Moving to Portugal brings many pleasures: warmer weather, beautiful landscapes, excellent food and a more relaxed pace of life. It also brings a surprisingly long list of practical questions: Where do you buy good-quality bed linen? Which supermarket offers the best choice? What is the Portuguese equivalent of a chemist or hardware shop? Can you order from Amazon? What should you ask for when you need a fitted sheet, an extension lead or a particular cut of meat?
Shopping in Portugal is not difficult, but it works differently from what you might be used to. Compiled from useful insights originally published by portugalresident.com, this guide covers everything you need to know across 26 practical sections.
1. Understanding Shopping in Portugal
Portugal offers a mixture of large chains, family-run businesses, traditional markets, and specialist shops. Larger cities feature shopping centres (centro comercial) and hypermarkets, while smaller towns rely on municipal markets (mercado municipal) and local independent stores.
- Opening Hours: Large stores open seven days a week. Independent shops may close for lunch (encerrado para almoço) or on Sundays.
- Signs: Aberto (Open), Fechado/Encerrado (Closed), Horário (Opening hours), Feriado (Public holiday).
- Payments: Cards are widely accepted, but keep cash (pagamento em numerário) for small markets or village shops. The national banking network is Multibanco / MB WAY.
- Tax Number: When asked "Contribuinte?", you can provide your Portuguese tax number (NIF) for tax records and product warranties.
2. Supermarkets and Food Shopping
- Continente: Large national chain ranging from local markets to huge hypermarkets. Great loyalty card rewards.
- Pingo Doce: Popular for daily groceries, prepared hot meals, bakeries, and fresh fish counters.
- Lidl: Value groceries and rotating weekly deals on tools, apparel, and home gear. Use the Lidl Plus app.
- Aldi: Offers private-label value items, seasonal deals, and specialty imported foods.
- Intermarché: Common in smaller towns, featuring strong fresh produce and regional counters.
- Auchan: Hypermarkets offering electronics, clothing, homeware, and groceries.
- Apolónia Supermercados: Algarve-based premium supermarket specializing in international imported goods.
3. Fresh Markets, Butchers, Fishmongers and Bakeries
Buying Fish: Visit a mercado municipal. Sellers will clean the fish if requested.
• Pode limpar, por favor? (Can you clean it?)
• Sem cabeça (Without head) | Em filetes (Filleted) | Para grelhar (For grilling)
Buying Meat: A butcher is a talho. Explain your cooking method:
• Para assar (Roasting) | Para estufar (Stewing)
• Para grelhar (Grilling) | Carne picada (Minced meat)
• Peito de frango (Chicken breast)
Bakeries: Bread bakery = padaria, pastry/coffee shop = pastelaria.
4. International and Familiar Foods
Most large supermarkets stock an international section. However, specialty teas, specific flours, large spice jars, or specific meat cuts can be harder to find or more expensive. Exploring local Portuguese substitutes is often fresher and more affordable.
5. Portuguese Products Worth Discovering
- Olive Oil (Azeite): Look for azeite virgem extra for top quality.
- Cheese (Queijo): Try regional cheeses like Serra da Estrela, Azeitão, Nisa, and São Jorge.
- Tinned Fish (Conservas): Sardines, tuna, and octopus in high-quality marinades are a local delicacy.
- Salt & Honey: Sea salt (flor de sal) and local honey from municipal markets.
- Ceramics & Cork: World-famous hand-painted ceramics and eco-friendly cork home accessories.
6. Wine Shopping in Portugal
Great Portuguese wine is available at very reasonable supermarket prices.
Regions: Douro, Alentejo, Dão, Vinho Verde, Bairrada, Setúbal, Lisboa.
7. Furniture and Furnishing Your Home
- IKEA & Conforama: Go-to spots for standard furniture, lighting, and storage.
- JOM & Local Carpenters: Portuguese furniture stores and local cabinetmakers offer great custom-fit options.
- Mattress Sizes: Dimensions vary from UK/US standards; measure your bed frame in centimetres before buying.
8. Bed Linen, Towels and Home Textiles
• Lençol de baixo ajustável: Fitted sheet | Lençol de cima: Flat sheet
• Capa de edredão: Duvet cover | Fronha: Pillowcase
Always check exact measurements in cm on packaging rather than names like "King" or "Double".
9. Homewares and Household Essentials
Main chains include Hôma, Espaço Casa, CASA, Zara Home, and IKEA. For inexpensive everyday tools, storage, and items, local variety shops known as a loja chinesa are very convenient.
10. Electrical Appliances and Technology
Major retailers are Worten, Rádio Popular, and FNAC. Measure doorways and spaces before ordering large appliances. Keep paper invoices (fatura) for warranty claims.
11. DIY, Tools and Home Improvement
Large DIY stores include Leroy Merlin, MaxMat, and Bricomarché. For minor parts or fittings, visit a neighborhood drogaria or loja de ferragens (hardware store).
12. Garden Centres and Outdoor Living
Garden centers are called centro de jardinagem or viveiro. Choose drought-tolerant native plants suited to the local climate. Local agricultural co-ops offer great prices on bulk soil.
13. Pharmacies and Health Products
A licensed pharmacy is a farmácia (green cross sign) with qualified pharmacists for minor medical advice. Non-prescription health and cosmetic shops are called para-farmácia.
14. Clothing, Shoes and Shopping Centres
Portugal produces high-quality leather footwear and apparel.
15. Shopping for Children and Babies
16. Pet Supplies
Pet shops are called loja de animais.
17. Cars, Fuel and Motoring Supplies
Fuel Terms: Gasolina (Petrol), Gasóleo (Diesel), Sem chumbo (Unleaded), GPL (LPG), Elétrico (Electric). Vehicle inspections are called IPO. Confirm whether quotes from mechanics include tax (IVA).
18. Second-Hand Shopping
Active markets exist on online platforms, social media groups, and local markets for second-hand outdoor furniture, tools, and household items. Inspect items before paying.
19. Online Shopping and Home Delivery
Amazon Spain delivers regularly to Portugal. Beware of extra customs fees when ordering outside the EU. Always add a Portuguese mobile number to delivery orders so drivers can call you.
20. Returns, Exchanges and Consumer Rights
Physical stores are not legally required to refund money for a simple change of mind; they may offer an exchange or store credit. Faulty products are handled separately.
• Queria trocar (I would like to exchange)
• Está avariado / Não funciona (It is broken / Not working)
21. Loyalty Cards, Apps and Promotions
Major chains use apps for digital coupons and cashback. Check whether a listed discount is applied immediately at the till or saved as digital store credit for future purchases.
22. Shopping Vocabulary
• Precisa de saco? (Do you need a bag?) | Talão / Fatura (Receipt / Invoice)
• Onde posso encontrar…? (Where can I find...?) | Fazem entregas? (Do you deliver?)
23. Measurements and Sizes
Portugal operates strictly on the metric system (cm, metres, kg, litres). Provide exact metric dimensions when ordering custom furniture, blinds, or building supplies.
24. Seasonal Shopping
- Spring: Garden gear and outdoor furniture.
- Summer: Fans, AC units, and beach supplies.
- Autumn: Heaters, dehumidifiers (desumidificador), and warm bedding.
- Winter/Christmas: Festive foods, wines, and gifts.
- Black Friday: Major deals on electronics and home appliances.
25. Common Shopping Mistakes
- Assuming international sizes match local standards.
- Buying large furniture without checking door and stair access.
- Throwing away receipts and invoices.
- Ordering outside the EU without checking customs fees.
- Ignoring small independent neighborhood stores.
26. Final Advice for New Residents
Shopping in Portugal becomes second nature very quickly. Learn basic words, keep photos/measurements on your phone, and ask neighbours for local recommendations. Allow yourself time to explore and enjoy finding new favourite local brands!