Travel expert and television personality Rick Steves is no stranger to city markets. His home city of Seattle, Washington, is home to the world-famous Pike Place Market, and on his show, he’s showcased markets across Europe, from the massive Great Market Hall in Budapest to the beautiful Campo de’ Fiori market square in Rome and the celebrated Rue Cler Street Market in Paris. But one of his favorites in Europe is the Bolhão Market in Porto, Portugal.
Steves highlights Bolhão in a Facebook post, chatting with André Apolinário, co-founder of Taste Porto Food Tours. Steves is impressed with two details about Bolhão in particular. First, shoppers can purchase a glass of wine from any vendor and sip it as they’re shopping throughout the over 50,000-square-foot establishment. You can leave your glass anywhere, and the initials on the glass tell workers where it belongs. Steves called this “good Portuguese pleasure activism.” Second, vendors at the market’s 81 stalls keep their produce in season, meaning they’re always introducing new offerings.
Another thing the Bolhão Market has going for it is its proximity to Lisbon, which Steves says feels like Europe’s San Francisco. Porto is about 200 miles up the coast from Lisbon, and a high-speed train can get you from one city center to the other in about three hours. On Steves’ trip, he ate breakfast in Lisbon and was at the Bolhão Market by lunchtime.
The rich history and exciting future of Bolhão Market
Porto’s Bolhão Market is more than 180 years old, with its origins as a food market dating back to 1837. Despite its roots in the mid-19th century, these days, the establishment is looking like a polished, modern market set up for local residents’ contemporary needs. Bolhão, named for a water spring in the area, underwent a massive renovation that shut the market down from 2018 to 2022. It reopened with a new facade and roof, revamped interiors, more vendors, accessibility features, and a demonstration cooking area. The market’s updates have made it a sought-after destination, prompting increased visits from travelers.
Architect António Correia da Silva designed the iconic building in 1914, and builders created the transversal gallery in 1939 to connect the market’s multiple entrances. The market was given a special status in 2013 when it was classified as a monument of public interest. Upon visiting the market in 2024, Steves was pleasantly surprised, saying, “Porto’s newly reopened market meets European Union hygiene standards — and yet is still as inviting, picturesque, and delightful as ever.” Apolinário adds that the renovation modernized the building while maintaining Porto’s unique culinary roots and enhancing worker conditions.
What to look for at Bolhão Market
