During the Christmas season, many cities around the world decorate their main avenues with Christmas lights and decorations. The celebrations can include special events such as markets, musical shows, parades and, of course, lots of activities for all families. This year, Christmas on Avenida de Liberdade will be no different!
It starts at Parque Eduardo VII, with Wonderland Lisboa, and goes all the way down to the Rossio Christmas Market.
After our walk through Chiado and Baixa, we took a short hop to Avenida da Liberdade, to see the windows of the most famous and expensive stores in the world.
On both sides of this avenue you’ll find wide, huge sidewalks and, next to them, some of the most expensive stores money can buy: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Guess, Prada, Massimo Duti, Rimowa, Cartier, Versace, Hackett London, among other fashion giants.
Avenida da Liberdade is one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares but, as you know, it’s not these stores that we usually talk about.
Come with us to find out the best-kept secrets of this avenue!
Christmas on Avenida da Liberdade
“All the saints help”! So let’s start this journey up there, next to Parque Eduardo VII, where we suggest you follow our route, just to enjoy this area at the top of Avenida da Liberdade.
This is also where you’ll find one of the biggest and best-known Christmas Markets in Lisbon. We’re talking, of course, about Wonderland Lisboa.
Then, all along Avenida da Liberdade, on the central sidewalks, you’ll find the now famous Christmas Fair, promoted by Associação Avenida, which guarantees lots of entertainment until December 29th.
The Christmas spirit will take over Lisbon’s most glamorous boulevard , with treats, magicians, characters on stilts and a Christmas band spreading joy at the Avenida Fair, now with 130 stalls and a very entertaining program:
- December 7 and 8: magician and entertainers on stilts, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- December 9, 10, 11, 12: magician from 4pm to 6pm
- December 13: mime from 4pm to 6pm
- December 14: Christmas band from 3pm to 6pm
- December 15: entertainers on stilts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and mime from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- December 16: pampering from 4pm to 6pm
Because the most expensive stores on Avenida da Liberdade occupy almost all of the avenue’s façades, sometimes you have to wander down the side streets or small squares next to the avenue to find real Lisbon treasures, such as the A Veneziana ice cream parlor, located in Praça dos Restauradores, known for its original ice cream recipes made with 100% natural products and ingredients.
Ice cream isn’t something you can give as a present, but a visit to this place while you’re doing your Christmas shopping will certainly be a moment you’ll remember forever.
Also in Praça dos Restauradores, at number 47A, is one of our favourite ready-to-wear stores , Lourenço & Santos, which is distinctive and specializes in men’s clothing, made in-house.
As well as clothes, at Lourenço & Santos you’ll also find footwear and various accessories for the modern man, making it one of our Christmas suggestions for a unique and elegant gift.
Now that we’ve been to the top and bottom of Avenida da Liberdade, how about a visit to the center?
That’s how we arrive at the Maria João Bahia jewelry store, located at number 102 on the avenue.
Founded in 1985 on Rua da Madalena, the space you’ll find on Avenida da Liberdade bears the signature of architect Gonçalo Vilas Boas and consists of two spaces: the store is on the ground floor and the atelier and workshop are upstairs.
As well as designer jewelry, you’ll be able to buy some unique gifts, such as cutlery, decorative pieces, accessories and even trophies. Got an idea in mind?
If you’re looking for another type of gift, for example, something more related to music, our favorite place on Avenida da Liberdade is the Hard Rock Cafe.
Here you’ll find a multitude of articles about this brand, recognized all over the world, including products designed for the Christmas season.
If you’re a fan, you’ll love the Hard Rock Cafe window display.
We’d also like to highlight the Hotel Britania, located on Rua Rodrigues Sampaio, which crosses Avenida da Liberdade.
And what can you do in an 80s hotel? For example, go there and buy a voucher to enjoy a night in one of the hotels in the Heritage Lisboa chain. Say we’re not friends?
And while we’re on the subject of hotels, we can’t leave out one of the best known on this avenue, the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, which this Christmas season is offering Michelin-starred dinners at CURA, intimate dinners at the Varanda restaurant, festive brunches, winter huts with hot chocolate and s’mores, festive cocktails at the Ritz Bar and the charming Festive Afternoon Tea at the cozy Almada Negreiros Lounge.
Finally, we leave you with one of our favorite stores on Avenida da Liberdade, the Hippie Cafe Store, where you’re sure to find the most original gifts this Christmas.
The Hippie Cafe Store is located at number 13A on the avenue, before you reach Calçada da Glória, where the Glória Elevator takes you to Bairro Alto.
In this unusual Lisbon store you can buy everything from pieces of art to mugs and signs.
It’s unbelievable how many trinkets you’ll find here.