Piles of books ()
With warm weather, comes more opportunity for busy European streets to break out into a sea of market stalls with unique finds. There is no better shopper’s paradise than in Porto, Portugal!
Time to go Shopping
This is one of the most notable flea markets in Porto. It is busy with shoppers even when it opens bright and early. This historic market started in the 1970s when students started selling secondhand items and books. You can pick up colored glass or porcelain vessels with funky flair. Soup terrines (a large covered vessel, sometimes paired with a ladel) and tiny teacups are my favorite. An assortment of items carefully displayed always allows me to gravitate naturally to what I’m interested in, and the vendors here know exactly what they’re doing.
Where: Avenida 25 de Abril
When: Every Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
This outdoor market has vintage furniture, décor and linens are best found here. They live by the saying, “One man’s garbage is another man’s gold.” Check out www.facebook.com/fleamarket.porto for updated information.
Where: Praça da República
When: Every third Saturday of the month
New and old items meld at this outdoor market, with vintage typewriters waiting to be a conversation piece and crisp art prints ready to beautify an empty wall. There is often a full craft market spread, so good luck walking away without another lovely accessory. Check out www.facebook.com/mercadoportobelo for updated information.
Where: Praça de Carlos Alberto
When: Every Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
If you find must-have items that you can’t take home in your luggage, you can walk a few blocks away to the DHL or DPD shop to mail them. For yourself or as a gift for a friend, maybe? Who can honestly walk away from adopting an awesome boat helm with stories to tell?
Foodies Unite
This is a covered fresh food market that reopened after extensive renovations in late 2022. You can buy just about anything you can think of to snack on, sip or even build your perfect picnic haul! You can also track down a few souvenirs here.
All About Those Pages
For book lovers, there are a couple of special options you’ll want to check out!
The ornate Livraria Lello Bookstore has a magnificent staircase that is said to have inspired Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. Due to the bookstore’s popularity, there is a line to get in and entry is five euros (which you can buy at http://www.livrarialello.pt/) that discounts the purchase of a book. In late summer, the octogenarian Porto Book Fair is worth a stroll throughout the city, including visiting publishers, editors and authors. Check out https://feiradolivro.porto.pt for more information.
