Which aromas and flavours are guaranteed to evoke memories of your favourite travel experiences? The punchy scent of freshly ground spices, the soothing warmth of a freshly-made pot of herbal tea, or the mouthwatering sizzle of seared meat: all of these can transport us to another time, a distant place, a happy memory. Whether you’re an avid foodie or you simply enjoy experiencing a culture through its unique culinary landscape, we’ve hand-picked a mouthwatering assortment of the world’s most incredible food markets to tempt your tastebuds.
Officially the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, this sprawling indoor market is the perfect place to experience Catalan culinary flair, up close. It’s located directly off Barcelona’s iconic pedestrian street, Las Ramblas, and there are more than two hundred stalls that offer everything from fresh seafood and fruit to cured meats and mouthwatering spices.
Our must-try recommendation: stock up on wafer-thin slices of jamon ibérico de Bellota, olives and cheeses, or grab a selection of tapas from one of the eateries tucked away inside the market, then hop aboard a local bus to Parc Güell, where you can picnic amidst the iconic mosaic artworks of local hero, Antoni Gaudí.
Hot tips: La Boqueria is open Monday to Saturday from 8 am until 10.30 pm, but we recommend visiting between 8 and 10 am if you want to snare the freshest treats.
Head to the city’s 3rd arrondissement, where you’ll find the oldest covered market in Paris, which has been providing Parisians with fresh produce since 1615. Aside from the expected assortment of produce, seafood and cheese, the market is also renowned for its vibrant street food scene. You can find everything from fragrant Moroccan tagine to steaming bowls of Japanese ramen alongside French classics like crêpes and croissants.
Our must-try recommendation: Chez Alain Miam Miam is an iconic local favourite, serving mouthwatering sandwiches packed with meats, cheeses and vegetables.
Hot tips: the market is located a short walk from the Filles du Calvaire metro station, or it takes a little over twenty minutes to walk through the streets of Le Marais from Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 am, with closing hours varying throughout the week.
Istanbul’s location is often described as ‘the crossroads of Europe and Asia,’ and nowhere is this more evident that at the Spice Bazaar (Misir Çarşısı), which has been tempting locals and visitors with an astonishing array of flavours since at least the seventeenth century. The bazaar is located in the historic Eminönü district near the Galata Bridge and the New Mosque. You’ll find it packed with colourful stalls and bursting with aromas from apple tea to spices like saffron and sumac.
Our must-try recommendation: no food-lover’s visit to Istanbul would be complete without sampling a selection of Türkiye’s most iconic sweet treat. Known locally as lokum, you’ll find luscious, pillowy pieces of Turkish Delight in a mind-blowing variety of flavours. Classic favourites include rose, lemon and pomegranate, best enjoyed with a steaming cup of cardamon-spiced Turkish coffee.
Hot tips: it’s a ten-minute walk along the narrow, cobbled streets of the Fatih district to reach the Kapalıçarşı (‘Covered Market’), more commonly known as Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. It’s one of the largest and oldest markets in the world, covering more than seven acres, and its sixty-one streets are lined with more than four thousand shops where you can shop for everything from brightly coloured rugs and ceramics to copper coffee pots and leather goods.
The city is set on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, so the bustling stalls of Bazurto Market are piled high with fresh seafood straight from the ocean, along with mouth-watering tropical fruit and produce. This is where Cartagena locals come to swap banter with stallholders in rapid-fire Spanish while they shop for their daily groceries, so if you enjoy markets that are vibrant and authentic, you’re going to love the colour and chaos of Bazurto.
Our must-try recommendation: dive into Colombian-Caribbean culture by sampling local street food treats like carimañolas and buñuelos.
Hot tips: although the markets are open 24/7, we recommend visiting between 8 and 10 am when the produce is fresh and the crowds are not too hectic. Be aware that you’re likely to encounter food items (especially animal parts) that you’re not accustomed to, and the sights and smells can be quite overwhelming. We recommend joining a guided tour through the markets with a local expert, who will share their favourite local delicacies while ensuring your comfort and enjoyment.
Tucked beneath the railway lines near the southern end of London Bridge, the Borough Market is one of the city’s oldest and largest covered markets. It has enjoyed a major renaissance in the past twenty-five years, and is today considered to be one of London’s finest destinations for foodies, with more than one hundred stalls offering everything from English cheeses to Venezuelan condiments, plus an array of local and international street food.
Our must-try recommendation: as well as offering culinary treats from around the globe, Borough Market is renowned as a wonderful destination if you want to treat yourself to iconic British treats. Think crusty bread rolls loaded with tender, roasted pork loin, luscious rhubarb crumble topped with custard and blow-torched meringue, and oaky, slow-smoked Scottish trout.
Hot tips: the market is open Tuesday to Sunday (seven days a week during December), and there’s an ever-changing schedule of special events, trader showcases, cooking demonstrations and tours. Saturday afternoons tend to be extremely busy, while weekdays are typically a lot quieter. Be aware that cobblestones make some areas of the market difficult to access if you have mobility issues, but you can find help and advice at the Borough Market Store (located just inside the main entrance).
Northern Thailand’s largest city is a blend of ancient culture, natural beauty and fun adventure, where you can spend your days exploring more than 300 temples, trekking through sweeping mountain scenery, or cycling through the streets of the historic Old City. Once you’ve worked up a hearty appetite, head to Chang Puak Gate Night Market for a feast of northern Thai cuisine. It’s less touristy than some of Chiang Mai’s other markets, and its emphasis on authentic and delicious street food makes it a popular destination for locals, who sit on plastic stools to dine while swapping stories, surrounded by the aromas of grilled meat and aromatic spices.
Our must-try recommendation: treat yourself to a steaming bowl of northern Thailand’s most iconic dish, Khao Soi. This fragrant, noodle curry is packed with flavour and heat, and it’s typically served with tofu, chicken or prawns.
Hot tips: food tastes so much better when it’s shared with friends, so find yourself some dining buddies and order a selection of dishes to share. The markets are open from 5 pm until midnight, seven days a week.
At the heart of the medina (old quarter), you’ll find Jemaa el-Fnaa: a sprawling open-air market that’s also a theatre of Moroccan life. Leading away from the plaza, the Souk Semmarine is one of the city’s most famous and extensive markets: a covered bazaar of stalls and workshops where you can shop for leather goods, textiles, jewellery and a kaleidoscope of fragrant teas and spices. Warm, Moroccan sunlight slants through the wooden slats above your head, illuminating the delicate pyramids of saffron, cumin and ras-el-hanout which are carefully arranged to lure your eye and your taste buds.
Our must-try recommendation: there’s nothing quite like the rich, zesty aromas of sizzling meat that waft through the narrow lanes of the souk. Brochettes are delicious skewers of lamb or chicken, seasoned with spices and served with flatbread and harissa – perfect for lunch or dinner on the go.
Hot tips: the souk is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. Be prepared to take your time if you’re shopping for something special. The centuries-old tradition of haggling requires time, patience, a sense of humour, and a willingness to seal the negotiation by enjoying a steaming cup of mint tea with your erstwhile adversary.
Once the site of the world’s largest wholesale seafood market which moved to a new location in 2018, what remains is a bustling maze of food stalls, family-run shops, and tiny eateries that celebrate Japan’s rich culinary culture. You can join the Tokyo locals for a breakfast bowl of steaming ramen, watching as stallholders slice through gleaming cuts of fresh tuna with their lethally sharp knives. Aside from the array of seafood and street food on offer, you can shop for beautifully crafted chopsticks, ceramics and bento boxes.
Our must-try recommendation: where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and in this market, clouds of smoke indicate the best places to find bites of umami bliss. From grilled Hokkaido scallops to perfectly charred cubes of buttery Wagyu beef, we recommend arriving hungry and leaving blissfully satiated.
Hot tips: the markets are open from 5 am, and many of the vendors are closed by 1 pm. We recommend visiting between 7 am and 10 am, when there’s a lively buzz and plenty to see, smell and taste.
From the bustling spice-scented lanes of Istanbul to the vibrant seafood stalls of Cartagena, the world’s best markets offer more than just food – they are mouthwatering portals to each destination’s distinct culture, history, and community. Contact your Personal Travel Manager and we’ll help you cook up a memorable, culinary-inspired adventure.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
