Time Out Market Lisboa

The Basics

The Ribeira Market, housed in a beautiful 19th-century building, features traditional and gourmet food markets that are favorites among tourists and locals alike. A visit to the Ribeira Market is essential for those wanting to learn about and experience Portuguese food, including higher-end fare such as Henrique Sá Pessoa’s less expensive alternative to his Michelin-starred restaurant. You can tour the market independently, join a city tour that stops here (often for lunch), or see the market in the distance from a Tagus River cruise.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Ribeira Market is a must-visit for foodies and all first-time visitors to Lisbon.

• Arrive early to avoid notoriously long lines at the food stalls.

• The gourmet market takes up most of the complex, and there is a traditional farmers market selling fresh produce on the ground floor.

• The upper level includes a gallery and concert hall, and beautifully tiled walls.

• The market’s main level is wheelchair accessible with a few slopes to the entrance.

How to Get There

The Ribeira Market is located just outside the Cais do Sodré metro station on the green line. Also, city buses 706, 728, 732, and 760, as well as trams 15E and 28E, reach the market.

When to Get There

The farmers market is open from 6am to 2pm daily. The Time Out gourmet food market is open from 10am to midnight Sunday to Wednesday, and 10am to 2am Thursday to Saturday. Get there early to snag a seat at the food court and avoid long lines.

An Incredible Display of Lisbon’s Food

The Ribeira Market has always been a gathering place for Lisboetas, but with the introduction of the Time Out Market, this is even truer. From local goods such as fish, meats, cheeses, and wines to the range of cuisines offered in the food court, Ribeira is a one-stop shop for foodies hungry to discover Lisbon’s flourishing food scene.

Ways to explore

The Time Out Market Lisboa is home to more than 25 restaurants, five shops, eight bars, a cooking school, and more. Among the wide range of Portuguese specialties are higher-end options such as Henrique Sá Pessoa’s less expensive alternative to his Michelin 2-star destination, and guests enjoy the bounty at communal tables.

Many city tours, whether by bike, tuk-tuk, or gas-powered vehicle, swing by here, and lots of Lisbon food and street food tours include a visit. The market is not far from the waterfront, so you can also see it in the distance from a Tagus River cruise.

Accessibility

While it’s theoretically wheelchair accessible, and equipped with adapted bathrooms, be aware that the market’s aisles can be hard to negotiate when it’s crowded.

Age limits

None

What to pack

A light layer, credit or debit card for the cash-free complex

What to wear

Comfort is king in this unfussy space.

Not allowed

Reservations, cash

Amenities

Restrooms, Wi-Fi, ATMs

Address

The Time Out Market is about a 0.5-mile (800-meter) walk west of Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), behind the Cais do Sodré station and waterfront.

Driving

Driving is a spectacularly inconvenient way to get around downtown Lisbon. If you’re coming from Cascais or the west of the country, follow the N6 coastal highway east; if you’re coming from the south, cross the 25th of April Bridge and pick up the N6 east. There’s paid parking on Praça Dom Luís I.

Public transportation

The market is a stone’s throw from Cais do Sodré, which offers ferries, trains, and green line metro services, as well as the coastal tram 15.

Best times to visit

The market is generally open from 10am to midnight daily. If you visit in the morning or mid-afternoon, rather than during lunch or dinner hours, you have a better chance at nabbing a seat.

Best days to visit

As with most Lisbon attractions, midweek is a better choice than weekends.

Best months to visit

To skip the busy peak of summer, opt for the shoulder season (April through mid-May or mid-September through October).