Shopping in Portimao

Portimao is an excellent place to purchase many Portuguese traditional crafts with century old designs which local traders still translate into palm and rushwork items, various objets d´art in copper and tin, baskets, lace and footwear. More modern items for sale include painted textiles and tapestries which are often decorated with regional motifs.

On the first Monday of each month there is a huge all day roving market in Portimao where acres of stalls are set up beyond the far end of the Rua do Comercio by the railway station. Amongst the wares you can expect to find many local artefacts, pottery, wicker and snake oil. Stalls with the Algarve’s largest selection of sweaters and porcelain can be found here.

Do not despair if you are not on holiday in Portimao on the main market day, as on the bustling pedestrianised streets of the Ruas Comercio and Vasco da Gama (which begin at the old market square near the parish church in the old part of the town) you will find hand knitted sweaters, hand painted porcelain, leatherware, woodcarvings and literally tons of pottery from factories and local artisans from all over Portugal. In Rua Direita you will find Gaby’s which is a popular local store selling beautiful embroidered linens, cottons, sheets and bed covers. And for the most up to date merchandise you should visit the enormous Modelo shopping mall which has every type of shop imaginable under one roof.

For the foodies among you there is a treat in store. Every day except Sunday go along to the quayside between 9.30 and 10.30 am to see fishermen unloading their catch from the night before and selling it off in wicker basket loads. Or there is the vegetable market which is held every day except Sunday until 2.00 pm in the open square in front of the market building.