The Best Souvenirs from Portugal (and Where to Buy Them)

Portugal has some of the best souvenirs in Europe: beautiful ceramics, cork, tinned fish in gorgeous packaging, wine, olive oil and handmade crafts. Here are the best things to buy in Portugal, and where to find them (skip the plastic magnets).

Quick answer: bring home tinned fish (sardines in retro packaging), port or a good bottle of wine, olive oil, hand-painted azulejo tiles or ceramics, cork goods, Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage-leaf pottery, Claus Porto soaps, and Burel wool from the mountains.

Food and drink

• Tinned fish (conservas): sardines, mackerel and octopus in beautiful vintage-style tins. Shops dedicated to them line the streets of Lisbon and Porto, but supermarkets sell good ones for less.
• Port: a 10-year-old tawny or LBV costs far less here than abroad. See the port wine guide.
• Wine: great bottles from the Douro, Alentejo and Dão for a few euros. See Portugal’s wine regions.
• Olive oil: excellent and good value, especially from the Alentejo and Trás-os-Montes.
• Ginjinha: sour cherry liqueur from Óbidos and Lisbon.
• Flor de sal: hand-harvested sea salt from the Algarve and Aveiro.
• Sweets: ovos moles from Aveiro, or a box of pastéis de nata for the flight. See Portuguese desserts.

Crafts and design

• Azulejo tiles: new hand-painted tiles from workshops (never buy antique tiles of uncertain origin). See azulejos.
• Ceramics: from rustic Alentejo pottery to Bordallo Pinheiro’s famous cabbage-leaf plates from Caldas da Rainha, and fine Vista Alegre porcelain.
• Cork: Portugal produces about half the world’s cork. Look for bags, wallets, hats and homeware.
• Burel: thick wool blankets and design pieces from the Serra da Estrela. See Serra da Estrela.
• Claus Porto: beautifully wrapped soaps from Porto, made since the late 1800s.
• Filigree jewellery: delicate gold and silver work, especially Viana do Castelo’s gold hearts.
• The Barcelos rooster: Portugal’s colourful good-luck symbol.
• Arraiolos rugs: hand-embroidered wool rugs from the Alentejo.
• Linen and towels: from the north, especially around Guimarães and Valença.

Where to shop

• Lisbon: Chiado and Príncipe Real for design shops, LX Factory, and the Feira da Ladra flea market. See Lisbon markets.
• Porto: Rua das Flores, the Bolhão market and design shops around Miguel Bombarda.
• Markets: weekly markets in towns like Loulé, Barcelos and Ponte de Lima.
• Supermarkets: for wine, olive oil and tinned fish at local prices.

Tips

• Liquids: pack wine and olive oil in checked luggage, wrapped well.
• Tax-free shopping: non-EU visitors can claim VAT back on bigger purchases; ask for a tax-free form.
• Check customs rules for food at home.

More: things to know before visiting Portugal.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.