Brazil Travel: The Best Markets

Antiques Fair (Sao Paulo): Every Sunday between 10am and 5pm there is an antiques fair in the space beneath the MASP building located on Avenida Paulista. Dealers must be registered, so the quality of the antiques is usually very good.

Japanese Market (Sao Paulo): On Praca da Liberdade, next to the metro stop, one of the largest Asian street markets is open every Sunday. Head over to the Liberdade neighborhood to browse the large selection of inexpensive Japanese cuisine, arts, and crafts.

Feirarte (Rio de Janeiro): Located in Rio’s most historic square, this crafts market features a wide range of artists. There are ceramics, glass, silver, and leatherwork, as well as typical souvenirs. You can also find delicious food and drink stands.

Hippie Fair Market (Rio de Janeiro): The fair is exactly what the name says, Hippie. You can find various tables selling items like t-shirts, jewelry, sandals, and paintings, and even blow-dart guns carved by indigenous tribes. If you are relaxing at the Ipanema Beach on Sunday, stop by the fair and check out what they have.

Mercado Modelo (Salvador): If you’re looking for souvenirs to bring home, than this is the place. Located in the former Customs building, this market has approximately 300 merchants selling a large variety of souvenirs, ranging from leather goods, instruments, masks, carvings, lace, terra-cotta figurines, jewelry, and hammocks.

Mercado Adolpho Lisboa (Manaus): This lovely iron-and-glass market hall is an excellent place to buy exotic Amazonian fish, fruits, and vegetables. Many stalls have indigenous handicrafts at reasonable prices.

The Ver-o-Peso Market (Belem): The name of this waterfront market comes from colonial times, when the Portuguese would ver o peso (check the weight) of merchandise in order to impose taxes. You can find just about anything produced in the Amazon for very cheap here. From unique Amazon fish, traditional medicine potions, and delicious species of fruits you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

Casa das Tulhas (Sao Luis): Across from the Museu de Artes Visuais, this 19th-century Casa das Tulhas now sells a variety of typical Maranhao crafts. There are also interesting foods such as duck, dried prawns, and tiquira, a bright purple cassava liquor.



This guide to the best markets across Brazil was written by a Brazil travel expert at Brazil For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Brazil vacations.