Top Supermarkets In Portugal [Buy Groceries Like A Local]
Going grocery shopping is always fun, whether local or not. If you are moving to Portugal anytime soon, it will be a big concern for you to get your regular groceries. But the question arises when you think about where you will get your groceries once you move there. Even if you are not moving to Portugal and are just traveling there temporarily, you will still require groceries, and you will have to visit the supermarket to get all the essentials you need.
When moving to the country is a lot of fun because there is so much for you to explore in Portugal. You can discover new brands and supermarkets. The best part is finding out about a lot of food you have never tried. If you want to learn more about the supermarkets in Portugal, then you are right!
This post will discuss all the information you need about the top supermarkets in Portugal and how you can shop for your regular groceries like you are a local.
What Is It Like To Shop From Supermarkets In Portugal?
When you are in Portugal, you will notice that it is a mix of everything. People are interested in purchasing from International brands as well as local ones. The country’s people are not brand conscious and will buy everything that does the job. When you move to Portugal, the first thing you need to know is that the supermarket in Portuguese is “supermercado.”
A store where you can only shop for groceries is mercearia in Portuguese. When you move to the country, you will notice many small grocery shops and fruit shops all over the town and in small villages. In the shops, you can quickly get all the essentials you need daily for cooking and other household purposes.
Get your daily eggs, bread, or pasta by visiting the small shops. Many people who have just moved to the country think the shops are hidden and you must go out there to find them. However, they are not hidden because they only lack a signboard or any advertisement, so you know it is there! The best part is that whenever you walk there on the road in Portugal, you will see lots of different shops like this and then you can return to get your essentials later.
List of Supermarkets in Portugal
Look at the top supermarkets in Portugal which are operating currently:
- Continente
- Minipreco
- Pingo Doce
- Lidl
- Intermarche
- Spar
- Aldi
- Apolonia
Continente
Continente is the most popular Supermarket chain currently operating all over Portugal. They have more than 700 different stores all over the country, including convenience stores and supermarkets. This supermarket chain is not behind in the quick commerce industry because it provides customers with online delivery options. The location for online delivery for their customers is available all over the mainland.
Minilreço
Minilreço is currently the second most famous Supermarket chain in Portugal and has more than 600 different stores all over the country. But it is important to note that most of their stores are small, just like convenience stores. Most of their stores are not giant supermarkets; people visit them to get their daily essentials.
Pingo Doce
Pingo Doce is quite famous in Portugal as a traditional-style Supermarket. They have more than 400 different stores all over the country. If you want to get the conventional Supermarket experience in Portugal, then this is the place you need to visit when you arrive in the country. Pingo Doce is well known for having a butcher shop, fish counter, and bakery section inside the supermarket.
Lidl
Lidl is a well-known discount supermarket in Portugal, originating from Germany. In this type of setting, the focus is entirely on the price of the products and the products themselves. A lot of attention is not given to providing a good service and customer experience to the consumers who walk around the shop. You can also find an occasional bakery section inside the discount chain of supermarkets, but you will not find anything luxurious like a butcher shop or a fish counter. They have more than 200 stores all over the country.
Intermarché
Intermarché is not that famous but is still quite prominent in Portugal. They don’t have a lot of stores as well, but the stores have a large size and provide a good quality service.
Spa
If you are visiting Portugal from the United Kingdom, you might know this one beforehand. Spa is also trendy in Portugal, and they have more than 130 different convenience stores all over the country.
Aldi
Aldi is a well-known German discount retailer available in Portugal. They are famous because they have low prices and don’t employ much staff. Most of their products are cheap, and you can visit this discount retailer if you are short on budget and need to get your hands on things for your home when you move to the country.
Apolonia
Apolonia is a small supermarket chain in Portugal. They are a small supermarket chain because they only have three stores in the country. This supermarket is only on the list because of the premium shopping experience you get after visiting them, and they also have a good variety of international products. If you have recently moved to Portugal and are seeing something back home, this is the shop you need to visit.
Mini Markets In Portugal
If you are wondering, there is a culture or Mini markets in Portugal, and you can find them all over the country. These are not the only option available because you can also visit general supermarkets. However, these many markets are available in small towns and areas of the city. Some of the Mini markets in Portugal include the following:
- Spar
- My Auchan
- Minipreço
Which Hypermarkets Are Available In Portugal?
Whenever you visit different types of hypermarkets in the country, you will notice that most are very traditional and only have all the typical household items you need daily. But if you move to the city and our large town the new can find the modern hypermarkets over there. These modern hypermarkets are equipped with everything you need for living everyday life, such as toys and garden furniture.
If you want to purchase luxury groceries and international products, you can find them in these giant hypermarkets in the big cities of Portugal. It would not be wrong to call these shops a one-stop shop because you can get anything from here. Content is the right place to visit if you are looking for a traditional Hypermarket or a shopping center in the country. They have multiple different shops that you can see.
Farmers’ Market And Fish Market In Portugal
When you have been living in the country for quite a while, this one will be your favorite part about the shopping culture in the country. You can find Mercado Municipal in multiple towns and cities of Portugal, and it is also available in bigger towns. These farmers’ markets open daily, and you can visit them to get your daily vegetables and fish.
If you are living in a small town, it will be available on specific days of the week, such as Saturday morning. These farmers’ markets are in large open spaces, and you can easily find fresh fruits and vegetables in these markets. If you want to get your hands on Portuguese delicacies to enjoy living in the country and learn about the culture, then this is the place you need to visit. You can explore as much as you want and you are going to learn more about the country and the lifestyle over there, especially if you are traveling temporarily.
Once you visit the farmer’s market in Portugal, you will have many stories you can tell when you return home. You can shop for as many local products as you want and also bring them for your loved ones back home if you are visiting temporarily. When you see these farmer’s markets, you will buy the local products directly from the local producer, which will be a unique experience for you. You should visit this place if you have never tried the country’s local variety of fruits and vegetables. You will see many different things in this place that you will not get to see in supermarkets because this place is unique.
If you do not speak Portuguese now, you do not need to worry because this place is trendy among travelers. That is why you will see all the different products, including the fruits and vegetables, which are the farmer’s market. You don’t have to worry about the language where you are at all because you can easily shop in these local markets. Fish markets are also available in these towns, and you can visit them if you want to buy fresh fish and meat.
Cheapest Supermarkets In Portugal
Jumbo is the cheapest supermarket in Portugal, according to a survey. However, this was claimed based on the basket of goods. Your experience might be different when you go out there and purchase things; that is why you need to give that in your mind when choosing the cheapest supermarket in Portugal.
It depends on what products you are purchasing and where you are purchasing them. If you are shopping from DECO, you must remember that they will not consider discount cards. These discount cards can give you a cashback to spend more in the store and get a discount at the petrol station with the supermarket. If you make this decision wisely, you can save a lot of money in the long run and get the cheapest supermarket experience in the country.
Which Supermarkets In Portugal Are Providing Online Shopping Options?
If you don’t like to go outside a lot to get your daily groceries, then the good news is that all the major supermarkets in the country are now giving the option of online shopping. You can get home delivery and collect the products from a specific location. Look at the table below to find out which supermarkets are providing a delivery option and which are providing a collection option.
| Supermarket | Click+Collect | Delivery | NIF |
| Continente | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minipreco | No | No | |
| Pingo Doce | Yes | Yes | No |
| Intermarche | Yes | Yes |
Registration For Online Customers
The only challenge arises that if you want to shop online, you must register online and get permission. It is also the number you need before starting shopping online in Portugal. You are given a unique tax number, and every taxpayer in the country must have this number. You will not have this number if you are just a tourist in the country.
In case you have been a resident of this country before, there are more chances that you will have a NIF number so that you can shop online and also pay your taxes by being a citizen. If you are only staying in the country temporarily, it can be a big problem for you because it will take you a lot of time to get the registration number and go through the registration process. However, many stores like Jumbo provide convenience to consumers, and you can use the option they provide.
They allow you to enter only passport numbers if you temporarily live in the country or are just a tourist. The new can get around with this and start shopping online from online supermarkets in Portugal. The second thing you need to remember is that they will also require you to enter a Portuguese number if you want to register online for online shopping. If you are not living in the country or you are not a long-term visitor, then there are chances that you will not have a Portuguese phone number.
Many people find it very difficult because it is impossible to use an international number on the website, which is why you will not be able to get your gross by shopping online. If you are looking for the most friendly supermarkets in Portugal that will allow you to shop online if you are living temporarily, then those will be Jumbo and pingo doce. They have the friendliest regulations, and you also don’t require to get the tax number if you want to shop online from these websites.
What Are The Best Supermarkets In Portugal If You Want Organic Products?
Apolonia is the best supermarket in the country if you want organic products. However, axyou need to keep in mind that they will be expensive and you will have to pay the price. But you will also get value for your money because the products are premium quality and 100% organic.
Apolonia is a high-end supermarket in the country with premium products. It would not be wrong to say that it is the most expensive supermarket in the country that you can visit to purchase organic and natural products. Auchan is also a good option if you want organic products in the country. They specialize in not only health but also food shops and organic products.
Which Supermarket Is Best In Portugal For Purchasing Vegan And Vegetarian Products?
The best part about Portugal is that the entire country is bigger in vegetarian friendly. All the supermarkets in the country will have Vegan and vegetarian options and a special section dedicated to that. Specialist products are also available and can be found in all the luxury stores such as Auchan.
Is It Possible To Find Gluten-Free Options In The Supermarkets In Portugal?
Yes. It is possible to find gluten-free options in the supermarkets in Portugal, but you will have to shop in different places to find all the products. It will take a lot of time, but it is not impossible. You can visit luxury and expensive stores like Auchan if you want to buy gluten-free options. They have the largest options available when it comes to all the gluten-free products in the health as well as food section. You can quickly get gluten-free pasta and bread in all the major supermarkets in the country without any problem.
Are There Any Foreign Supermarkets Available In Portugal?
The good news is that it is possible to find many foreign supermarkets in Portugal. As a large number of expats are living in the country, that is why you will see many foreign supermarkets so that you can get your essentials. It is straightforward to find Brazilian supermarkets in the major cities of Portugal, like Lisbon.
Which One Is The Best Supermarket In Portugal?
It is impossible to choose just one supermarket and claim to be the best one in the entire country. Iff you are looking for the most convenient and comfortable supermarket to shop from in Portugal, it might be possible to make a decision.
It depends on the kind of products you like, what kind of lifestyle you are living, and what kind of lifestyle you have lived before. If a supermarket offers all the products you need daily, and you can easily shop for them, it will be the best supermarket in Portugal.