PORTA PORTESE MARKET ROME – YES OR NO?

INSIDE: Insiders guide to the Porta Portese market Rome. Updated 2024.

One of our favourite things to do when visiting a new country as family travellers is to find the BEST flea markets in town.

It’s THE quickest way to meet the locals, see where the locals hang out, eat local street food on a budget, and get off the tourist track.

But finding good Rome markets was not easy…

We searched and searched the internet, local tourist magazines, and the local tourism bureau trying to find information on the best flea market Rome had to offer, and finally came up with this one to try:

The Porta Portese market in the upmarket suburb of Trastevere.

We caught a cab from our AirBnB near the Trevi Fountain, and arrived around 9am with much excitement.

BUT that soon wore off.

See why below. 

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GUIDE TO PORTA PORTESE MARKET ROME

I was hoping to find beautiful leather handbags for gifts at the Rome Porta Portese market founded in 1945.

But the only thing we saw in this grotty place filled with hundreds and hundreds of stalls was lots of imported Chinese junk.

This Rome flea market is overrated. 

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Related: BEST GUIDE TO SHOPPING FOR SOUVENIRS IN ROME

Image credit: Manuela via Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0

What’s for Sale at the Porta Portese Markets

At the Porta Portese Market Rome, there’s plenty of:

• cheap plastic toys and dolls
• discounted DVDs and CDs
• fake designer purses and jewellery
• imported clothing
• fake cheap brand shoes and sneakers
• dodgy Chinese electronics
• kitschy handbags and jackets
• hundreds of cheap jacket-length “puffer” jackets 
• household goods like cutlery sets
• magnifying glasses, and
• tablecloths
• vinyl records

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RELATED: THIS is the street you must visit for leather shopping in Rome

Image credit: Lorena Suarez via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Basically lots of flea market junk!

You’d have to search hard to find any kind of real treasure.

We couldn’t even find any decent Rome souvenirs, not even for the kids.

This Rome Flea Market was a complete waste of our time.

Image credit: QTea via Flickr CC BY-2.0

Pizza at Porta Portese Market Rome

The saving grace of this whole failed expedition was pizza.

Slabs and slabs of some the best pizza we’ve ever eaten in Rome. 

Bought by weight.

We hadn’t yet stumbled upon the best pizza in Rome at Pizza Florida, but the Pizzeria at Porta Portese markets was a good start on our pizza eating quests.

Image credit: Mario Sanchez Prada via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Wandering around Porta Portese Flea Market in Rome 

Upon leaving the Rome street market, we spent the rest of the day happily wandering around the cobblestone streets of Trastevere.

We love this area of Rome so much.

It’s filled with character and charm.

Next time, we want to join a tour of the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere so that we can learn more about the history of this magnificent cobbled stone locale of Rome.

We meandered along the riverside all the way up to the Castel Sant’Angelo, and over to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon.

We love nothing better than a good walk to really get to know the city.

But the best thing in Rome is stopping in one of those little Italian cafés that entice with THICK Italian hot chocolates for three!

Details about the Porta Portese Market Trastevere

Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in Euro, unless otherwise stated

Address: Where is the Porta Portese market in Rome? It’s located on Via Portuense & Ippolito Nievo, 00153 Rome, Italy (Trastevere)
Telephone: 0623143456

Rome Porta Portese Market Hours

• The Porta Portese market opening hours are every Sunday from 7am to 1-pm

Note: Pickpocket Alert.

• Keep your bags, phones, and cameras in front of your body.
• Cross your shoulder strap over your body where possible
• Zip up your bags always.

Entry Fees at Porta Portese Market: Free entry.

How to get to Porta Portese Market in Rome 

By Tram:

• Off Viale di Trastevere (take tram 8 into Trastevere about five stops).
• Covers streets of Via Ippolito Nievo, Via Ettore Rolli, and Via Portuense

By Metro: Piramide (B) or Circo Massimo (B)
By Bus: 3B, 44, 44F, 75, 125, N19
By Hop On Hop Off Bus:  Stop: Vaticano

Porta Portese Map

Toadstool Rating – Rome Market Shopping at Porta Portese Mercato

Travel with kids to the Porta Portese markets?

Nope.

We wouldn’t bother.

Don’t waste your time. There’s nothing special.

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