Feira da Ladra Market. Open markets or markets in Lisbon have been maintained for centuries and have remained so to this day. They are a part of city life in Lisbon and its tradition. There you can find, as people say, anything and everything. No trip to Lisbon should go without going to one of the city markets where the locals exhibit traditional products, collections of records and CDs, handmade jewelry, dishes, various trinkets, antiques, souvenirs, azulejo tiles, used clothes, old furniture, vinyl records and various art forms; but be prepared to take more time because the offer of exhibitors is large and diverse.
The items are mostly displayed on counters, and some of the exhibitors also display their items on a canvas placed on the floor. The prices are affordable, but you have to be patient while researching and comparing the price-quality ratio, remember that you can bargain with the exhibitors.
Most colorful markets of this type are located in historic districts. Although Lisbon has a lot of city markets, we will single out Feira da Ladra as one of the main and oldest markets in this city. In translation, this would mean a market of thieves, but the very essence of the name is a beetle that is found in old objects. So, of course, the market is not a nest of thieves or beetles, but it bears that very specific name of antiquity. The market is located in the old part of Lisbon, Alfama, and stretches over a couple of steep streets. It is believed that this market started exhibiting in the 13th century, that it got its name in the 17th century, and is located in the place it occupies today from the 19th century.
The market is open every Tuesday and Saturday from early morning until afternoon. Tourists are mostly in this place on Saturdays, so if you want to feel the local atmosphere, we recommend that you visit Feira da Ladra on Tuesdays.
Rarely does anyone manage to fully preserve the traditional charm and historical spirit of such markets, but Feira da Ladra has succeeded in that. It has preserved all the characteristics of an open market as it once was. Alfama is one of the most beautiful parts of Lisbon, so after the abundant market, we recommend that you go to the nearby cafes and explore the narrow streets of this historic part of the Portuguese capital.
A trip to Lisbon is not perfect if you do not visit at least one of its most famous city markets.
Opening hours: Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m to 6 p.m
Author of the text:
Maja Glavaš, Bachelor with Honours in Communicology. Works in Tourism.
Contact: [email protected]; instagram: travel_europe1
photo credit: Photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash
