Vintage & flea markets
If you are in love with all sorts of outdated stuff, Lisbon is going to be your playground. Most of flea markets run on Saturdays and Sundays.
Feira dos Alfarrabistas — Rua Anchieta (Chiado)
On Saturdays until 6 pm in Rua Garrett (next to the bookstore Bertrand), the alfabarristas rule a pretty popular corner. Alfabarristas are owners of old bookstores; some of the ones who come here are probably from the twenty oldest of the city. For the past twenty years, they have been using this weekly appointment as a showcase of their goods. Besides books and old maps, sometimes they sell stamps, coins and pictures.
Great for: books, postcards and old maps
Feira na Avenida — Avenida da Liberdade
A Saturday or Sunday stroll in the fanciest avenue of the city might bring you pearls and turquoise, leather bags, metal Martini plates, LPs with gnawed cases, and who knows how many other cobweb-festooned antiquities.
I love how this vintage open market is situated next to the most notorious and expensive boutiques. During the weekends, this posh avenue undresses itself from the notorious brands and leaves space for local artisans. It’s a great window for some out-of-the box souvenirs. A lovely market and a lovely avenue to walk along — don’t miss it!
Great for: buying souvenirs
LX Market (LX factory, Alcântara)
This little village is one of my favorite spots to hang out.
On Sundays, step beyond the iron gate threshold to find a world of wonders. There are some of the best of local craftsmen — kitsch, second-hand, artistic and do-it-yourself items. A space not to be missed, even during the other days of the week — if you are creative, you will love every corner, from the bookshop with the suspended bicycle, to the organic products market, or the florists right next to the main entrance. It’s a space where street art and crafts meet start-ups, boutiques and different gastronomic experiences.
Great for: those who don’t want to just shop
This is the most popular flea market of the city — no doubt about that. However, not everyone knows that you can also buy new stuff. It is located in the picturesque Alfama neighborhood. Explore the small cobblestones streets to find literally anything: from laced ceremony dresses to leather camera straps or carved wooden kitchen chairs. Oh, did I mention the unavoidable tiles? The market runs every Tuesdays and Saturdays but the timetable varies according to the season and the weather. As a general rule, summer goes from 6/7 am to 6 pm, while winter is up to 2 pm. Please add “roughly” to the numbers — this is Portugal 😉
Great for: overall experience and location
Art & Flea Market Anjos70 (Anjos)
Every first weekend of the month, the cultural association Anjos70 hosts a flea market. On their stalls, you can find hundreds of clothes — either new or second-hand — as well as handcrafted, artistic, decorative products and lots of indie stuff. In this creative hub, besides the flea market, you can enjoy lots of events, including musical soirees — the only requirement is to pay a 2-euro membership. Anjos70 is a hidden gem of Lisbon, with a lovely coffee shop and bar. In case you are thinking about coming to Lisbon, keep your fingers crossed because the building has just been sold, and the organisation is looking for a new home.
Great for: young indie/creative/artistic vibe
Feira do Intendente (Anjos)
Close to Anjos70, every second Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., there is an open market where you can find second-hand and vintage items, local (very cool) crafts, and gastronomical products. Very often the event is accompanied by live music. Another unmissable event for lovers of the genre; stay updated on what to do here.
Great for: those who want an open market
Shops
This is more for connoisseurs — especially, given the prices. Regardless of your wallet capacity, if you get the chance, pay a visit to this industrial hangar filled with vintage wonders that look like anachronistic IKEA: from telephones with buttons to Piaggio Vespas, stuffed SELECO and whole living rooms composed right in front of your eyes.
The world of vintage (Príncipe Real)
If you are a ’70s Saturday Night Fever fan, then this is a place you shouldn’t miss. Among the many furniture items they offer, lighting is the unspoken protagonist. In the vicinity of Príncipe Real, it is so bright that you can enter the shop wearing a pair of sunglasses! Ha 😛
du chic reused (Campo D’Ourique)
Chanel, Prada, Longchamp, Valentino. These are some of the brands that this shop in Campo D’Ourique offers. Their specialty is second-hand/vintage luxury accessories. They also sell some pieces of clothing. Follow them on Facebook to see their merchandise and get to know the prices through PM. You can also check the online store.
What could be more chic than that?
We could rename this chain of shops “vintage made in Portugal.” Drop by and check for yourself — if your friends back home are all epaulettes and voluminous bangs, then this might be a great place to browse for souvenirs. There are handcrafted objects, from authors’ notebooks with covers made of cork to port wine truffles or handmade soap for clothes. If you want to save time or get an idea about their products, visit their online store.
More than a vintage shop, this is a blend between a boutique, a florist and a warehouse of wonders, from the marble statues and Luis Vuitton scarves to the various fragrances of Acqua di Parma or the Zagara di Sicilia. A hard-to-define shop; maybe that’s why I love it. The first time I stepped inside, I thought: Here is my favorite shop. Finances permitting (prices are anything but second-hand), welcome to mine (maybe yours as well?) favorite Lisbon’s designer bric-à-brac.
Besides the popular flea markets and some cute antique shops, there are some really old businesses still in operation that are worth a visit.
