Shopping · Porto · Portugal
Shopping in Porto
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Guinness323, CC0
Quick answer
Porto is good for tinned fish, port, cork and ceramics, with traditional grocers alongside design shops. Rua de Santa Catarina is the main shopping street, and Cedofeita has independent boutiques. Best souvenirs: Port wine, Tinned fish and Azulejo tiles.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Port wine
Where to shop
Rua de Santa Catarina
Pedestrian shopping street with chains, old cafés and a shopping centre.
Rua das Flores
Restored street with design shops, artisan products and cafés between São Bento and Ribeira.
Cedofeita and Miguel Bombarda
Independent fashion, galleries and concept stores.
Markets
Bolhão Market
Restored historic market for fresh produce, cheese, cured meats and preserves.
Feira da Vandoma
A Saturday-morning flea market selling second-hand goods and antiques.
What to buy
Port wine
Buy directly from the lodges in Gaia, which can advise on aged tawnies and vintages.
Tinned fish
Sardines, mackerel and octopus in colourful retro tins from traditional grocers.
Azulejo tiles
Hand-painted reproduction tiles or genuine antique tiles from reputable dealers.
Cork products
Bags, wallets and homeware made from Portuguese cork.
Portuguese soaps
Beautifully wrapped artisanal soaps from long-established Porto brands.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Architecture · Baixa and Aliados
Livraria Lello
Opened in 1906, this neo-Gothic bookshop has a carved wooden interior, a stained-glass skylight and a curving crimson staircase.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Market · Baixa and Aliados
Bolhão Market
Porto's main 19th-century market reopened in 2022 after a long restoration, with two levels of stalls selling fish, fruit, flowers, cheese, cured meats and preserves, plus small restaurants serving market-fresh dishes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bifana, Pastel de nata, Port wine and Vinho verde. Cafés and snack bars all over the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Baixa and Aliados | $$$ | Grand avenue, São Bento station, Bolhão market and Rua de Santa Catarina shopping |
| Cedofeita and Miguel Bombarda | $$ | Arts quarter of galleries, concept stores and cafés west of the centre |
| Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront | $$$ | Port-wine lodges, the cable car and the classic view back across to Ribeira |
| Boavista | $$ | Wide avenues, Casa da Música and the road to Serralves |
| Matosinhos | $$ | Neighbouring fishing town with a wide surf beach and grilled-fish restaurants |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Tipping is modest: leaving small change in cafés and about 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected.
- Greet with 'Bom dia' (good morning) or 'Boa tarde' (good afternoon) when entering a shop or café.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February and November; the busiest months are June–August.
- February: Fantasporto — international film festival (usually February or March)
- May: Queima das Fitas — student festival (usually early May)
- June: Primavera Sound Porto — music festival (usually June)
- December: Christmas lights and market on the Avenida dos Aliados (usually December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, food lovers and families
Baixa and Aliados
Grand avenue, São Bento station, Bolhão market and Rua de Santa Catarina shopping
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Porto?
Port wine, Tinned fish, Azulejo tiles and Cork products.
+Where is the best shopping in Porto?
Rua de Santa Catarina: Pedestrian shopping street with chains, old cafés and a shopping centre.
+What are the best markets in Porto?
Bolhão Market and Feira da Vandoma.