Description
If you're stuck because it's raining, Lisbon has the largest shopping malls of the entire Iberian peninsula to pass the time within. Centro Comercial Colombo, located off the blue Metro-line's Colegio Militar-Luz stop, has over 500 shops, a huge food court designed like you're eating in a forest's tree house, and a playcenter/amusement park which includes a bowling alley, roller-coaster and go-cart tracks.
Complexo das Amoreiras surrendered "the largest" title when Colombo was built within the last few years. This shopping mall complex can be reached by any west-bound bus departing from Marques de Pombal.
The third mega-shopping center is located at the edge of the Expo '98 complex next to the metro and train stations.
These shopping malls are basically what you'd expect - chic, trendy and not the inexpensive, authentic buys you find in the Mom & Pop stores of "Old Portugal".
Portugal is known for it's fine-crafted leather goods that can be inexpensively found all over Lisbon; especially in stores located within the downtown central area. Shoe stores are everywhere, but not all men should get there hopes up for finding a good deal unless you have small feet. Shoes sized 10 are scarce; 10-half's rare. Anything larger - forget it! Most guidebooks give charts to convert American sizing into the general ones used in Europe.
A 10-half sized shoe will be a "44" in Lisbon. Imagine their shock when having to ask for a "49"! As a population in general, the Portuguese are rather small, petite people...except when it comes to the calf muscles in ladies' legs from climbing all those stairs. I'm 6'4", weighing 205 with a 34-36 waist. They don't make clothes for guys our size so don't waste your time looking...period!