Buying tiles and pottery in Portugal and getting them home
Buy new from the makers
Factory shops and showrooms are the simplest and clearest way to buy: Fábrica Sant’Anna in Lisbon, Viúva Lamego in Sintra, and Bordallo Pinheiro in Caldas da Rainha all have shops. See the visit page for what each says about visiting.
Packing
- Ask the shop to pack for travel; factories that sell tiles do this every day.
- Wrap every piece separately, keep tiles on their edge rather than flat in a stack, and fill all gaps so nothing can move.
- Take photos of the packed box and keep the invoice, for any insurance claim.
Old pieces are different
Anything old, or taken from a building, falls under the cultural-goods rules in our export guide. Read it before you pay a deposit.
Not confirmed: The packing tips are general practice, not taken from a single source.