Overview & visitor information
A Spanish chain mall giant, housing over nine floors of pricey but good quality fashion, design and food.
Address: Av Antonio Augusto de Aguiar 31 Metro: Sao Sebastiao Station Website: www.elcorteingles.es
Shopping
El Corte Ingles
A Spanish chain mall giant, housing over nine floors of pricey but good quality fashion, design and food.
City guide
More shopping spots in Lisbon
Keep exploring Lisbon.
lisbonCentro Vasco da Gama
Plaza
A more high-end shopping mall than the others in Lisbon, this glass-roofed complex houses designer fashion, cinemas and food court.
lisbonStory Tailors
Modest dress
A former 18th century bare-brick warehouse, this boutique is an enchanted forest of fashion, with chandeliers and twisted wood furnishings. You’ll find gingham, ruffles and polka-dot fairy-tale inspired designs that have been bought by the likes of Madonna, Janet Jackson and Lily Allen,
lisbonFabrico Infinito
An avant-garde designer palace that showcases recycled items into luxury designs. On any given day you might find jewel encrusted toothpick necklaces, born again chandeliers and funky made over shoes. There is a cafe out the back selling organic produce on golden crockery.
lisbonArticula
Gallery
A gallery/workshop, this place is anti-conformist to the bones, literally. Created by designer Teresa Milheiro, you’ll find recycled, one-off pieces made out of bones, medical tubes and aluminium.
lisbonCentro Comercial Colombo
Plaza
Reported to be one of the largest malls in Europe, this complex has enough shopping stores, 420 at last count, and fun activity places for the whole family. It has many restaurants, a bowling alley, health club, multiplex cinema, funfair with rides including a roller coaster, and a go-cart track.
lisbonArmazens do Chiado
Plaza
A large complex that stocks fashion and cosmetics but mostly specialises in books, music and DVDs.
lisbonPonte Lisboa
A hole-in-the-wall craft workshop, this place presents pieces by Portuguese and Brazilian artists. It is a wonder for children who love to touch the bright felt animals.
lisbonThe Wrong Shop
This shop is perfect if you are looking for off-the-wall souvenirs like Lisbon’s Barcelos rooster in almost every international flag plus rainbow and Portugal flag ones. There are t-shirts with the Eiffel Tower on them, ‘This is not Lisbon’ printed underneath and the blank-paged books that Portugal’s famous novelist Pessoa never wrote.
lisbonLoja CCB
Address: Centro Cultural de Belem Belem Tel: +213 612 410
lisbonFeira da Ladra
Market
A market found on the eastern edge of the Alfama, this is where you may find something memorable to take home with you: bric-a-brac African colonies, old prints of Portugal and inexpensive clothes and CDs. You’ll also find all out junk but if you walk to the top if the feira you might get lucky with the antiques.
More places in Lisbon
Keep exploring Lisbon.
lisbonWhat to do with Children in Tow
Activity
The great thing about Lisbon is that it’s full of the little things that can delight a child: the bumpy rides on the yellow trams to acting out dungeons and dragons at Castelo de Sao Jorge. In fact Lisbon is one of the most family-friendly cities around with free or half-priced tickets, small portions at restaurants and free transport for children under five. The best place to start their adventure is Parque das Naples where they can run around; nearby is Oceanario (
lisbonMiradouro de Santa Catarina
Sight
Found in boho Santa Catarina, this viewpoint boasts views from the river to the Ponte 25 de Abril and Christo Rei not to mention student buskers, hippies and loved-up couples. If you are coming from Cais do Sodre, take the 19th century Elevador do Bica funicular up the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo to get to the top. Noobai Cafe is located there where it is lovely to sit back and watch the view, especially at night.
lisbonTorre de Belem (Belem Tower)
Tower
If Padrao dos Descobrimentos is the monument to Portugal’s Age of Discovery then Torre de Belem symbolises the essence of it. Almost like a stand-alone chess piece, the tower was built to be a defence point along Lisbon’s harbour with Manueline designed filigree stonework and even a stone rhinoceros below the western tower. You can explore the small dungeons and climb the narrow, rickety staircase to the tower which offers beautiful views of Belem and the river.
lisbonPonte 25 de Abril
Bridge
You would swear this bridge is almost a dead ringer for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge – in fact it was constructed by the same company in 1966 and is almost as long, stretching at 2.27km. Concerning the unusual name, the bridge was called Salazar after the dictator until the 1974 Revolution of Carnations when a demonstrator separated the ‘Salazar’ and wrote ‘’25 de Abril’ – the new name was adopted almost as quickly as the dictatorship dissolved later on.
lisbonMosteriro dos Jeronimos
Religious institution
Built to herald the success of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India in 1498, this monastery is a beautiful structure, definitely wrought for ‘the glory of God’. This place was first occupied by monks under the Order of St Jerome; on dissolving in 1833, the building was used as a school and orphanage until 1940. Once you enter the church, after marvelling at the intricate stonework, you’ll find Vasco da Gama’s tomb in the lower chancel towards the left, celebrated poet Luis Vaz de Camoes is interred on the opposite. The view of the church from the upper choir is outstanding and the rows of seats are decorated with the first Renaissance woodcarvings ever found in Portugal. The Manueline cloisters are an eyeful of elaborate craftsmanship while you can also see the cross of the Military order and gargoyles in the upper balustrade.
lisbonPadrao dos Descobrimentos (The Discovery Monument)
monument
This amazing monument was officially inaugurated in 1960, marking 500 years after the death of Henry the Navigator’s death. Standing at 52m high and carved out of limestone, this statue pays tribute to all the famous people within Portugal’s Age of Discovery: Henry stands at the prow followed by Vasco da Gama, Diogo Cao and over thirty over great explorers. The mosaic in front of the monument is a chart of all the routes the explorers took. To get to the top you can take a lift or, if you’re feeling fit, climb the 267 steps to get 360 degree views of the river.
lisbonPalacio da Assembleia da Republica (Assembly of the Republic)
Building
Almost a temple, with its columns and statues symbolising justice and fortitude, this is where Portuguese parliament convene. While you can’t go in, it’s worth just to see the outside decor.
lisbonMuseu da Marioneta (Puppet Museum)
Museum
This magical museum is housed in the 17th century Convento das Bernadas and showcase all sorts of puppets the world over. There are familiar favourites like Punch and Petrushka but there are also Vietnamese water puppets, Sicilian opera marionettes and Burmese shadow puppets. The museum also offers workshops where children can try their hand at puppetry.
lisbonBasilica da Estrela
Churches
Completed in 1790 by Dona Maria I (her tomb is here) in gratitude for the male heir, this neoclassical church is a beautiful mix of pink and black marble. Opposite is the Jardim da Estrela (7am-midnight) which is a great garden to relax in, along with a playground for the children.
lisbonElevador de Santa Justa
Tower
Looking at this neo-Gothic elevator you would swear you’ve seen something like it before – that’s because it was designed by Rual Mesnier, the apprentice of Gustave Eiffel. The only vertical street lift in the city, get in early to beat the crowds and go to the top to experience all-encompassing views of the city.
More restaurants in Lisbon
Keep exploring Lisbon.
lisbonMartinho da Arcada
Address: Praca do Comercio 3 Tel: +218 879 259 Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon-Sat
lisbonSul
Address: Rua do Norte 13 Tel: +213 462 449 Type: dinner
lisbonOlivier
Address: Rua do teixeira 35 Tel: +213 431 405 Type: Dinner Mon-Sat
lisbonO Faz Figura
Address: Rua do Paraiso 15B Tel: + 218 868 901 Type: Lunch and dinner Tue-Sun, dinner Mon
lisbonGambrinus
Address: Rua das Portas de Santo Antao 23-25 Tel: +213 421 466
lisbonNood
Address: Largo Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 20 Tel: +213 474 141 Opening Times: Noon-midnight Sun-Thu, noon-2am Fri-Sat
lisbonEverest Montanha
Location: Calcada do Garcia Type: Lunch and dinner Mon-Sat
lisbonEl Gordo II
Tapas like octopus in smoked paprika, pimento peppers and cod pastries make this place hard to resist; you can also eat alfresco here.
lisbonPao Pao Queijo Queijo
Address: Rua de Belem 124 Tel: +213 626 369 Opening Times: 8am-midnight Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm Sun
lisbonCravo e Canela
Address: Rua da Barroca 70 Tel: +213 431 858 Type: Dinner Tues-Sun