Feira da Ladra
Lisbon's flea market, running since at least the thirteenth century, spread across the square behind the Pantheon.
Updated 22 October 2026
The Feira da Ladra is documented in Lisbon from the thirteenth century and has been in Campo de Santa Clara since the 1880s, running every Tuesday and Saturday from morning until early evening. The name means thief's market, and the usual explanation is the obvious one about provenance, though ladra may instead derive from ladro, an old word for bug, referring to what came with second-hand goods. What is sold runs the full range: genuine antiques and azulejos at the upper end, old books, records, cameras, brass and colonial-era objects in the middle, and at the lower end tables of used clothes, cables, phone cases and household clearance spread on sheets. It occupies the square and the streets around, with the Pantheon dome on one side and São Vicente on the other. Haggling is expected, prices start high for visitors, and pickpocketing is a real problem in the crush.
History
The market first met in 1272 below the gate of São Jorge Castle as the Mercado Franco de Lisboa, the oldest known fair held continuously in Lisbon; it had moved to Rossio by 1552, and its present name is first recorded in 1610. After the 1755 earthquake it went to Praça da Alegria, it spent 1835-1882 in Campo dos Mártires da Pátria before settling in Campo de Santa Clara, and since 1903 it has been held on Saturdays as well as Tuesdays (Wikipedia, Feira da Ladra).
Highlights
- The spread - antiques and azulejos through to clearance goods on sheets.
- The setting - the square between the Pantheon and São Vicente de Fora.
- The continuity - a market recorded in Lisbon since the thirteenth century.
- The two days - Tuesday and Saturday only, from nine to six.
When to go
Tuesday and Saturday only. Go early - the best material sells by mid-morning and traders pack up in the afternoon. Two to three hours.
Before you go
Pickpocketing is common in the crowd - carry nothing loose. Prices quoted to visitors are inflated; haggling is expected. Much of what is sold is junk. Genuine antiques and tiles may be of questionable provenance; buying old azulejos is a legal and ethical question worth considering.
Nearby
The National Pantheon and São Vicente de Fora are on either side of the square.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q3068026, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Feira da Ladra
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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