Are you a street shopper? Street markets are always a plus while visiting a city. Arts and crafts, vintage wear, antiques and food items rule most of these Porto markets. And as a bonus, all of our suggestions have no entrance fees.
Porto Belo Market
The name of this market is a play on the english Notting Hill Portobello Market; in Portugueses the word “belo” means beautiful, so Beautiful Porto Market. And it’s indeed located in one of the most vibrant, colourful areas in the city, at Carlos Alberto Square, near the theatre with the same name, near Clérigos and Galerias de Paris, and near to Miguel Bombarda Street with whom there are sometimes partnerships with a few galleries. There is a very vintage, trendy and design oriented concept to the market, always accompanied by music and street performers. You can find vinyls, books, old toys, clothes, handmade stationery and jewelry, bio food items… A small market with a cosmopolitan vibe.
Where: Carlos Alberto Square
Hours: Every saturday, 10am-6pm (winter time)
Flea Market
Photo by: Raphael Alvim
If you happen to hear the word “pulga” in the streets, they may not be talking about animals, but about the Flea Market, a monthly event that takes place all around Porto. This nomadic, very young market is a unique event, highly searched by vendors. Their motto is “One man’s garbage is another man’s gold”. Their vibe is not popular, but more hipster and vintage and the products you may find there follow this as well. For the clothes, for example, they have a seamstress altering them for you on the spot! They usually happen on the 6th and 7th floors of the public parking Silo Auto, at Sá da Bandeira Street, but they move around every edition. People will literally open their car trunks for the sale.
Keep an eye on their facebook page for future editions announcement.
Where: Silo Auto, location varies every month
Hours: 2pm-6pm
Vandoma Market
The Vandoma Market is very much an icon of Porto and a place to visit just for the experience of roaming around and listening to people doing business. It’s a market dedicated to antiques and second hand items: from furniture, to clothing, to books and vinyls, even tools and home appliances. Everything has been formerly used by someone else. This is actually the basis of it: it started, close to Sé do Porto and Fontaínhas area, as an opportunity for students to sell their used books.
Where: Avenida 25 de Abril (Campanhã)
Hours: Every saturday, 8am – 1pm
Velharias & Vintage Market at Armazém
Photo courtesy of: Armazém
Close to ‘Alfândega’, in the old neighborhood of Miragaia, you’ll notice a big white building called Armazém, with a very quirky décor on the outside. This building used to house Real Companhia Velha, one of the oldest companies in Portugal and one of the most iconic Douro and Porto wine corporations. So, the inside of Armazém still holds the feel of this business: stone columns, low ceilings and arches. Every third weekend of the month, they have a Velharias & Vintage Market – dedicated to vintage articles, from décor to clothing to music. While you’re there you can enjoy a nice hot coffee as well!
Where: Rua de Miragaia, 93
Hours: Every third weekend of the month, 11:30am-8pm
Passarinhos Market
Little birds, little birds everywhere. This is what this market is all about: birds and their respective foods, equipments, and anything else you can imagine. It was created for people who are dedicated to these animals, but nowadays, it includes not only equipment for birds, but also for other animals, like dogs or fish. You can even find some handmade decor; all animal inspired. This market started close to São Bento train station, later it spent 10 years being held at Cordoaria, and now it happens at Fontaínhas- with a magnificent view overlooking the Douro river. It’s a true Porto street market in a very iconic and still very unknown (to tourists) area of the city.
Where: Passeio das Fontaínhas
Hours: Every sunday, 7am-1pm
Interest is peaked? If you happen to go one of Porto’s street markers, let us know what you think and what you buy!
