• A Pérola do Bolhão - Porto, Portugal
    Provided by: Jorge Franganillo/cc by 2.0 Gen/wikimedia

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.​

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Rua de Santa Catarina

Rua de Santa Catarina

Porto’s main shopping street is the pedestrianised Rua de Santa Catarina in the city centre. Here you will find from the usual international brands, such as H&M and Zara to local shops and street vendors. Along the way, you will also find several restaurants and cafes, including the renowned Café Majestic--featured on our guide--as well as other points of interests such as the Mercado do Bolhão, the Church of San Antonio de los Congregados, and another important shopping centre, the Centro Comercial Via Catarina.
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Open-air Markets

Open-air Markets

There is no better way to get a glimpse of daily Portuguese life, than by paying a visit to one of the many open-air markets this city has to offer. So, here's a list of the three ones worth visiting when in Porto: - Mercado do Bolhão One of the most popular and lively markets in Porto, the Mercado do Bolhão and its several floors of fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat are a true feast for the eyes, nose, and palette. Centrally located, this market is also a nice place to hunt for souvenirs. Address: Rua Formosa, Porto Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–6pm - Mercado Porto Bello Although more compact than its namesake market in London, the Mercado Porto Belo still boasts the same hipster vibe from its Notting Hill's distant cousin. Here you will find antiques, vinyl records, vintage clothing and accessories, organic goodies such as homemade jams, olive oil, and soap, as well as a few food stalls. It takes place every Saturday from 10am–7pm at Praça de Carlos Alberto. - Vandoma Fleamarket Even if you are not searching for anything to buy, a visit to this flea market is worth just the experience alone. Started in the 1970s by students who would sell their old clothes and books, now this traditional and eclectic flea market offers a vast array of second-hand goods that range from clothes, vinyl records, and books to stamps, electronics, and household utensils. It is held every Saturday, from 8am–1pm at Avenida 25 de Abril.
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Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello

Book lovers will feel as though they have slipped between the pages of a fantasy novel in this lovely bookstore in downtown Porto. With magical architecture rumoured to have inspired J.K. Rowling, Livraria Lello is considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and has thus become a major tourist attraction. The building itself is stunning, boasting elements of Neo-Gothic, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco embellishments that comprise intricate woodwork, a large stained-glass skylight, and an impressive spiral staircase, which starts as one set of stairs and splits into two that join in a circular design.
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