World's Great Markets
Food, spice and spectacle. 22 places, mapped and ready to build a trip around.
Plan a trip on Trailwind →Grand Bazaar
TurkeyBestApr–OctClimate39–86°FCurrencyTRYLanguageTurkishThe Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops on a total area of 30,700 m2, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. In 2014, it was listed No.1 among the world's most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.
La Boqueria
SpainBestJul, Aug, DecClimate41–84°FCurrencyEURLanguageSpanishThe Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, usually simply referred to as La Boqueria, is a large public market in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and one of the city's foremost tourist landmarks, with an entrance from La Rambla, not far from the Liceu, Barcelona's opera house. The market has a very diverse selection of goods.
Pike Place Market
United StatesEst. 1907BestJun–SepClimate37–77°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishPike Place Market is a public market in Seattle, Washington, United States. It opened on August 17, 1907, and is one of the older continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States. Overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront on Puget Sound, it serves as a place of business for many small farmers, craftspeople and merchants. It is named for its central street, Pike Place, which runs northwest from Pike Street to Virginia Street on the western edge of Downtown Seattle.
Borough Market
United KingdomBestJunClimate36–73°FCurrencyGBPLanguageEnglishBorough Market is a wholesale and retail market hall in Southwark, London, England. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London, with a market on the site dating back to at least the 12th century. The present buildings were built in the 1850s, and today the market mainly sells speciality foods to the general public.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
ThailandBestDec–FebClimate72–93°FCurrencyTHBLanguageThaiThe Chatuchak Weekend Market, on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, is the largest market in Thailand. Afectionately known as JJ Market, it has more than 15,000 stalls and 11,505 vendors (2019), divided into 27 sections. Chatuchak Market sells many different kinds of goods, including plants, antiques, consumer electronics, cosmetics, pets, fresh and dry food and drinks, ceramics, furniture and home accessories, clothing, and books.
Ben Thanh Market
VietnamBestDec–MarClimate73–95°FCurrencyVNDLanguageVietnameseSaigon's landmark market. The food stalls at the back are the reason to come, and the night market spills into the streets outside.
Chandni Chowk
IndiaBestOct–MarClimate45–100°FCurrencyINRLanguageHindiOld Delhi's 17th-century market street, laid out by Shah Jahan's daughter. Paranthe Wali Gali is the food detour.
English Market
IrelandEst. 1788BestMay, Jun, SepClimate37–66°FCurrencyEURLanguageEnglishCork's covered market since 1788, and one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. Buttered eggs and spiced beef.
Granville Island Public Market
CanadaBestJun–SepClimate34–72°FCurrencyCADLanguageEnglishA former industrial peninsula under the bridge, now BC produce, seafood and bakeries with False Creek outside.
Jemaa el-Fnaa
MoroccoBestOct–MayClimate43–104°FCurrencyMADLanguageArabicJemaa el-Fnaa, also Jemaa el-Fna, Djema el-Fna or Djemaa el-Fnaa, is a square and market place in the medina quarter of Marrakesh, Morocco. It remains the main square of Marrakesh, used by locals and tourists.
Khan el-Khalili
EgyptEst. 1773BestOct–AprClimate50–102°FCurrencyEGPLanguageArabicA souk in Islamic Cairo trading since the 14th century. Stop at El Fishawy, open more or less continuously since 1773.
Mercado Central de Santiago
ChileBestNov–AprClimate45–86°FCurrencyCLPLanguageSpanishWrought iron shipped from Glasgow in 1872, over the best seafood counters in Chile. Order the caldillo de congrio.
Mercado Central de Valencia
SpainBestJun–AugClimate45–88°FCurrencyEURLanguageSpanishOne of Europe's largest fresh markets, under a modernista dome of stained glass and ceramic tile.
Mercado de San Miguel
SpainBestSep–JunClimate34–95°FCurrencyEURLanguageSpanishA 1916 iron-and-glass hall off Plaza Mayor, converted to tapas counters. Touristy and still worth it.
Mercado de San Telmo
ArgentinaBestVariesClimate45–84°FCurrencyARSLanguageSpanishAn 1897 market hall of butchers and antique dealers in the same building. Sundays the whole barrio turns into a fair.
Naschmarkt
AustriaBestVariesClimate30–82°FCurrencyEURLanguageGermanVienna's belly since the 16th century: 120 stalls of pickles, cheese and Middle Eastern groceries, plus a Saturday flea market.
Reading Terminal Market
United StatesEst. 1893BestVariesClimate28–88°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishOpen since 1893 under a former train shed. Pennsylvania Dutch counters, roast pork sandwiches, and no seats to speak of.
San Francisco Ferry Building
United StatesBestFeb–NovClimate46–70°FCurrencyUSDLanguageEnglishA 1898 transit hall turned into the best food building in the city, with the farmers market outside on Saturdays.
Spice Bazaar
TurkeyEst. 1664BestApr–OctClimate39–86°FCurrencyTRYLanguageTurkishBuilt in 1664 and funded by duties on Egyptian goods, hence the other name. Smaller and better smelling than the Grand Bazaar.
St. Lawrence Market
CanadaEst. 1803BestMay–OctClimate19–79°FCurrencyCADLanguageEnglishToronto's market since 1803. Get the peameal bacon sandwich, which the city considers a civic duty.
Toyosu Market
JapanBestVariesClimate34–90°FCurrencyJPYLanguageJapaneseThe world's largest fish market, and the tuna auction that starts at 5am. You watch from a glass gallery now.
Tsukiji Outer Market
JapanBestVariesClimate34–90°FCurrencyJPYLanguageJapaneseA warren of stalls for the freshest sushi, tamago and Tokyo street food.