Portugal is one of the few remaining European countries that still operates functional produce markets – markets where locals actually buy their shopping, as opposed to the more expensive weekend “farmer’s markets” that are common in the UK and USA.
If you’re visiting the Algarve, and especially if you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, then a trip to one of the many Algarve markets is an absolute must.
Here, you’ll be able to buy fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, as well as other local produce like cheese, cured meats, and bread. Although you’ll be able to get a lot of these things at the supermarket, the quality tends to be much better and cheaper at the market.
In this article, you can view markets in the Algarve by day (if you’re looking for a market that’s on today, for example) or by town (so that you can see when your nearest market is on). If you’re visiting Lisbon, be sure to check out the guide to markets in Lisbon.
Algarve Market Tours
Want to do a guided Algarve market tour? Tours are available of the markets in Quarteira, Loulé, and Faro, and can be booked through Viator.
Map of Algarve Markets
We’ve put together a handy map of the Algarve’s markets, so you can see at a glance which ones are closest to you.
- Green logos: food markets
- Purple logos: are gypsy/flea markets
- Pink logos: are a combination of both.
Algarve Markets: By town
Eastern Algarve
- Monte Gordo: 4th Saturday of the month from 10am.
- Olhão: Takes place every day with a larger market (including a gypsy market) on Saturday mornings.
- Tavira: 3rd Saturday of the month (9 am – 1 pm)
- Vila Real de Santo António: 2nd Saturday of the month from 10am & Every 3rd Sunday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Vila Nova de Cacela: Every 3rd Sunday of the month
Central Algarve
- Albufeira: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Alte: 3rd Thursday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Armação de Pêra: Monday to Saturday (7 am – 1 pm)
- Carvoeiro: Monday to Saturday (8:30 am – 2 pm)
- Faro: 2nd Sunday of the month (8 am – 4 pm)
- Lagoa: 2nd Sunday (8 am – 1 pm)
- Loulé: Gypsy market and farmers market every Saturday of the month
- Quarteira: Gypsy market every Wednesday (8 am – 3 pm)
- Silves: 3rd Monday of every month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Vilamoura: The nearest market town is Quarteira
Western Algarve
- Aljezur: 3rd Monday of every month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Alvor: 2nd Tuesday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Burgau: The nearest market is in Lagos.
- Feragudo: Does not have a market. The nearest market is in Portimão.
- Lagos: Weekly Saturday Farmers Market (8 am – 2 pm) with a more general market on the 1st Saturday of the month. Markets also take place on the 1st Sunday of the month. There’s also a farmer’s market at the marina on Wednesday afternoons called Viv’o Mercado.
- Monchique: 2nd Friday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Portimão: 1st Monday of each month (8 am – 2 pm) & the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.
- Sagres: 1st Friday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
Algarve Markets: By day
Monday
- Algoz: 2nd Monday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Aljezur: 3rd Monday of every month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Portimão: 1st Monday of each month (8 am – 2 pm)
- São Bartolomeu de Messines: 4th Monday of every month
- Silves: 3rd Monday of every month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Vila do Bispo: Every Monday from (9 am – 1 pm)
Tuesday
- Albufeira: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Alvor: 2nd Tuesday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
Wednesday
- Quarteira: Gypsy market every Wednesday (8 am – 3 pm)
- Quarteira: Weekly Farmers market (9 am – 1 pm)
- Raposeira: First Wednesday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Vila do Bispo: Weekly Farmers’ market (9 am – 1 pm)
- Lagos: Weekly (mainly organic) farmers’ market (5pm – 9pm)
Thursday
- Alte: 3rd Thursday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Boliqueime: Last Thursday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Boliqueime: 1st Thursday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Vaqueiros: 2nd Thursday of the month (9 am – 2pm)
- Vila do Bispo: 1st Thursday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
Friday
- Alcantarilha: 1st Friday of the Month (9am – 2pm)
- Guia: 3rd Friday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Monchique: 2nd Friday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Sagres: 1st Friday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Vila do Bispo: 1st Friday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
Saturday
- Alvor: 1st Saturday of the month (8 am – 6 pm)
- Azinhal: Last Saturday of the month (8 am – 2 pm)
- Benafim: 1st Saturday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Castro Marim: 2nd Saturday of the month
- Lagos: Weekly Farmers Market (8 am – 2 pm)
- Lagos: General market first Saturday of the month
- Loulé: Gypsy market and farmers market every Saturday of the month
- Monte Gordo: 4th Saturday of the month from 10am
- Olhão: Every Saturday morning (9 am – 1 pm)
- Paderne: 1st Saturday of the month (9 am – 1 pm)
- São Bras de Alportel: General market every Saturday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- São Marcos da Serra: 1st Saturday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Tavira: 3rd Saturday of the month (9 am – 1 pm)
- Tunes: 4th Saturday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Vila Real de Santo António: 2nd Saturday of the month from 10am
- Vila do Bispo: Farmers market (9 am – 1 pm)
Sunday
- Almancil: 2nd Sunday (8 am – 1 pm)
- Almancil: General market 1st and 4th Sunday of the month from 10am
- Almancil: Flea market 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month (7.30 am – 2 pm)
- Azinhal: 1st Sunday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Cabeça Gorda: 1st Sunday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Barão de São João: Flea market 4th Sunday of the month
- Espiche: Every 3rd Sunday of the month
- Estoi: market every 2nd Sunday of the month (8 am – 3 pm)
- Faro: 2nd Sunday of the month (8 am – 4 pm)
- Ferragudo: Flea market on the 2nd Sunday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Lagoa: 2nd Sunday (8 am – 1 pm)
- Lagos: 1st Sunday of the month
- Moncarapacho: Market 1st Sunday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Portimão: 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month
- Pereiro: 4th Sunday of the month (9 am – 2 pm)
- Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo: Flea market every 4th Sunday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Vila Real de Santo António: Every 3rd Sunday of the month (8 am – 1 pm)
- Vila Nova de Cacela: Every 3rd Sunday of the month
What to Buy at the Markets
Fish & Seafood
Fish and seafood are a big part of the Portuguese diet, and most of the markets have an excellent selection of fish – better than what many visitors are used to anyway. Olhão is home to the best fish market in the Algarve but many others, like Portimão, don’t lag far behind.
Fruit and Vegetables
Almost all of the markets have an excellent selection of fruit and vegetables, most of which is grown locally or at least in Portugal.
Look out for sweet potatoes (batata doce) for Aljezur, something which the Algarve is famous for. You’ll also spot some interesting seasonal fruits like dióspiros (the Hachiya persimmon), which is absolutely delicious and tastes like honey.
Meat & Poultry
The Portuguese eat a lot of chicken, often BBQ’d, and you can usually find really well-fed and good quality chickens at the market. The prices are very reasonable as well.
Pork is also very popular. Look out for Porco Preto, which is the Black Iberian Pig. It’s very flavoursome, and something you’ll only find in Spain and Portugal.
Beef in Portugal usually isn’t very good quality, especially when compared to beef from other countries like Ireland, the UK, or USA.
Other more unique things to look out for are cabrito (kid goat), leitão (suckling pig), and cured meats like presunto.
Am I wrong, but Sao Bras de Alportel flea market, is every 3rd Sunday !!!!
Hi
Any markets in Alvor the week of 3rd June or near by
You're very close to Portimão, which has a Monday-Satuday fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish market.
Where is the best markets for handbags and sunglasses and jewellery
Good question.
The "Quarteira Gypsy Market" would be good for cheap sunglasses, but I don't think it's any different or cheaper than what you might find in the China shops.
Loulé has some nice craft and locally-made products, and would be a good place to look for jewellery.
We are staying at be smart terrace hotel what days are the closest market to us
Hi Charlie,
I think your closest market would be in Armação de Pêra.
Hi
I’m staying in tavira until 17th July I was wondering where the nearest markets are for gifts clothes bags etc
Thanks
Hello
I am interested in sourcing artisan jewellery and unique hand crafted fashion and home accessories.
Could you tell me which area of Portugal to go and which markets please.
Many thanks
Hi,
I believe also the market in Vila Nova de Cacela is worth mentioning. It is held in the center of the town, good parking fascilities and also not more then 2 minutes form the train station.
Every third sunday of the month.
Maybe I see you there.
Cees
Hi
I'm staying in albufeira from the 8th August I'm just wondering where would be the nearest gypsy market/ market's that sell football tops and handbags.
Thanks.
The Quarteira Gypsy Market is the biggest one in the area, and probably the best one to go for. You can easily get a taxi there, and there are always taxis outside to take out back as well.
Uber is also an option as are buses (see this page on algarvebus.info for more info).
Hi Belinda,
Loulé's weekly market (Saturdays) has some great locally-made products like soaps and cork products, if that's the sort of thing you're looking for?
I think Loulé's market on Saturdays is worth looking at.
Hi how do I go about selling products on a stall at the weekly flee markets?
We will be selling incense, jewelery, shawls, tapestries etc mostly Indian products.
Unfortunately, I don't know Sharna.
Hi
If we would like to book a stall in the Summer June 2020 which market is the most upmarket along the Algarve
We would be selling beautiful clothing, jewellery and homewares from South Africa.
Hi, is there a market on every Sunday in Lagos?
Hi Jane,
It's been a while since I updated this article, but I believe it's only the 1st Sunday of the month rather than every Sunday.
Hi Susan,
There are a few to think about, but Loulé is definitely one to consider.
James
We had once a couple of years ago experienced a Marroccain flee market at Casella Velha, and it was great.
Does this flee market still exist somewhere at the Algarve
Looking forward to hearing from you
Is the gypsy market on wednesday and is it next to bus station at alberferia
Hi I make personalised picture frames for birthdays ,etc also light up balloons for weddings, parties ,anniversaries, I would like to do markets etc to sell them but not sure where to start, any suggestions would be appreciated,many Thanks Tracy
Hi Cees,
Definitely 🙂
Sorry for the delay. I've added this to the list now.
Would you describe this as a fruit and veg market or a "gypsy market"?
Hi Joerg,
Not sure, unfortunately.
There are quite a few medieval fairs throughout the year in the Algarve and Moroccan-style markets are usually a feature. The biggest is probably the Medieval Fair in Silves which takes place in August each year.
Hi ,Are there any markets selling live turkeys this week 22nd sept in the Albufeira Area Thanks
Hi Dave,
The Algoz market would be your best bet, but you would probably be better off looking on somewhere like OLX. I found these two adverts for example:
https://www.olx.pt/anuncio/per-preto-IDE3a5m.html#79e47d441e
https://www.olx.pt/anuncio/perus-IDCnVeL.html#cc5fbf3fa3
Where is the best place to buy pottery and cataplana pots?
Hi Lee,
For pottery, it's worth going to the pottery shops along the N125 between Porches and Lagoa. There are lots of them there (including the most famous: Porches Pottery).
You can buy cataplanas all over the Algarve, but one of the best places to go would be "the copper shop" on Rua da Barbacã in Loulé (no 26 and 28). The cataplanas here are handmade and good quality.
Hi is Alvor market on Saturday Nov 9? Where is it in Alvor? Thanks
Hi Paul,
I don't think so as the 9th is not the first Saturday or the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
Hi We will be in Guia at end of May as a large family group. Can you as advise which would be the best markets to buy fresh fruit vegetables near and fish. Are there any daily markets in the area.
Hi Lily,
There's a market in Guia itself, which would probably be your best bet. The daily Mercado Municipal dos Caliços in Albufeira would also be very close by as well.
Hi James - recent newbie arrival here in the Algarve & keen to explore the markets, so loving your very useful guide!
Are the weekly markets generally to be found situated near the central municipal markets or are they set up on the edges of each town?
Hi Joy,
I would say that most markets are usually in the town or city centre, especially markets that are in the original market building. There are probably a few exceptions to that, though.
Odiáxere has a market (local and gypsy) every fourth Monday of the month which is worth a visit.
Hi James - we are in Monte Gordo for a few weeks and my other half was looking forward to the market today, Saturday 24th October, but there was nothing, nada, zilch happening. There are 5 Saturdays in this month so is it the last Saturday of the month that the market takes place? If so, we will miss it - moving on to Alvor next week.