported to other parts of the world. We were literally spoiled for choice when it came to options.
My favorite however were the small little bags. They weren’t very expensive, light and made great gifts for anyone back home. This made them extremely good souvenirs from Lisbon. Also if you are like me and you wear out your bags with use, you can also buy the cool Portuguese cork bags online!
2. Leather Accessories
Did you know that Portugal has been producing some of the best leather in the world since the Middle Ages? The leather in Portugal is really coveted and once it is exported outside it, it can get super costly. Luckily if you are visiting Portugal, you can buy the same quality at a lower price and lets be honest… Who doesn’t love a bargain?
When it comes to leather accessories you will find that popular items that are made out of leather include belts, bags, shoes and jackets. There are a couple of well known places where you can head to for souvenir shopping in Lisbon when it comes to leather goods. Marta Poni for example is well known for luxury leather.
Luvaria Ulisses on the other hand is a historic glove shop. Here you can choose from a wide array of different types of finely crafted gloves. If you live in a place that has cold winters, this may well be one of the best souvenirs from Lisbon that you take back.
Lastly if you are looking for custom made shoes then you can head to Santos & Senhor. The artisans here are supposed to be some of the best in the whole of Lisbon.
3. Artwork By A Local Artist
The Portuguese are artists at heart. They express themselves in various artforms including music, dance, paintings, modern art, tiles etc. There are different ways in which you can buy their art. One of the popular ways is to buy paintings from a local artist. There are many places that you can do this including ordering them online.
Another thing that you can buy is the local music known as fados. You could get them online too. Nowadays nobody really carts CDs along but if you love vinyl, you can get these too!
4. Gold And Silver Filigree
When I was younger, I never realized that the gold and silver filigree that people prized so much in Goa had roots in Portugal. When we visited Lisbon, it was a complete eye opener because there are some really cool shops that specialize in this artform. Yes! I called it an artform because not all jewelers can make filigree jewelry.
It is hard, time consuming and expensive. The resultant pieces look like lace. I was very tempted to pick up some of these pieces as souvenirs from Lisbon but I held back because I don’t really wear much jewelry anymore. The pieces that I do have a lot of sentimental value because they are handed down through the generations or were given to me when I got married.
When I was chatting with some of the locals, I realized that this is something that even the Portuguese do. Aside from tradition, buying these pieces is a great way to support the local artisan community. Since fewer and fewer people take up filigree as an art nowadays, the pieces are becoming rarer.
5. Portuguese Lace
One of the things that Portugal is famous for is its lace. You will find that the city of Peniche is particularly popular for it. Here there are even schools where you can go and learn to make it. It isn’t easy and they have these huge cushions with loads of pins stuck into it. I watched some people make it and it looked like they moved a dozen strings around in the blink of an eye.
The handmade lace is sought after all over the world. Since Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, a lot of the lace that is made in Peniche is sold here. Principe Real Enxovais is a great place to try and get some of these.
Souvenirs From Lisbon: For The House
Many people love to buy small nick-knacks for the house. These work great if you want to take back something small for your family and friends too. There are a variety of different souvenirs in Lisbon that fit the bill. Not all of them are small mind you because I literally took back a huge ass carpet from Portugal. I’m in love with it and don’t regret it one wee bit!
6. Portuguese Carpets
When I say that I brought back carpets from Portugal, people give me a pretty odd stare. I actually bought ours in Braga since that was our last stop in Portugal. We did start noticing the carpet shops in Lisbon. It just made more practical sense to load up the car at the end of the trip.
Anyways, back to the carpets. The carpets in Lisbon come in a wide variety of different types, shapes and colors. You can get the thick ones which are absolute clouds or woven ones. The really nice part about it is that they are not very expensive and the quality is great.
I had been searching for a nice one in the Netherlands and somehow the price deterred me. However I got a lovely white one for the kids room which is perfect for them to play on. It was my best decision ever!
Now if you want a truly Portuguese rug then you need to check out the Arraiolos Carpets or Rugs. These are hand embroidered. They are beautiful and popular. It is said that it is one of the oldest arts in Portugal.
7. Azulejos
Azulejos are the Portuguese tiles. These are the ones that you see on all the famous buildings in the city. Generally these are white and blue. There are however other variations that you can see. Yellow is another popular color that is added in.
Now these tiles are pretty much a part of the city’s landscape. They also make great souvenirs from Lisbon. You could just take the tiles back to mount them in your house or you could choose to take them back in the form of coasters. My grandparents had these mounted in a steel frame and it was placed under hot dishes that were kept on the table.
8. Portuguese ceramics
The Portuguese ceramics aren’t as popular as the azulejos but they are equally pretty. In a way, I sometimes feel that the ceramics are more practical because they can actually be used instead of just being a decoration.
The big difference is that the Portuguese ceramics use a wide range of different colors. They come in some really vibrant shapes too. I have a fish shaped plate that I use for serving when guests come over.
There are also the blue and white ceramics that are pretty iconic in the area. Most of my ceramics are from Goa where we have a similar blue white ceramic style. It also reminds of the Delft pottery that is one of the popular Dutch souvenirs. The style of decoration is different though despite the similarity in colors.
Souvenirs From Lisbon: Food
I sometimes feel that the love language in Portugal is food. This could just be me because I’m a Goan and the food is pretty similar to what we eat. It’s not the same mind you, but some of the flavors and dishes are similar. After staying in Europe for over a year, we miss home. Food in Portugal succeeded in taking us back for a bit.
9. Pastel De Nata
The Portuguese custard tart is famous world over and nothing quite tastes the same as the ones that are made in Portugal.
The base is crunchy. The custard is not too sweet but very creamy and slightly burnt at the top. Not burnt burnt but just enough to give you the taste. Often these are sprinkled with cinnamon at the top.
If you have a quick flight then you probably could take some home with you. It may not taste as great as ones just out of the oven but if you reach home in a couple of hours, it will still taste good. I know because we bought a box for our journey and snacked on the way.
10. Wine
Portugal is famous for its wine. Generally speaking most of the vineyards are closer to Porto and are in the Douro valley. But since Lisbon is the capital city, it is but natural that it is one of the places that you can taste wine from all regions of the country.
There are numerous wine stores all over the city. If you don’t know which one to choose then there’s a better way than just rolling the dice. There are a number of different wine tours in the city. Taste wine from some of the different vineyards and choose which one you prefer best. Alternatively you could also make a note of the different wines you like when you are eating out.
11. Bacalhau
When I told our relatives back home that we were heading to Portugal, the first thing that they asked us for was bacalhau. Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for cod fish. You will find that cod fish is used in many different types of dishes. Pastel de bacalhau is one of the popular snacks that both the Portuguese and the tourists enjoy.
Now it may seem strange that I’m suggesting carrying bacalhau back home but you will find that salted cod fish is sold everywhere. The salt is used to preserve the fish so that they can be stored.
Salted cod can be found in the grocery stores. Just make sure to check with your custom and import policies of the country you are heading to.
12. Sardines
Portugal is famous for its delicious sardines. They are served up fried, cooked or grilled. I’m sure there are other ways in which they are prepared but these are the ones that I tasted while I was in the city. One of the ways in which sardines is preserved is by canning them. They are canned using various methods. Some have additional herbs in them. Others are preserved in just oil.
These cans are really popular and very convenient when it comes to travel. We often stored a couple in our luggage to use when we wanted an impromptu meal. This is something that I have learnt from my grandmother.
This is one of the souvenirs from Lisbon that we stacked up on. It is a sure fire way to carry the taste of Portugal back home. A big bonus is the fact that these can be stored for a long time.
The more touristy sardine cans have different designs after different cities or events in Portugal. If you want to buy some of the non touristy stuff then head into one of the local superstores. Oh and if you run through your supply a wee bit fast then you can always order more online!
13. Olive Oil
One of the most consistent souvenirs that everyone brought back home from Lisbon was olive oil. Back in the day, olive oil was not easily available in Goa and it used to be extremely costly.
I remember my grandmother used to be thrilled whenever someone brought a bottle home. She treated it like liquid gold.
Now that I am all grown up, I can totally understand. There is a certain special flavor that makes Portuguese olive oil extremely tasty. Using it makes a big difference when cooking.
I would advise you to be careful of both the import regulations and the liquid limits when carrying this back home as one of the souvenirs from Lisbon.
“I’ve been experimenting with various high quality olive oils. I eat it plain with bread. This is the best hands down. No bitterness, beautiful rich flavor. This is my second bottle. I’ve been experimenting with various high quality olive oils. I eat it plain with bread. This is the best hands down. No bitterness, beautiful rich flavor. This is my second bottle.”
Mach (read more reviews now!)
Luckily you don’t always have to go through the hassle of transporting it yourself nowadays. If you miss the taste of Portugal, it is easy enough to order the Portuguese olive oil online because it is exported worldwide.
14. Portuguese Cheese
Did you know that Portugal also has its own local cheese? There are many different types of cheese that are produced in the country. They are sometimes named based on the region that they are produced in. Serra de Estrella cheese comes from the highest mountains of Portugal aka the Serra de Estrella region.
Rabaçal on the other hand comes from Coimbra. This cheese is very popular at the Portuguese table and is made up of goat and sheep milk. The reason why this cheese is so flavorful is because the animals are fed a lot of herbs.
There you have it. These are some of the best souvenirs from Lisbon that I found while we stayed in the area. Sure there are many more traditional ones like magnets, cups, keychains etc. but I thought that I would talk about some rather traditional Portuguese products and souvenirs.
Do you have any other options that should be on the list? Let me know in the comments below.
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