Vila do Conde's most distinctive purchase is its rendas de bilros — traditional bobbin lace made by local artisans. The craft workshops and lace school on Rua de São Bento and nearby streets are the best places to buy genuine, locally made lace. The work is not cheap, but it represents one of the most authentic traditional crafts still actively practiced in Portugal.
The weekly market, held on Fridays at Praça da República and the surrounding streets, is the place for local produce, vegetables, fish from the morning catch, and everyday goods. It attracts sellers and buyers from across the Ave valley.