The 19 Best Markets in Lisbon, Portugal

Markets have been held in Lisbon for centuries and are still very much a part of city life there. Residents and tourists mingle with top chefs at produce markets, fashion shoppers haggle over jackets and jewellery at vintage-clothing fairs, and DJs wrestle with record collectors, crate-digging for rare vinyl at flea markets.

Many of Lisbon’s biggest and best markets occupy vast historic buildings or take over entire neighbourhoods, so set aside a few hours to dig out the best bargains. There’s almost always a good range of lunch pitstops, with tasty traditional street snacks and cold drinks at affordable prices.

It’s off the tourist track, but that’s part of the charm of this sprawling Sunday street market on an enormous roundabout in the residential neighbourhood of Olivais (take the Metro to Bela Vista). It’s Lisbon’s largest street market. Come early for if you want to go bargain hunting in Lisbon and bring plenty of sturdy shopping bags: you can load up with everything from fresh fruit and flowers to antiques, cut-price clothing and electricals. There’s even furniture, should you have the means to transport it home.

It’s impossible to discuss Lisbon shopping without mentioning the Feira da Ladra, or “thieves’ market” – not a hotbed of crime and stolen goods, but a giant twice-weekly flea market spanning several hilly streets on the edge of Alfama. Operating in one form or another since the 13th century, it has occupied this location since the late 1800s. Expect to find the lot: arts and antiques, handmade jewellery and vintage vinyl, but watch out for bumped up “tourist prices”.

The Sunday market at hipster hotspot LX Factory attracts on-trend shoppers like well-dressed bees to an organic honeypot. The location is a large part of the attraction – the premises of a former fabric company converted into funky bars, hip places to eat and trendy shops, right underneath the city’s landmark 25th of April Bridge. You can celebrate your latest purchases – vintage designer garb, handmade jewellery, rare vinyl – with a cocktail or two on the terrace at Rio Maravilha. With terrific views over the River Tagus, it’s the perfect place for a leisurely Lisbon sundowner.

Style shoppers on a budget crowd into this funky monthly flea market in the newly gentrified Anjos district. It’s been around for a decade now at Anjos 70, a former glass warehouse turned cultural centre (recent events have included DJ sets and breakfast discos). In this split-level space you’ll encounter more than 100 vendors from across Portugal, selling artsy home furnishings and collectibles, as well as vintage fashions and hand-crafted accessories.

Lisbon’s pretty Jardim da Estrela makes a lovely setting for this monthly artisanal and design market, selling locally produced clothes, arts and crafts – everything from baby toys to bicycle bags, home accessories to footwear. It’s not the largest or the cheapest in town, but it makes for a lovely day out. During the summer, you’ll often hear live jazz often tootling away in the background and there’s a splendid little veggie-friendly organic café at the entrance to the park.

Every Saturday between 8am and 2pm, in the super-trendy, very upmarket neighborhood of Príncipe Real, you’ll find this excellent food market, which specialises in farm-fresh and organic produce (as well as handicrafts and bric-a-brac). Expect to find the kind of delectable edibles you can take home as gifts, such as home-made cakes, organic wine, local honeys and cheeses. There are also stalls piled with fruit, vegetables and Instagrammable cut flowers.

These convenience stores are a fixture of Portuguese life, with more than 100 nationwide. So far, so usual, but the latest branch has a difference: it’s opened on Martim Moniz Square, a multicultural part of Lisbon named after the medieval knight Martim Moniza, and when you bag your fresh fruit and vegetables the idea is to use paper bags or washable cotton bags, as this area is 100-percent free of disposable plastic. It is the brand’s second store in Lisbon to adopt the single-use-plastic-free policy, following Alta de Lisboa’s Continente Modelo. This makes it an honorary market in our books – and eating Portugal’s colourful crops is now a sustainable as well as healthy option.

Perhaps the balls kicked around at the famous football stadium minutes away inspired the domed appearance of this slightly brutalist 1970s-built market, situated in one of Lisbon’s oldest residential neighbourhoods to the north of the city. Even if you don’t want to shop, it’s a fab snap of city life: one of the largest and cheapest markets in Lisbon. But given the abundance of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood, with the added attraction of delicious baked goods and freshly cut flowers, you probably will end up buying something tasty.

Adjoining the sprawling Feira da Ladra flea market in the steep streets of the historic Alfama neighbourhood, the Mercado de Santa Clara began by vending food. It has since been joined by a Centre for Culinary Arts and adjacent stores peddling crafts and antiques. You’re bound to find goodies for an alfresco lunch. When you have – and after nipping into the Sao Vicente de Fora Church for the exceptional tiled interior – set out your picnic in the small park in front of the Santa Engrácia Church (aka the National Pantheon), admiring the bone-white facade.

Mercado Campo de Ourique is essentially a smaller version of Mercado da Ribeira, less touristy and perhaps more popular among the locals. Opened in 1934, it’s been renovated a couple of times and continues to sell a variety of traditional produce, as well as artisanal Portuguese recipes and exotic cuisines. Designed similarly to the Time Out Market, the space is filled with long communal tables and surrounded with a multitude of food stalls selling anything from sushi to steak to fish, seafood and desserts. Recommended by Nina Santos.

Or ‘Fusion Market’ in English, this foodie spot in Martim Moniz is another popular place among tourists and locals alike, boasting a variety of cuisines. The concrete park in Martim Moniz is surrounded by Lisbon’s most ethnically diverse areas and restaurants, a prime spot to dig into dishes ranging from Chinese and Japanese to Indian and a range of African. Ethnic grocery stores are rife in this area, but the Fusion Market continues to be one of the biggest draws. Grab a Brazilian caipirinha and a burger made with Madeira’s Bolo do Caco, or a bowl of Asian noodles. Recommended by Nina Santos.

Pizza is one of the most beloved street food items anywhere in the world, and Lisbon’s own Pizza a Pezzi has garnered some great reviews. Open until 2am each night and located in nightlife district between Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real, it’s a popular stop-off after a late evening of drinks. Perfect on-the-go, or chill out in the relaxed seated area. Recommended by Nina Santos.

Hamburgers are another top choice for hungry wanderers and late-night party hoppers. Sell it from a cute kiosk, and you have the Lisbon touch. Hamburgueria da Parada is located in Campo de Ourique, a few blocks from the Mercado de Campo de Ourique, and is also associated with a food truck which regularly drives around the city. The burgers vary in price between €4-€6, with unique combos available including the Queijo da Ilha that uses Azorean Cheese from São Jorge island alongside onions, arugula, tomato and curry sauce. Recommended by Nina Santos.

There’s no other way to say it: anyone who hasn’t had a hotdog in Portugal is missing out. The Hot Dog Lovers kiosk is in Avenida da Liberdade and a truck also drives around Lisbon and towards Belém. These hotdogs take the already flavor-packed Portuguese tradition and add on more mouthwatering goodness. Is there anything better than a hot dog smothered in meaty chili and cheese, and washed down with a cold Sagres beer or two? Recommended by Nina Santos.

Have you ever seen a Portuguese tasca on wheels? A cute, cream-colour VW usually parks at the top of Avenida da Liberdade, around Marquês de Pombal, to sell all things Portuguese, from wine and beer to traditional snacks called petiscos (sort of like Spanish tapas). Fado music even drifts from inside the vehicle. Bring a blanket and enjoy sitting with the locals at the grassy green square nearby. Recommended by Nina Santos.
This article is an updated version of a story created by Valeria Nikonova. Jo Fernandez-Corugedo contributed additional reporting.