10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Porto

Active for over 100 years, Mercado do Bolhão is Porto’s favourite fresh market. The bi-level market hall occupies an entire city block in the centre of downtown. On the main floor, 79 vendors sell their produce, flowers, fish and meats and a few small restaurants sell inexpensive homestyle meals. On the second level, shops sell cheeses, olives, pastries and other local products.

After a recent renovation, the market is now covered, but it’s still bright with natural light. Some stalls here cater to tourists, but the chatty sellers and bustling atmosphere ensure this is an authentic market experience.

Rua Santa Catarina is Porto’s busiest shopping street. Alive and kicking from the early morning, this narrow street extends 1,500 metres north of the historic centre. The world’s most popular brands have storefronts here, think Zara, Levi’s, Flying Tiger, as well as locally owned shops that you’ll find mostly in the branching alleyways.

There are a few things outside of retail that you won’t want to miss. One is the Portuguese-style croissants at Confeitaria Aquarela, made with super soft brioche dough and optionally filled with cheese. Then there are the architectural gems: the blue-and-white-tiled facade of Capela das Almas and the Art Deco charm of the iconic Café Majestic.

NorteShopping is one of those rare shopping malls that has pretty much everything you could want. With more than 250 shops, there’s something for every taste and budget. All the big names are present, from Primark to Calzedonia. The only downside is that it’s located about 30 minutes outside the city centre, but it’s easily accessible by public transportation.

The mall also has a giant supermarket, a children’s playground and an excellent cinema. And when you get hungry, check out the wide menu of international options at the food court that includes sushi, Indian and Italian.

Scattered throughout the historic Ribeira district you’ll find shops selling cork products, ceramics and other local crafts. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city’s most beautiful areas, the riverfront neighbourhood is a blend of pastel buildings along winding streets.

While the area has its share of tourist shops, there are also family-owned stores where artisans carry on longstanding traditions. Walk the streets until you find them: glazed ceramic azulejo tiles, gemstone-studded silver jewellery, characteristic red-on-white embroidery. Speak with shopkeepers to learn the stories behind their crafts to give your purchase a personal touch.

The Centro Commercial Bombarda is a collective of independent shops featuring a wide range of items, from records and handmade home décor to natural wines. Located on Miguel Bombarda Street, known for its many art galleries, the small-but-mighty mall possesses the same artistic spirit.

A tea shop offers black tea with Port wine aromas. Jewellery stores sell some surprising statement pieces by emerging designers. A café with an inner courtyard offers a moment to relax. And each Wednesday and Saturday, a farmer’s market vends local produce alongside bread, mushrooms and honey.

Shopping Cidade do Porto is your neighbourhood mall. Old but spacious and up-to-date, the mall is centrally located near Rotunda da Boavista, making it a convenient place to shop. You won’t find luxury offerings here, as the brands tend to be affordable and practical types like Decathlon.

The mall has a familiar atmosphere and in addition to retail offers salons, a health food store and a tailor. It’s open late and located close to Casa da Música, making it a great place to while away a couple of hours before your evening concert.

Held on Saturday mornings on an open street in Fontainhas, the Feira da Vandoma flea market is a bargain hunter’s dream. It has its origins in the 1970s when students started selling their used books and clothes to make extra cash. Today it’s a more organised affair, but still delightfully chaotic. About 100 vendors set up tables and spread blankets on the ground each week to display their wares.

Rummage through racks of second-hand clothes, dusty artwork, old books and cheap dinnerware. The rest of what you’ll find here resists categorisation: used car parts, old wooden radios and a random assortment of decorative tiles. Bring an empty tote bag and start digging for treasure.

Touted as the most beautiful bookshop in the world, Livraria Lello’s reputation isn’t oversold. The Art Nouveau masterpiece features a stained-glass ceiling and a marvellous carved wooden staircase that forks, curves and dips its way to a second-floor gallery.

Visitors will need to reserve a ticket online to visit the shop, the price of which is deducted from your book purchase. Most of the inventory is in Portuguese, but there are English and French offerings as well. Be sure to browse The Collection, Lello’s charming editions of literary classics, and their rare book collection. 

Rua de Cedofeita pairs the trendy with the traditional. Smaller than the popular Rua de Santa Catarina, this pedestrian shopping street runs through the city’s artistic quarter and hosts more independent shops than brand names. Wander down its side streets to find art galleries, concept stores and the unique CC Bombarda mini-mall.

The pretty street is lined with beautifully restored historic buildings and paved with the traditional black-and-white cobblestone Portugal is famous for. Shoppers will find cafes and pastelarias alongside stores selling vintage clothing, jewelry and home décor.

The weekly flea market of Mercado Porto Belo in Cedofeita is the place to shop local. Every Saturday vendors set up booths on the sunny terrace of Praça Carlos Alberto, selling all manner of handmade and antique items. The weekly menu varies but you’ll typically find vinyl records, local artwork and foodstuffs like spices and jams.

There are surprises in store at small-but-mighty Mercado Porto Belo, where the offerings are local creations and discoveries like antique silver mirrors and painted ceramic cufflinks. Hand-crafted wood and leather goods often make an appearance, as well as Portuguese wooden toys.