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Lisbon souvenirs: The best gifts and keepsakes to bring home
From traditional hand-painted azulejo tiles to Roosters of Barcelos with centuries of history, find out what the best Lisbon souvenirs are.
Hand-painted azulejo tiles, premium canned sardines, and Portuguese wine make their way into thousands of suitcases leaving Lisbon every year.
To help you bring back the best Lisbon souvenirs, we have our local Holaflyer, Rita Sequeira, who will share insights on what to buy and where to find souvenirs while exploring the city.
Plus, we tell you how an eSIM for Portugal can help you find an ATM for cash-only stalls, check currency exchange rates before buying cork products, or simply check your bank account before snagging a deal.
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Activate your Portugal eSIM in a few simple steps and explore at your own pace.
Top 10 Lisbon souvenirs
So, according to Rita, what are the 10 best souvenirs from Lisbon?
1. Hand-painted azulejo tiles
“A traditional hand-painted azulejo tile is probably one of the most iconic gifts from Lisbon.” – Rita Sequeira.
Hand-painted azulejo tiles are one of the best souvenirs from Lisbon, and these are widely available in traditional Lisbon neighborhoods, such as Alfama, Chiado, and Príncipe Real, where it’s easier to find artisan shops with authentic hand-painted tiles like Lisbon’s Tiles and Cortiço & Netos.
It’s better to avoid mass-produced tourist stalls, which usually have a flat, uniform gloss and zero brush relief, which is a clear indication of mass production.
Note: Some street sellers illegally make these tiles by stealing them from walls and murals, so always buy from a respectable buyer instead.
2. Premium canned sardines
Fresh seafood and bacalhau are some of the best foods in Lisbon. But what if you could take a taste of the Atlantic Ocean home with you in a tin?
“Premium canned sardines have become a cultural symbol, with vintage-year tins and decorative packaging making them more unique” – Rita Sequeira.
Rita tells us that premium canned sardines have become a cultural symbol, with vintage-year tins and decorative packaging making them more unique.
For travelers looking for canned sardines, it’s best to head over to Baixa, where many stores are available, but the Coserveira de Lisboa should be the go-to place to buy these.
3. Cork products
“Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer—cork bags, wallets, and notebooks are lightweight and easy to travel with.” – Rita Sequeira.
You can find all types of cork souvenirs in Lisbon, including bags, wallets, notebooks, and accessories, all of which are lightweight and easy to carry while traveling.
These are practical, sustainable souvenirs that are unmistakably Portuguese.
To find the best cork products, head over to Chiado; it’s where the best shops are, but you can still find some throughout Lisbon.
4. Port wine
Port wine is one of the most common local gifts among Portuguese people, and you can take it as the ideal gift to bring home.
This wine comes from the Douro Valley, one of the best day trips from Porto, as the rolling green vineyards and trips across the river, accompanied by a delicious wine, make it totally worth it.
You can still make this trip from Lisbon and consider staying overnight to really experience the aromas of rural Portugal.
Too much to add to your schedule? Then visit BytheWine, Garrafeira Nacional, and Lisbon Winery to get an authentic port wine.
5. Ginjinha
Authentic ginjinha is almost impossible to find outside of Portugal, making it a great souvenir that’s easy to carry back home.
These are made of ginja berries, and Óbidos is a great place to find them, and it’s also a day trip destination you should consider when traveling to Lisbon.
“A good bottle of liquor like ginjinha is one of the best choices, and you can try it and get one while exploring Rossio.“ – Rita Sequeira.
6. Portuguese olive oil
If you’re looking for artisanal products, Rita highly recommends gifting Portuguese olive oil, which is no surprise, considering they consume over 8 liters of olive oil per year, per person.
These come from the Alentejo region and are cold-pressed; you can expect to spend anywhere from €7 to €15 for high-quality brands such as Gallo and organic state varieties. You can find these vacuum-packed, so they’re easy to carry in your luggage.
7. Fleur de sel (Flor de sal)
Fleur de sel is also a great option for food souvenirs, as this hand-harvested salt is known for its clean flavor and higher natural moisture compared to traditional salt.
These are harvested from Portuguese salt flats and are considered a premium, genuinely local product.
“Fleur de sel is a great gift, as it is easy to travel with and can last for months; just make sure to look for vacuum-packed versions.” – Rita Sequeira.
8. Pastel de nata (for eating, not gifting)
When it comes to popular Lisbon food, here’s what Rita says:
“Portugal is internationally known for its gastronomy, including pastéis de nata (pastel de nata).” – Rita Sequeria.
This is the most famous Portuguese sweet, and even though it’s best eaten on the same day, you can find packaged versions.
You could also look for pastel de nata recipe kits, which usually include baking molds, custard mix, and step-by-step instructions for preparing them at home.
However, you can look for packaged versions or buy recipe kits before you leave, so you can try to replicate pastel de nata back home.
But remember to take your time to visit Belém to try these, as no trip to Lisbon is complete without trying its most iconic dessert.
9. Roosters of Barcelos and sardine-themed items
“Roosters of Barcelos are some of the most recognizable Portuguese symbols.” – Rita Sequeira.
These are fun, affordable souvenirs with a story dating back to the 17th century, in which the folk tale of the rooster of Barcelos recounts a dead rooster that miraculously intervened to prove the innocence of a man who was falsely convicted and sentenced to death.
There are different versions available, with the black one being the original and a symbol of dignity. There are other versions, such as:
- Red: Means passion and justice.
- Blue: Means faith and loyalty.
- Yellow: Means generosity and prosperity.
- Green: Means hope and renewal.
10. Embroidered textiles and handcrafted ceramics
Some last souvenirs to look out for while visiting Lisbon are embroidered textiles and handcrafted ceramics. These are great representatives of Portuguese craft.
Alfama and Príncipe Real are great neighborhoods for looking for handmade products, as artisan workshops are quite common.
Viana do Castelo is also a great option, as here it’s easy to find embroidery pieces that are truly distinctive gifts from Lisbon.
Honorable mentions
If you have some room left in your luggage, here are some ideas you could consider to gift back at home:
- Bolo Rei: This seasonal product is widely available during the Christmas season and makes a great gift for those with a sweet tooth.
- Almond sweets and Travesseiros de Sintra: These are available on a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra; they make great sweet gifts from a fairy-tale-like region.
- LX Factory items: Home to many independent Portuguese brands, it’s easy to find a wide variety of local products, including clothing, artisanal goods, and other unique souvenirs.
- Portuguese coffee beans: These blend Arabica and Robusta beans, resulting in unique flavors and aromas, with subtle earthy and cocoa notes that coffee lovers will appreciate.
Where to buy souvenirs in Lisbon
You’ll see plenty of souvenir stores when walking around Lisbon, but not all of them are great options for travelers to get the perfect gift.
This is because you might encounter tourist-trap stores with higher prices or street stalls selling illegal items, such as stolen azulejos, which are best avoided.
Here are some recommendations from Rita regarding where to buy and what to avoid:
- Feira da Ladra: This one is Rita’s top pick to find authentic antiques and handmade crafts. Available on Tuesday and Saturday mornings near Alfama.
- Embaixada: Rita recommends this as a place to find independent brands and design products. Worth the visit, as it’s located in a space in the 19th-century palace in Príncipe Real.
- LX Factory: Rita recommends this as a great place to find Portuguese brands, contemporary artisans, and design products, with Sunday being the best day, as it’s when the market runs.
- Chiado and Príncipe Real: Rita’s top neighborhoods to find handmade ceramics, soaps, cork products, textiles, and jewelry.
Before visiting any of these places, consider these two tips from Rita:
- Many small artisan shops close for lunch and on Sundays, so plan accordingly when you’re buying your souvenirs.
- Avoid the Rossio and Baixa tourist-facing souvenir stalls (except for the sardines). These are overpriced and generic, with the same items being available at markets and artisan shops.
Make Lisbon’s souvenir shopping easy with an eSIM for Portugal
When visiting Lisbon, you’ll need mobile internet to navigate the different neighborhoods to find the ideal souvenir but also to check your bank account and see if you have enough for different Roosters of Barcelos.
The idea is to have a reliable option, such as Holafly’s eSIM for Portugal, rather than relying on public WiFi.
With Holafly, you get unlimited data, 5G data speeds, and customizable data plans that fit your travel schedule.
You also get the Always On perk at no extra cost, which gives you 1 GB of backup data when you need it most, simply by keeping your eSIM installed.
Connectivity made easy
Activate your Portugal eSIM in a few simple steps and explore at your own pace.
FAQs
The Roosters of Barcelona are among the best souvenirs from Portugal because of their story and meaning. Cork products and hand-painted azulejos are also top-tier Lisbon souvenirs.
Portuguese olive oil, port wine, and hand-painted azulejos are great gifts to take back to the US from Portugal.
It depends on what you’re looking for. Alfama, Príncipe Real, Baixa, and Alentejo are great places to visit to buy local souvenirs.
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
