Shopping in Portugal
When we go abroad we all love to bring back souvenirs for our friends and family as well as to keep for ourselves as mementoes of our great holiday. Every country has its local crafts and specialties and Portugal is certainly no different. It’s just a case of knowing where to shop for the right goods. If you like to ‘shop until you drop’ on your holiday, then car hire in Portugal is an absolute must.
First of all, for new visitors to Portugal, it might be useful to know a little bit about shopping hours and taxes. There will always be exceptions, but generally speaking the shops are open from 9 am to 7 pm on Monday to Friday, but close for two hours in the afternoon, usually between 1 and 3 pm. Many shops open for only half the day on Saturday. Prices should always be clearly displayed and these should include tax, which in Portugal is 19%. Armed with this information and your reliable car hire in Portugal, it’s time to go shopping!
Most areas sell local crafts and souvenirs but some places are known for their own specialities. If you are looking for ceramics, for example, you will find different styles in different areas but the gallery and workshop in Evora is well worth a visit. Here you will find a large selection of pottery, which you can watch being made by contemporary young artists. Coimbra is another area famed for its ceramics.
Another speciality is cork-ware – hardly surprising considering 50% of the world’s cork is produced in Portugal. Look around for inexpensive tableware, such as decorative coasters and dinner mats, or for unusual sandals, all of which make great souvenirs.
Take advantage of your car hire in Portugal to tour Lisbon and seek out the boutiques and street markets. Stroll down the elegant Rua Augusta for ideas; or the fine jewellery in the Chiado district, then hunt down similar items in the smaller galleries and markets that can be found all over Portugal. The Cascais Municipal Market is particularly good for leather goods: bags, shoes, belts etc. But delightful street markets and flea markets abound all over Portugal from Lagos to Coimbra and beyond. The flea market in Lisbon’s Alfama area is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays for all manner of jewellery, bric-a-brac, antiques and clothes.
Don’t leave Portugal without a tour of Douro Valley vineyards and a port wine tasting tour at the Ribeira wineries. With your car hire in Portugal, you will want to stock up on some of the fine local wines before you leave.