Shopping · Algarve · Portugal
Shopping in Algarve
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Shapiro1983, Public domain
Quick answer
Algarve shopping centres on local crafts and food — ceramics, cork, almond sweets and wine — sold in old-town shops and markets, with large malls near Faro, Albufeira and Portimão for everyday needs. Best souvenirs: Hand-painted ceramics, Cork products and Algarve almond sweets.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Hand-painted ceramics
Where to shop
Lagos old town
Pedestrian streets with ceramics, cork goods, surf shops and boutiques.
Loulé
Craft workshops and shops around the market, including copper, leather and basket makers.
Faro's Rua de Santo António
Faro's main pedestrian shopping street, with Portuguese brands and shoe shops.
Markets
Loulé Market
The Moorish-style market hall and the large Saturday street market.
Olhão Market
Twin waterfront halls for fish and produce, with a busy Saturday market outside.
Monthly village fairs
Many towns hold a monthly market selling clothes, produce and household goods on a fixed weekend or weekday.
What to buy
Hand-painted ceramics
Bowls, plates and tiles in traditional patterns from pottery shops, including those along the EN125 near Porches.
Cork products
Bags, wallets and homeware made from Portuguese cork, which is light and durable.
Algarve almond sweets
Marzipan fruits and fig-and-almond rolls from pastry shops.
Medronho
Strawberry-tree brandy from Monchique producers.
Flor de sal
Hand-harvested sea salt from the Ria Formosa salt pans near Tavira and Castro Marim.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Lagos
Lagos Old Town
Inside the 16th-century walls, Lagos has cobbled squares, the gilded Baroque Igreja de Santo António and the Mercado de Escravos, a museum on the site of what is recorded as the first slave market in Europe in 1444.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Market · Loulé
Loulé Market
Loulé's red-domed, Moorish-revival market hall sells fish, cheese, honey, figs, almonds and local crafts daily except Sundays, and on Saturday mornings a large open-air market spreads across the surrounding streets.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Almond and fig sweets, Dom Rodrigo, Medronho and Custard tart. Pastry shops in Loulé, Faro and Tavira, and stalls at Loulé Market. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Albufeira | $$ | The Algarve's biggest resort, with an old town above the beach and a lively strip |
| Faro | $$ | Regional capital with a walled old town and ferries into the lagoon |
| Praia da Rocha | $$ | High-rise seafront above a vast sandy beach at Portimão |
| Sagres | $$ | Windswept surf town at the edge of Europe near Cape St Vincent |
| Vilamoura | $$$$ | Purpose-built marina resort with golf courses and upscale hotels |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Tipping is modest: around 5–10% in restaurants for good service, or round up the bill. Small change is fine in cafés and taxis.
- Greet with 'Bom dia' or 'Boa tarde' in shops and restaurants.
- Cover up with a shirt or dress when leaving the beach for towns, shops or restaurants.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are July–August.
- June: Festival MED in Loulé — world music (usually late June or July)
- August: Olhão Seafood Festival (usually August)
- August: Silves Medieval Fair (usually August)
- August: Portimão Sardine Festival (usually August)
- September: Festival F — music festival in Faro's old town (usually early September)
- October: Feira de Santa Iria — traditional fair in Faro (usually October)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Algarve?
Hand-painted ceramics, Cork products, Algarve almond sweets and Medronho.
+Where is the best shopping in Algarve?
Lagos old town: Pedestrian streets with ceramics, cork goods, surf shops and boutiques.
+What are the best markets in Algarve?
Loulé Market, Olhão Market and Monthly village fairs.