Shopping Algarve information

Shopping Algarve page, information about shops and what and how to shop in the Algarve.

The Algarve has a great range of stores, from global brands and large shopping malls to small local stores packed with hand-made items, from gypsy markets to designer outlets.

Traditionally linens, pottery and leather items were the best bargains. That’s still true today, but keep an eye out for hand made jewellery, furniture (it can be shipped!), perfumes and gadgets. And don’t forget cigarettes and alcohol – the prices are very competitive.

Shop in Alte for your daily needs

Shopping for your daily needs

In Alte you can find a fine supermarket with all you daily needs, fresh bread, fresh fruit, delicatessen, vegetables, wine shop, a butcher’s shop and lots of foreign products.

On the main street there is a fresh market where you can by fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. The market is open until 12:00, try to get there in the early morning.

In Messines you can get everything you want, there is a daily vegetable and fish market, pharmacists, little supermarkets, and a larger supermarket, open everyday! There are many shops like a cinema, papelaria where you can even buy foreign papers.

For more daily needs you can go to Algarve shopping in Guia (see Shopping Malls) where you will find a big supermarkt “Continente”, there you can get everything you want, you will find all kinds of food, drinks, house ware, barbecue ware, beach ware, souvenirs, clothes, etc.

Municipal Markets - Alte Algarve

Municipal Markets

The best time of the day to buy fresh fish and seafood is in the early morning after the municipal markets have opened their doors.

The most popular municipal markets (mercados municipais) in the Algarve are open only in the morning.

Experience the real Algarve while purchasing in the market hall and the surrounding weekly markets.

The best place to go to if you want to learn more about the culture and people is a local market. Detect the richness of the regional goods, listen to bargaining locals and get an idea how hard people have to work for their daily income.

Many stand inside the municipal market halls are opened daily. On the weekends farmers from the region and the neighboring Alentejo are offering their local produce: fruits, vegetable, cheese, ham and sausages, olives, handicraft and many more specialties.

Beautiful handicraft in Algarve

Beautiful handicraft in Algarve

Do you need decorative tiles for your home or are you looking for a typical souvenir from the Algarve for your friends and family ? Then have a look at the many exhibitions and shops presenting their artful pottery.

The Algarve is famous for its hand painted tiles (“Azulejos”), that were used in former times not only for decorative purposes but also to protect the walls against the rough sea-air.

Alte has some handicraft shops, the largest handicraft shop is located on the edge of the village on the road (N124), where you can purchase your holiday souvenirs such as wonderful embroidered linen, leather goods, pottery, lavender oil among others.

Shopping Centers in Algarve

Shopping Algarve Centers are very popular. They offer everything from a huge range of well know brand names to cinemas, to bowling and they all generally have a big food court so you can spend the entire day there.

On one of the very few dull algarvean days take yourself off to the shopping center.

You will be delighted with all you can find in one compact area. Sports wear, the latest collections in ladies, gents and children’s clothing. Plenty of shoe shops to choose from and in the middle of it all take a break and have a lunch or just a coffee.

Most of Shopping Algarve Centers are open from 10:00 to 23:00.

Quinta Shopping - Shopping Algarve

Quinta Shopping

This beautiful Shopping center is located directly at the entry of the resort of Quinta do Lago at the first roundabout. Here you find exquisite shops and restaurants within an elegant ambience.

Forum Algarve - Shopping Algarve

Forum Algarve

Located directly at the N125 direction airport at the first roundabout after entering Faro. It boosts to be the largest centre under one roof in Europe, because all passages are sheltered. A super market and more than hundred different shops present their goods ton two levels. Several restaurants and cinemas offer distraction. Sufficient parking slots are available in the garage underground and outdoors.

Albufeira Shopping Center - Shopping Algarve

Albufeira Shopping Center

Algarve shopping Center is a small mall with a nice food court with good selection of snacks and restaurants, a big Continente supermarket for you groceries, many franchises, some small shops, clothes, sport shop, mobile shops, etc. A big underground parking, you always find a parking spot even in rush hours.

This mall is situated on Rua do Município near the large avenue “Avenida dos Descobrimentos” where you also can find some souvenir shops, cafes, fast food rests, etc.

Algarve Shopping - Shopping Algarve

Algarve Shopping

The Shopping Mall is located directly at the N125 in Guia. From direction Faro you will find it left hand before entering the village of Guia. More than hundred shops and a supermarket occupy two levels.

Mainly open air and includes a large supermarket on the ground floor and cinemas and large food hall on the first floor. Plenty of parking both covered in the underground park and open air. The food hall has fast food, self service buffet and traditional restaurants and there is access to plenty of outside seating if you want to take a coffee break in the sunshine.

Shops for everyone. Penty of shops to keep you busy with over 25 men’s and women’s clothing and fashion shops, children’s shops (clothes, toys, prams etc), several shoe shops, perfume and cosmetic shops, accessory shops, jewellers, home furnishings, electrical, gifts, opticians and mobile phone shops to name but a few!

The Algarve is always bustling in the summer, Shopping Algarve Centers can get too crowded, specially in August.

Algarve Shopping is open from 10.00 to 23.00 and 10.00 to 24.00 in summer and December.

Aqua Portimao - Shopping Algarve

Aqua Portimao

Covering a total floor area of 47,250 m² spread over three levels ( making it the biggest in the Algare ) , Aqua Portimão features a shopping gallery of 35,500 m², attached to a Jumbo hypermarket and offering 117 stores, nine mid-sized units and 21 restaurants. All the facilities you would expect, Post Office, ATM, Baby facilities, etc.. It also includes a three-level underground parking area with 1,800 spaces.

Ria Shopping – Olhao - Shopping Algarve

Ria Shopping – Olhao

A shopping centre ( opened April 2009 ) located just east of Faro. A three storey centre, covering more than 9,000 square metres.

With 70 shop units at the centre and retailers including Sportzone, Zippy Kidstore, Worten Mobile, Brinka and Pão de Açúcar ( Supemarket ). There is also a food court with space for 13 establishments. There is also a multiscreen cinema.