Senado Square is the location of one of the newest municipal markets. On Avenida Almeida Ribeiro and the narrow streets leading off the main square you'll find a wealth of inexpensively priced goods of all kinds.

Clothing is the biggest item here, and you'll find vendors specializing in locally manufactured baby clothes, underwear, shoes, and accessories, as well as jeans, sweaters, T-shirts and sportswear in all sizes and styles.

Nearby, the Sun Star City, on Rua de Pedro Nolasco, and Sportstar, a two-storeyed arcade of specialty shops on Rua da Palha, offer a wide variety of clothing, watches, and stylish accessories like sunglasses, handbags, shoes and novelty items.

On the other side of Avenida Almeida Ribeiro is a shopping area for the more adventurous. Follow Rua do Dr. Soares uphill behind the Civic & Municipal Affairs Bureau building until you reach Rua da Felicidade. Turn right and continue down past the restored 19th century shophouses in Felicidade, once a thriving red-light district. This is a fascinating place to browse among shops selling jewellery, curios, dried beef and even live snakes.

The Red Market is located on the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa.This is a bustling market where vendors sell food of every conceivable kind.

Avenida Horta e Costa is a long street full of shops that begins at the Red Market and extends as far as the Flora Gardens beneath Guia Hill. The avenue has several up-market shops specializing in, among other things, clothing and shoes, electronic items and cameras. But the best bargains are found in the streets surrounding the street. The historic "Three Lamps" (Rotunda Carlos da Maia) and surrounding streets are full of tiny shops selling many kinds of goods at bargain prices.