Shopping in Portugal can encompass a bit of everything. From bustling marketplaces and modern shopping malls to dinky souvenir shops and traditional pastelerias, you’ll find a shop selling just about anything. The Iberian nation is also famed for its authentic souvenirs, such as azulejos (ceramic tiles), cork products and embroidered items; all of which are ideal keepsakes to serve as reminders of your trip for years to come. Keen to stuff your suitcase with some Portuguese trinkets? We’ve compiled this handy guide to help you decide where to begin with shopping in Portugal…
Markets
Portuguese markets vary from dinky village affairs (with a few produce stalls) to larger town events that take place weekly and offer all manner of goods. Both types showcase a slice of authentic Portuguese life and are great places to pick up fresh ingredients and traditional snacks. Some of our favourite larger markets include:
- Feira do Relógio: a sprawling Sunday street market that takes place in Lisbon’s Olivais neighbourhood, selling everything from flowers and fresh fruit, to antiques, clothing and furniture (if you have the means of getting it home!)
- Feira da Ladra: a twice-weekly flea market spanning a few hilly streets near Alfama, in Lisbon
- Mercado Da Ribeira (Time Out Market Lisboa): open daily from 10am until midnight, the Time Out Market has become a Lisbon institution. Visit for a curated selection of Portugal’s best cultural food stalls all under one roof
- Mercado do Bolhão: a historic market built across different levels in Porto, selling farm-fresh produce and savoury local delicacies
Supermarkets and Malls
Minimercados (minimarket) are a mainstay of small villages and towns in Portugal, offering everything you’d expect to find in a convenience store. For a wider selection of products and produce, you’ll find that supermercados (supermarkets) tend to be located on the outskirts of towns. In the larger cities of Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and the Algarve, shopping malls are ever-present and equipped with myriad stores, cafes, restaurants and cinemas. As in most European cities, Portugal has its own hub of high-fashion boutiques. Head to Lisbon’s Avenida da Liberdade for international names or the Bairro Alto for local cutting-edge styles.
Traditional Souvenirs
Shopping in Portugal wouldn’t be complete without picking up some souvenirs, and there’s no shortage of keepsake options here. Ceramics are probably the most popular; from traditional azulejos (patterned tiles) to elaborate hand-painted homewares. The Rooster of Barcelos is a ubiquitous good luck symbol in Portugal and another popular holiday memento, while cork products are also abundant (Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world). Other authentic gifts include embroidered items (such as colchas, embroidered bedspreads from Castelo Branco), leather goods, kitchen earthenware and hand-woven rugs or blankets (often from Alentejo).
Food & Drink
You can’t really go wrong with gifting food or wine, and if you’d like to bring a taste of the country home with you, there are a few Portuguese fares that can be found while shopping in Portugal. Port wine (which, as the name would suggest, comes from Porto) is up there as the most popular export; sample offerings in the wine bars of Porto or Lisbon before purchasing. Pastel de nata are Portugal’s most well-known (and tasty) dessert found in pastelerias across the country (although make sure to check your country’s food importation laws before packing any), while olive oil also makes a lovely gift (the best ones hail from estates in the Douro Valley). Portugal is renowned for the quality of its cheese and ham as well, and vacuum-packed options are easy to transport home.
