Christmas Shopping in Lisbon
It’s now December and Christmas is just around the corner. The ornamented trees are going up, the streets are decorated with lights, and you’re making your Christmas shopping list. Lisbon has gotten ready for all of that, and has unveiled a new identity for its most cosmopolitan neighborhood. Called “Chiado – Lisbon Trend Mark”, this new “brand” for the cultural and commercial heart of the city has placed banners around the Chiado neighborhood identifying it as the place for the most international and highest-quality shops for your shopping needs. There are the Hermés and Hugo Boss shops that most can’t afford, but also more affordable labels such as Diesel and H&M. For memorable quality Portuguese gifts there are the Vista Alegre, A Vida Portuguesa, or Joalheria do Carmo shops.
To make sure customers are not tempted to go to the city’s shopping malls instead, most of the area’s shops are going to stay open until 8PM on weekdays and until 11PM on Saturdays. This has proven to be a successful decision, judging by the recent long lines at the Nespresso shop late in the evening or all the browsing for books at the historical Bertrand bookshop as late as 10PM. The special Christmas lights and decorations in the neighborhood add to the Christmas spirit, and are thankfully more tasteful than the ugly commercially-sponsored decorations in Rossio or Comercio squares this year (try to overlook them if you’re in Lisbon this holiday season).
But because Christmas is not just about shopping, Chiado’s São Carlos Theater will present special performances of “The Nutcracker” . They take place on December 5, 6, and 11th at 9PM and on the 7h and 13th at 4PM.
Although we “finally” got plenty of rain here in Lisbon this weekend, it looks like another joyous holiday season in the city, starting with the inauguration of Europe’s largest Christmas tree, and ending with Chiado’s new “trend mark.”
