Within Europe, I have found that Portugal and Turkey have consistently been the best places to find and purchase pottery. Netherlands, Poland, and Italy are also good places to shop. That is not to say that there aren’t great places to purchase pottery in other countries and in specific cities; however, I have found it the easiest to browse in these two locations. Here, there are TONS of places to shop, and plenty of options for ceramic pieces. In Turkey, Portugal, and the Netherlands, blue and white pottery is a staple. Between each of these countries, the style of design greatly differs, but the iconic colors are the same. However, there are also so many brightly painted pieces with a variety of glazes, so don’t expecting everything to follow that color pallet.
That being said, fantastic pottery can be found everywhere. This is my list of the absolute favorite shops to purchase pottery in Europe.
Colorful cups on display at Studio Arhoj.
Studio Arhoj, Copenhagen, Denmark
Skindergade 7, st, 1159 København, Denmark
+45 29 89 73 99
Sun - Fri, 10 am - 6 pm, Sat, 9 am - 7 pm
Studio Arhoj Study
Nørregade 7, st., th, 1165 København, Denmark
+45 29 89 07 35
Mon - Sun, 10 am - 6 pm
Studio Arhoj is a fantastic ceramic studio with brightly colored tableware pieces. In the shop, there is a collection of cups, bowls, and ceramic art. The studio has two locations, with the study being the smaller location. It also has other items to purchase, such as postcards, on top of ceramics. This is a great place to buy a souvenir with something for everyone. I ended up going to this shop four times during my trip and, while my wallet was crying, I had a fantastic time.
The interior of LOU’s store showcasing potter, candles, and other home goods.
LOU, Copenhagen, Denmark
Vimmelskaftet 42B, 1161 København, Denmark
+45 31 55 50 94
Mon - Fri, 10 am - 6 pm, Sat, 10 am - 5 pm, Sun, 11 am - 4 pm
Another lovely shop in Copenhagen, this home goods shop sells pottery along with clothing, bags, lamps, and other items to decorate and use within your home. For the pottery, I particularly loved the work of Christina Iversen Studio and Julie Damhus Studio. Iversen’s work creates beautiful shell-like pieces inspired by the sea. Dahmus’s work has a simple elegance that lends itself well to the stoneware tableware that she creates. This shop is very well curated, and many other items in this shop are absolutely lovely.
The Potters’ Gallery - Oriel y Crochendwyr, Conwy, Wales
1 High St, Conwy LL32 8DB, United Kingdom
+44 1492 593590
Mon - Sun, 10 am - 5 pm
The Potters’ Gallery is a small gallery filled with the pottery of different artists from the United Kingdom. Each artist has a distinct style: some inspired by Brazil or Japan, while others are inspired by Wales itself. At this gallery, I ended up chatting with Steve Tootell, one of the artists, who discussed how he was influenced by living and teaching pottery in Japan. This is a great gallery to be able to see a range of styles of pottery; however, it isn’t as universal of a pottery studio as Arhoj.
For this gallery, Annie Greenwood’s work was my favorite. I loved the colors of her pieces and the textures that were incorporated. If you end up in Conwy, it’s worth a visit.
The exterior of MON COIN STUDIO, looking inward at some of the pottery on display.
MON COIN STUDIO, Athens, Greece
Thisiou 7, Athina 105 55, Greece
+30 21 0321 7806
Mon - Sat, 10 am - 6 pm
An absolutely amazing shop offering a wide variety of ceramic pieces from all over Greece. The owner of the shop was super helpful in providing information about the pieces and very patient as I took quite some time deliberating. The prices were very reasonable, and there is something for everyone. I ended up with 2 beautiful porcelain pieces; however, I regret not purchasing another dish. This is a fantastic shop, even if you are just browsing. Well worth a visit.
The window display of various glassware, earrings, and wooden art.
BouSham Gallery, Brighton, United Kingdom
14 Hanningtons Ln, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1GS, United Kingdom
Mon - Sun, 11 am - 6 pm
A space with a beautiful collection of different, unique artistic pieces. Paintings, jewelry, pottery, and glassware make up the majority of the collection. The space is owned by artist and it shows. There are some incredibly unique pieces and antiques to purchase. The materials used, the shapes, and the colors of piece create a fantastic collection to browse. This gallery is tucked away in the Lanes, and it is a hidden gem. Also, the few times I visited, the people working here have also been incredibly welcoming, and super helpful about answer questions. This was such a fun space to stumble into. This space is great for finding the perfect unique piece for a collection or a gift.
Rzeczy Same, Krakow, Poland
Nadwiślańska 11, 30-527 Kraków, Poland
+48 784 506 604
Mon - Fri, 11 am - 7 pm, Sat, 11 am - 4 pm
This souvenir shop has a wonderful selection of goods to adorn your home. I was drawn to the unusual ceramic cups in this shop. Here the work of Fobe Ceramics caught my attention for its unique exterior that appears like folds in a sheet of paper. Other cups, such as ones appearing almost crumbled or in the shape of heads, add to the cool collection here. This is a nice local spot to find interesting souvenirs.
A street view of a pottery shop in Poland.
Pracownia Ceramiki Latela, Gdańsk, Poland
Ogarna 117, 80-826 Gdańsk, Poland
Ogarna 117, 80-826 Gdańsk, Poland
+48 504 029 899
This pottery studio is STUFFED to the brim with lovely ceramic pieces: mugs, flowers, magnets, and bowls. There is a lovely mix of small pieces to buy and great pottery for everyday use. In the studio, you can also see people working on pottery. I had such a fun time chatting with some girls who were making bouquets of the ceramic flowers, and I grabbed a few mugs to gift. The shop was very affordable for handmade ceramics, so it became a very fruitful stop. The shop just a street or two over from the main thoroughfare which makes it very convenient to visit.
A view looking into HOIKO pottery shop in Lisbon.
HOIKO, Lisbon, Portugal
R. dos Poiais de São Bento 65, 1200-346 Lisboa, Portugal
Mon - Sun, 11 am - 7 pm
A small space with unique pieces lined against all the walls. This is a space I would go to in order to shop for unique one-of-a-kind items. The shop sells both jewelry and ceramics. My favorite items from the shop were a vase and a pitcher. I think these larger items are where the magic of the shop is found. These piece have become much-loved and much-used in our household. Add this shop to your Lisbon pottery to-do list!
Additional Shops in Lisbon to Buy Pottery
Cecile .M, Lisbon, Portugal
R. dos Poiais de São Bento 74, 1200-349 Lisboa, Portugal
+351 913 636 334
Mon - Fri, 11 am - 7 pm, Sat, 11 am - 6 pm
Clay Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
R. da Misericórdia 17, 1200-270 Lisboa, Portugal
+351 911 005 919
Mon/Tues/Thurs - Sat, 10 am - 1 pm, 2 pm - 7 pm
Mexerica, Lisbon, Portugal
Calçada do Combro 103, 1200-123 Lisboa, Portugal
Mon - Sun, 10:30 am - 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm - 7:30 pm
A photo taken while walking by Creare Paris.
Creare, Paris, France
16 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe, 75004 Paris, France
+33 9 80 76 44 09
Wed - Sat, 11:30 am - 7 pm, Sun, 2 pm - 7 pm
Creare is a family-run home goods store in Paris. The shop was unfortunately closed for over a year due to a fire, but it has recently reopened. The products here are all chosen to be unique pieces that you likely will not find at larger retailers. As such, the collection here is lovely to browse, and the owners are very informed on the products.
A display of beautiful ceramic birds and jewelry.
la caravane des créateurs, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
4 Rue Carnot, 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
+33 9 83 32 94 20
Mon - Sun, 10 am - 7 pm
A wonderful boutique highlighting the work of different women artists from Provence. From jewelry to pottery to wire sculptures, this store has a fascinating range of branches of art. The service here was also lovely, so I took my time going through each artist's section of the space. If you are in Provence, not only is Saint-Rémy-de-Provence a lovely town to visit, but this shop is a gem. My family all visited, and everyone enjoyed the town and this shop.
The interior of a gift shop, showing ceramic pieces and other small items.
Gente da Minha Terra, Evora, Portugal
R. Cinco de Outubro 39, 7000-854 Évora, Portugal
+351 964 956 259
Mon - Fri, 10 am - 7 pm, Sat - Sun, 10 am - 2 pm, 3 pm - 7 pm
This shop was introduced by friends in the area, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. At this point, this is a staple to visit whenever I am in Evora. This gift shop is unlike any other generic souvenir shop. It has a fun collection of creative pieces - like small poppy dishes - that are so exciting to browse. If you enjoy a space with fun pops of color and creative artsy pieces, this shop is for you. I love this shop and can’t recommend it enough.
The write-up and art of the Irish artist Rebeka Khan displayed at Kilkenny Design.
Kilkenny Design, Dublin Ireland
6 Nassau St, Dublin 2, D02 W865, Ireland
+353 1 677 7066
Mon - Wed/Fri, 10 am - 6:30 pm, Thurs, 10 am - 7 pm, Sat - Sun, 10 am - 6 pm
Kilkenny Design is much larger than the rest of these stores. It houses an array of clothing, jewelry, homeware, and art. Anything you need for gifts to bring back from Ireland can be found here. This is a bit like a department store with its different sections. I think this is either a great place to start or a great place to finish off shopping when in Ireland. Since there are so many products to see, this is a really all-around location. Additionally, this isn’t really a pottery shop - but I added it for one reason and that is Rebeka Khan. Khan is an artist have loved the work of for years. She creates framed tiles that have separate ceramic pieces bursting off the frame. The colors and 3-D element make her work so special. I would check out this shop just to browse artists like her, whose works are on display here.
A street view of a shop selling Delftware in Amsterdam.
Royal Delft Pottery - find it the Netherlands (and sometimes in Belgium)
This entry is a bit different, since it is not a specific location or a specific artist, instead it is a style of pottery. This pottery is known for its Delft Blue, historical significance, and its modern ready-to-buy collection. Delftware has been around since the 1600s in the Netherlands after it was inspired by Chinese Porcelain. You can view this pottery in museums around the world, and it remains an iconic symbol of craft in the Netherlands. Besides Royal Delft pottery, other brands also make delftware. Many shops in Amsterdam, Delft, and other cities in the Netherlands, have these iconic pieces for sale - too many to name - so I will simply leave you with a note to keep your eyes peeled since you will certainly run into this pottery when here.
Th shop of Nothing to Sea with towels, pottery, and prints in clear view.
Nothing to Sea, Rovinj, Croatia
Ul. Vladimira Švalbe 2, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia
Mon, 9 am - 11 pm, Tues - Sat, 9 am - 10 pm
Ul. Sv. Križa 31, 52200, Rovinj, Croatia
Mon - Sat, 10 am - 11 pm
This is the cutest shop ever. Such a fun, lovey souvenir shop in Rovinj. It’s filled with cheeky sardines, funny pieces, and terrific art. With buckets full of painted ceramic fish titled “Catch of the Day,” sardine towels and shirts, and ceramic pieces identical to ducky and flamingo inflatables, this shop is a testament to care and intentionality. I loved the ceramics, the art, and the towels here. I even got the chance to spend much more time than expected because a massive storm rolled in and I needed somewhere to duck for cover. Fortunately, the towels were somewhat of a success as a way to hide and dry from the rain on our way back to our hotel. This is a terrific, fun shop that I cannot recommend more.
The pottery, bowls and plates, on the shelf at Iznik Works.
Iznik Works, the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Beyazıt, Takkeciler Sk. 41-43, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
+90 212 522 42 42
Mon - Sat, 9 am - 7 pm
This is the final location recommendation. The Grand Bazaar is home to an overwhelming number of shops of all different types. There are shops of tea, tiles, spices, backgammon boards, and so many more. As such, I think that it is best to simply explore this fantastic market, and to stumble into all the amazing ceramic shops here. Turkey is no stranger to stunningly beautiful ceramics, and, frankly, all you need to do is wander a bit and suddenly a pottery shop will appear. That being said, we visited Iznik Works and had a great experience. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The tiles and other ceramic pieces were beautiful, and we felt that the pieces we bought were reasonably priced. This is a great shop to visit and there is a reason we ended up purchasing our pieces from this shop. However, I still think it is worth it to wander around and explore the other shops before making a final decision.
Final Thoughts
If you had to visit only 3 of these shops, check out Studio Arhoj, BouSham Gallery, and Nothing to Sea. These three are ones that you will continue to return to. They all have such fun pieces and plenty of items that will generate interest each time you come back.
If you simply love pottery, Turkey is an almost must-visit. Ceramic pieces are everywhere and all so beautiful. If you are in Istanbul, Iznik Works is a great place to shop for beautiful pieces. Also, buildings like Topkapi Palace and the Great Mosques have stunning tiled interiors that are breathtaking. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, in Turkey your eyes will feast.
