Looking for a bargain in Porto? You can find low prices and great deals in one of the most important cities in the north of Portugal. Since I’m from Porto, I know some great places to shop, so come with me…
Let’s go shopping in Porto
Shopping in Porto be an awesome experience since you have so many places to choose from. Here we are going to answer some of your questions about where to go and what you can buy.
Is shopping cheap in Porto?
Well, it depends on what you are buying, of course, since a lot of things have the same prices throughout Europe, such as electronic goods. However, if you are buying clothes, for example, Porto can be one of the cheapest cities you can buy them from. Stores such as these have lower prices in Porto compared to the rest of Europe:
- Zara;
- Bershka;
- Stradivarius; or
- Cortefiel (website is in Portuguese).
The price difference can as much as €20! In fact, if you are coming to the north of Portugal, shopping in Porto can be a great opportunity to stock up your wardrobe. Find some expert tips about visiting Porto here.
What are the best things to buy in Porto?
Besides souvenirs and Port Wine, the top things to buy in Porto are:
- Clothes;
- Accessories; and
- Shoes.
Of course, we are not counting luxury brand items here, since those prices hardly differ from other countries in Europe. Want more insider tips for your visit to Portugal? Be sure to Sign up for our newsletter today, so you never miss out.
7 best shopping places in Porto
Looking at what things cost, discover some of the best places for shopping in Porto here:
1. Vila do Conde Outlet – Porto’s biggest shopping outlet
The name “outlet” says it all, right? You often find the best deals in outlets, and Vila do Conde Outlet makes no exception. Although it is not located in Porto’s centre, you can get there in less than 20 minutes and have the best shopping experience ever. In this outlet you can find great brands, such as:
- Armani;
- Carolina Herrera;
- Nike;
- Bimba y Lola;
- Puma;
- Calvin Klein; and
- many others.
In each of these stores you can find discounts up to 70%. The last Thursday of each month is the day when Vila do Conde Outlet offers the greatest discounts. The best way to get there is by car, following the A28 highway and you can shop from 10 am to 11 pm. Address: Avenida Fonte Cova, Modivas, Vila do Conde.
2. Santa Catarina
Rua de Santa Catarina is the most fashionable street in Porto, with dozens of stores up and down the street. We must warn you, though, that unlike Lisbon, Porto does not have luxury brand stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Burberry. Rua de Santa Catarina does have the most well-known stores including:
- Zara;
- Lefties;
- Adidas (website is in Portuguese);
- Foot Locker; and
- Pull & Bear.
This street also has its own shopping centre in the middle of the street called Via Catarina, where you can find other stores like:
- Levi’s (website is in Portuguese);
- Sport Zone (website is in Portuguese);
- Rituals; and
- Kiko (website is in Portuguese).
Santa Catarina is right in the middle of Porto’s downtown area and most stores open at 10 am and close at 8pm. The stores inside the shopping centre mainly close at 10 pm. Address: Rua de Santa Catarina 312 to 350.
3. NorteShopping – the biggest shopping mall in Porto
One of the biggest shopping areas in Porto is NorteShopping, where you can find stores of all kinds of things like:
- Clothes;
- Accessories;
- Shoes;
- Makeup;
- Perfumes; and
- much, much more.
It opens at 10 am and closes at midnight. Here, you can also go to the cinema whenever you wish, with various sessions during the day.
How do I get to NorteShopping?
The fastest way to get to NorteShopping is by car, but you can also use Lines A, B, C or E and stop at Sete Bicas station. It is also possible to take the bus with stops close to the shopping. The buses you can hop on are:
- Bus 205;
- Bus 504;
- Bus 506;
- Bus 507; or
- Bus 601.
Address: Rua Sara Afonso.
4. El Corte Inglés
Even though it is located in Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River, one of the top places for shopping in Porto is El Corte Inglés (website is in Portuguese) where you can find the biggest brands. Here you’ll find:
- Carolina Herrera;
- Tommy Hilfiger;
- Karl Lagerfeld;
- Zadig & Voltaire;
- Nike; and
- so many others.
There are a dozen floors to shop in and really great prices. You can find great deals on:
- Clothes
- Kitchen accessories;
- Shoes;
- Makeup; and
- much more.
El Corte Inglés opens at 10 am and closes at 11 pm (except on Sundays, when it closes at 8 pm). You can get there by car, Metro (Yellow Line to João de Deus station) or Bus (900 or 903). Address: Avenida da República 1435, Vila Nova de Gaia.
5. Mar Shopping
Located in Matosinhos, Mar Shopping is another great spot for shopping in Porto. It also has the most known stores for buying clothes, shoes and accessories, and it also has a supermarket, cinema and IKEA store. It opens at 10 am and closes at midnight. You can get there by car or bus (507, 508 or 601). Address: Avenida Dr. Óscar Lopes, Leça da Palmeira.
6. GaiaShopping
Another great place to find the best deals in clothes, accessories, shoes and electronics is in Gaia but still close to Porto. At GaiaShopping (website is in Portuguese), you can also go to the cinema or to the supermarket. It opens at 10 am and closes at 11 pm. You can get there by car or bus (903 or 907). Address: Avenida dos Descobrimentos 549.
7. LaVie Porto Baixa Shopping Center
A smaller shopping centre, but still very complete and very close to Via Catarina, is LaVie (website is in Portuguese), one of the most recent shopping spots in Porto. You can buy from some small stores and also go to the Decathlon (website is in Portuguese) store there. It has a gym and a Starbucks outside, so it has all the elements for an awesome shopping day. It opens at 9 am and closes at 10 pm. You can get there on foot if you are downtown, by car or Metro (leaving in Bolhão station). Address: Rua Fernandes Tomás 506 – 508.
Can I go shopping with a local in Porto?
Yes, you can. Would you like a personal guide to take you to the best stores? Our friend’s at Get Your Guide speak English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese and would love to offer you a private tour of all the best places to shop and a few secret places only the locals know. They will even pick you up at your hotel and take you out to lunch, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. I can highly recommend them, so to make it super easy, make a booking here and enjoy your tour.
Are shops open in Porto on Sunday?
Yes, all the shopping centres are open every day of the week and often very late. Some shops on the main streets will be closed on Sundays (and public holidays) but are open on Saturday mornings.
Enjoy your day shopping in Porto
So, if you are thinking about shopping in Porto we can tell you that you will find great deals on major brands in all the places I suggested. You will find the best clothes, shoes and accessories where the prices differ a lot from the rest of Europe. Did you find what you were looking for in this insider’s guide for shopping in Porto? Let us know in the comments below.
