Shopping in Portugal

No matter where in Portugal you are there are plenty of shops and many great deals to be made.

Portugal has everything from small local markets to huge shopping malls and trendy little boutiques. If you want to experience the daily life of many Portuguese people, you should visit one of the many marketplaces that can be found in almost any town and larger cities. They sell food and vegetables as well as souvenirs often quite cheaply.

There are many good things to buy in Portugal; Leather goods are of excellent quality and for example Portuguese shoes are excellent and exported to all over the world. Also copperware, crystal and embroidered linen are good things to consider buying or how about some good quality cork products.

Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork, so it is a good place to buy products made from cork like dinner mat, coasters etc. Also the traditional hand-painted tiles and pottery are worth taking a look at. Each region has its own special style and variations, and if you buy them locally, prices are quite reasonable; furthermore they make great gifts and souvenirs.

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Shopping in Lisbon

Lisbon is a very popular spot for shopping and for a reason. The district of Chiado is a great choice for your shopping trip. It is a traditional shopping area located between the neighbourhoods of Bairro Alto and Baixa Pombalina with a mixture of old and new shops and locals and tourist alike come to this area especially to buy books, clothing and pottery.

The neighbouring area of Bairro Alto is a historical district where you will find many traditional as well as contemporary shops and endless opportunities for your shopping.

Lisbon’s main avenue is Avenida da Liberdade in the downtown area of Baixa; one of the most exclusive shopping districts in Lisbon and is a long avenue full of designer shops with names like Louis Vuitton and Burburry. In this area you will also find some excellent shopping malls like Amoreiras and Colombo which is one of the biggest in Europe with more than 500 shops on three different levels.

Another shopping centre worth mentioning is the Vasco da Gama located in the Expo zone; a shopping mall on three levels with about 200 shops, a food court and a cinema.

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Shopping in Porto

The northern capital of Portugal is a true shopper’s paradise with a reputation for excellent fashion design, fantastic footwear and beautiful jewellery, but no matter what you are looking for, you will be sure to find it in Porto.

Porto’s downtown is a beautiful historic district where most of the shops are located in the pedestrian area of Rua Santa Catarina; Porto’s main commercial area. Here you will be able to find everything from high street chains like Zara and Mango to antiques and designer boutiques. In this area you can also find some great shopping malls like Centro Commercial via Catarina and Centro Commercial Peninsular which is the biggest shopping centre in the city. Close by is the famous open-air market Mercado de Bolao which is a big market place where you can find food, spices, souvenirs as well as many other things.

Boavista is another great area for shopping. It is a lively district full of shops and restaurants. If you prefer to have everything under one roof head to Centro Comercial Cidada do Porto which is a great shopping centre in the same area.

One thing you must be sure to buy, when visiting Porto, is a bottle of the famous and very tasty Porto wine. Most of the city’s wine lodges are situated at Vila Nova de Gaia and some of them also offer guided tours and wine tasting which is also worth trying.

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Shopping in the Algarve

Although the Algarve is mostly known for its fantastic beaches and sunny weather, you will also be able to get your shopping needs fulfilled if you are visiting this region.

The Algarve firstly offers some great shopping centres; The Algarve Shopping in Guia, just outside Albufeira, is a modern shopping mall and entertainment complex where you can find many well known shops like Zara and Mango as well as the huge grocery store Continente. The centre also offers a great range of cafés and restaurants and a multiplex cinema.
Forum Algarve is another shopping centre in Faro close to the airport. It is half in the open and half undercover and has a great selection of shops, restaurants and also a mulitiplex cinema.

Located directly at the entry to the beautiful resort of Quinta do Lago is Quinta Shopping. It is a smaller shopping area, but very elegant and with exclusive designer shops and restaurants.

The Algarve is well-known for its beautiful pottery and fantastic traditional hand-painted tiles, and Casa Algarve in Porches is one of the best places to go if you are looking to buy these items. They have a great selection of handmade regional products and fantastic service, but other shops along the N125 also sell beautiful pottery and some even offer to arrange international carriage.

Finally, most towns and larger villages have covered market places where you can find great local food and vegetables as well as souvenirs.

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