Even if you tell all your friends you’re not going to buy any souvenirs, I don’t really believe you. You definitely have a short list in your wallet, and that list contains a few names that will be the exceptions of your souvenir ban during Lisbon vacation.
First, let’s clear it out. A souvenir is not necessarily a useless object that is destined to collect dust over dozens of years. You can actually plan your gift-buying wisely, and get things that will definitely be usable.
Wine – Number one thing that is a great souvenir idea. Why? Because people can actually use it . . . or more precisely, enjoy it. Find a tour that includes wine tasting, remember the name of your favorite one, and take a bottle or two back. If you want some specific names, then try Aliança Quinta da Dona, Quinta do Pinto Viognier & Arinto, and Quinta Nova Pomares Tinto.
Fado Music – There’s always a sensitive friend that’s into music. Get a nice Fado music CD for them. Only make sure to buy it after listening to Fado yourself. We have already talked about this, go to the best place you can find Fado in, Alfama (I can never get bored in this district, a place with Lisbon’s best historical architecture and great scenes for photography). So, ask around at Fado bars, find out the names of some Fado artists, and choose the best.
Tiles – I imagine it would look quite funny to give tiles as a present, but if someone is reconstructing or refurnishing their house, yard or garage, there’s no better place to get tiles then in Lisbon. Tiles are not simply a construction material here, they’re more than that, they’re means of expressing art. You will understand this as soon as you visit Lisbon’s Tile Museum. In fact, you can also purchase the tiles in the gift shop. What a great way of being original!
Art – Of course, you won’t buy a Mona Lisa, moreover, you won’t be able to purchase some of the best Portuguese pieces (well, at least that definitely won’t be a souvenir, but a precious gift) or at least a piece from the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, for example. Despite this, there are many local artists that do have talent and potential. They’re not as expensive as the masterpieces, but still, you would buy it for a very important person. Art is not one of the cheapest things in Lisbon.
Postcards and Miniatures – Finally, one of the most typical souvenirs. Let this be your Plan B. Although there are many awesome attractions, their pictures and miniatures are not always interesting. In fact, these are the kinds of gifts that are likely to sit in dust forever. On the contrary, you can combine a few ideas. For example, get someone a T-shirt, a bag or a key chain with the picture of an important attraction. There are many gift shops, but, in my opinion, the best places to buy them are the museum gift shops. The items are always more unique and interesting there. But again, the choice is yours.
