Small, independently owned stores are still quite common in Lisbon, and salespeople are courteous almost everywhere. Handmade goods, such as leather handbags, shoes, gloves, embroidery, ceramics, and basketwork, are sold throughout the city. Apart from top designer fashions and high-end antiques, prices are moderate. Most shops are open weekdays 9-1 and 3-7 and Saturday 9-1; malls and supermarkets often remain open until at least 10. Some are also open on Sunday. Credit cards -- Visa in particular -- are widely accepted.

Although fire destroyed much of Chiado in 1988, Lisbon's smartest shopping district, a good portion of the area has been restored. The neighborhood has a large new shopping complex as well as many small stores with considerable cachet, particularly on and around Rua Garrett. The Baixa's grid of streets from the Rossío to the Rio Tejo have many small shops selling jewelry, shoes, clothing, and foodstuffs. The Bairro Alto is full of little crafts shops with stylish, contemporary ceramics, wooden sculpture, linen, and clothing. Excellent stores continue to open in the residential districts north of the city, at Praça de Londres and Avenida de Roma.