As Christmas approaches, many Portuguese people go to shopping centers at the last minute to buy gifts. It is not always possible to plan purchases in advance, so knowing the least busy days and times is essential.
Shopping centers analyzed
According to the lifestyle magazine Women’s Health, the analysis focused on three reference shopping centers in Portugal NorteShopping in Porto Fórum Coimbra and Colombo in Lisbon.
The study sought to understand visitor behavior and identify the days and times when the centers are least busy, thus offering a useful reference for those who want to shop for Christmas with greater peace of mind.
According to the same source, the objective was to determine the quietest periods to carry out Christmas shopping, avoiding the busiest times.
The information aims to allow consumers to plan their visit to shopping centers more efficiently and make better use of their time, minimizing contact with crowds and long queues in stores.
Quieter days
According to the same source, weekdays are generally the most suitable. Saturday and Sunday attract the largest influx of visitors as most people have the day off.
Fridays are at an intermediate level with more movement compared to the other days, but without comparing to that recorded on weekends.
Recommended times
During the week, it is recommended to visit shopping centers in the morning until 11am or at the end of the night around 9pm, when the movement slows down. On Fridays, the flow of people increases in the late afternoon after working hours, making the morning the most recommended period.
Even on weekends when the movement is naturally more intense, the advice from the same source is to opt for the first opening hours or the period immediately before the stores close.
According to , this strategy reduces waiting time in queues and avoids the busiest times.
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