Spring has come, and it’s time to update the wardrobe. But how to do everything if there is no time or energy left in the week? But what if you combine relaxation, travel and shopping! A great choice for a trendy weekend marathon is Portugal. In March, on the Iberian Peninsula, you will find a comfortable 22-25 degrees of already forgotten cold and always a little heat, but such a beautiful ocean.
How To Get There
The road from the airport to the city center by car will take no more than half an hour. In order to be in time, you will need a car – a city for the convenience of parking, but always with a roomy trunk. We opted for the new Mitsubishi ASX. In a seemingly compact-looking crossover, you and your suitcases can easily fit. The familiar Mitsubishi ASX model “changed clothes” following fashion trends, becoming much more modern and convincing (thanks to all-wheel drive, it will cope with sharp turns perfectly). In Europe, an updated model has already appeared on sale, and will reach us in the first half of 2020. Take a note!
Where To Stay
Book your hotel on Avenida da Liberdade – from here you can easily walk to the main attractions, shops and restaurants. Of course, it is simply unrealistic to get around in one day, therefore, as an aperitif, we recommend a walk on the famous tram, which will allow you to see the most beautiful streets of the old city and not get tired of the fashionable “race”.
Fashionable Routes
If you don’t feel much craving for excursions to historical places or natural beauties, then in Lisbon at your service – there are numerous shops of fashionable designer clothes – for every taste and budget.
The most popular shopping areas are Chiado and Baisha. Chiado is an abundance of expensive boutiques of world and local Portuguese brands that are adjacent to the clothing and grocery markets. Baisha is a district in the city center, where there are many souvenir shops, private ceramics shops, corks and vinotheques.
The entire “heavy” suite is located along Liberty Avenue. Therefore, while we leave the car in the parking lot and enjoy the walk. It is better to start with boutiques, as they closer than other stores. Prada, Luis Vuitton, Gucci … But do not look for a separate Chanel boutique, it is not here, but there is a luxury multi-brand boutique with a quite decent assortment, called Stivali. It also features items from famous brands: from Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Elie Saab to Fendi, Valentino and Chloe.
For more affordable brands, head to the huge El Corte Ingles. By the way, you can visit there in the afternoon, because it’s open until 23:00. There is everything from cosmetics to products, as well as corners with clothes, shoes and accessories. In El Corte Ingles, it is better to go with a car, leaving it for a while in a convenient underground parking lot of the department store. Believe me, at the end of the day you will gratefully recall this advice, loading numerous purchases and making yourself comfortable behind the wheel.
Leave the second day for the most interesting – Freeport Outlet Center. This is the largest outlet in Europe. It is located in the suburbs of Lisbon, near the Vasco da Gama Bridge, so going without a car would be exhausting. Everything is here, so if you didn’t have time to buy something on the first day, then you can easily fix it in the Freeport Outlet Center. The discounts here are real, and taking into account the design of Tax Free, prices will become even more attractive. Sportswear, children’s goods, second-line premium brands, mass-market … Fortunately, all this can fit in the Mitsubishi ASX trunk.
Souvenirs
Sometimes it is simply impossible to resist buying souvenirs, and in this case we also have some useful tips. For the “exotic” to you on Feira da Ladra. This flea market has existed in Lisbon since the 13th century, and in the Alfama area near the walls of the National Pantheon of Portugal, it was found about 130 years ago. Its name is translated from Portuguese as “the thief’s market”, although, of course, it is not like they are selling stolen goods. They sells vintage clothing, antique dishes, antiques and rare books.
From Lisbon, it’s worth trying the local jamon, which is no worse than Spanish version (in Portugal it is called presunto) the meat of the Porco Preto: Portuguese Black Iberian Pig as well as dried salted cod and canned food. Portuguese canned food is a real delicacy. The most popular one is sardines. Also, canned food is made from mackerel, octopus, tuna and others.
If you want to be original, then pay attention to cork products. Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world. Today, not only wine corks are made from this eco-friendly material, but also furniture, accessories, shoes, bags, decor items and much more. Well, turn on the music and let’s go!
