The geek guide to Lisbon

The only museum in Portugal dedicated to videogames was inaugurated this year and it takes us to the very start of the electronic entertainment world. Arcades, computers, old game consoles and an never-ending videogames library that make us sigh for simpler times, when running a game in Zx Spectrum was a really complicated task. This journey in time also implies a trip to Fundação Marquês de Pombal, in Oeiras.

Action figures, rarities and limited editions make this little store in Picoas a mandatory pit stop for collectors, cinema, comic books or videogames fans. They are not playing toys (there’s people who won’t even unbox them) and they are not meant to decorate birthday cakes. Instead, they’re sophisticated sculptures that may cost hundreds of euros. If you are looking for a lightsaber or a 33 inches (24 centimeters) Iron Man you definitely have to come here.

This bookstore, specialized in comic books, supplies the best and the latest comic books to the good people of Lisbon since 1994. It has an excellent catalog that even includes French comics and the latest on graphic novels. The service, online and offline, is irreproachable. It also sells action figures.

This manga store, whose book publisher has the same name, also sells comics, merchandising and the super popular Funko Pops, those small culture toys that imitate all sorts of movie, series, comic books and videogames characters.

Model aircraft making may not appeal to younger generations, but this store in Avenida Madrid knew how to adapt to the modern age. This is, it knew how to go along with this drone craze. This is the best place to buy these modern aerostats, these mechanic and loud birds that would make Bartolomeu de Gusmão proud.

The MILL, at the most sloped street of Colina de Santana, is the headquarters of Lisbon’s makers. And what are makers, you ask. They are people who get their hands on programming, robotic, 3D prints and a huge et cetera of other projects. In other words, they are in love with electronic bricolage and with bits and bytes instead of drills and chisels. At MILL there are workshops to learn about these things and there’s also a community garage for people who need a place to develop their own projects.

A Meca for all board games, wargames and RPG’s lovers in Lisbon. In other words, a place where you can acquire and play with far more complex things other than Monopoly. It also hosts Magic, The Gatering tournaments.