Lisbon Named Best European City for Supermarket Tourism in 2026

Lisbon, Portugal, has been named the top European city for supermarket tourism in 2026, according to the Gourmet Grocery Index released by travel deals site Superbreak.com. The index ranks destinations based on the number of supermarkets and independent food shops, cost of a food shop, retail value, and packability of popular food items.

Why Lisbon Tops the List

Lisbon earned the top spot due to its sheer variety of food shops, from traditional conservas and boutique tinned fish stores to delis, markets, and major supermarket chains. Portugal is frequently noted for its low cost of living, with groceries estimated to be 20-40% cheaper than in the UK, according to the index. Popular items to bring back include tinned fish, which scores perfectly on packability as it is pressure-sealed and shelf-stable, though fish in brine or oil counts as a liquid for hand luggage.

Other Top Destinations

Barcelona, Spain, came second, famous for Mercat de la Boqueria, named the best market in the world. Florence, Italy, ranked third, offering specialist food stores with authentic local ingredients. The top ten also includes Madrid, Paris, Rome, Bologna, Porto, San Sebastian, and the only UK entry: Lynton & Lynmouth in Devon, which made the list due to its high per-capita number of independent farm shops and artisanal food makers.

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Wide Pickt banner — collaborative shopping lists app for Telegram, phone mockup with grocery list

Social Media Trend

Social media platforms like TikTok are filled with videos of tourists excitedly exploring supermarket aisles abroad. One viral video captioned "Nothing beats the feeling of the first supermarket trip in Spain" shows a man dancing in the aisles, while another features a tourist visiting Spanish chain Mercadona with the caption "Me, as soon as I land in Spain."

Tips for Supermarket Tourists

Visitors to Lisbon should explore mercados municipais, local neighbourhood markets often housed in historic buildings. Mercado de Campo de Ourique is a large option reachable by tram, offering sit-down dining. Loja das Conservas is a colourful shop with retro-style tinned fish, perfect for souvenirs. The biggest supermarket chain is Continente, with branches throughout Lisbon, alongside Pingo Doce, known for fresh foods and in-store bakeries.

Travellers should ensure packed items can withstand cabin pressure changes and baggage handling. Hand-luggage items must meet liquid requirements—anything that can spill, spread, pump, or pour counts as a liquid. Note that meat and cheese products from the EU cannot be brought into the UK, though fish and poultry are allowed.