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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through the best markets in the world? Well we certainly have and wanted to bring you along for the ride! We did our research and here is our top favorite global markets!
1. The Souks, Marrakesh:
Morocco is home to many of the best markets in the world. From spice to handcrafted items, you can find practically anything you want at a souk. Know that there is actually no central market area, rather a series of interconnected markets that specialize in different items.
What to avoid: Evade the hard-sell by taking time to explore. Don’t buy anything on your first round because prices can drop by as much as 30 per cent.
2. Boqueria, Barcelona :
This market dates back to the 13th century and it’s one of the biggest attractions in Barcelona. Boqueria edibles range from fresh seafood and vegetables to artisanal foods and Catalan specialties. They also have an onsite culinary school so that those with culinary ambitions can learn one thing or two while visiting.
What to avoid: Always keep an eye on your bag – Barcelona is known for theft incidents.
3. Grand Bazaar, Turkey:
The Grand Bazaar was built in the 15th century, is the oldest closed market in the world. It has 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. The Grand Bazaar was the heart of much of the world’s economy for decades – the bridge between Europe and Asia culturally and commercially. These days it’s more about tourism than trade.
What to avoid: Resist the urge to entertain small boys wielding spinning tops on strings, who will address you as “mother”, regardless of age.
4. Ver-o-peso, Belem, Brazil:
What makes this market really cool is that it sits at the mouth of the Amazon! Think about how unique your finds would be here – Fish and fruits found in the forests of the Amazon are for sale here, and not for sale anywhere else in the world. Ver-o-Peso today covers over almost 35,000 square meters (9 acres) of land, and is divided into subsections selling meat, fish, fruits (including a specialized market selling only açaí), arts and crafts, and prepared food.
What to avoid: Be wary of pickpockets in the early and late hours.
5. Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok
It is the largest market in Thailand, by far, and one of the largest weekend markets in the world. People from around the world visit this market and on weekends alone it has at least 200,000 people per day. The size of Chatuchak is really the main selling point – it’s so huge that you really can find anything you’re looking for, along with many things you never knew you wanted!
What to avoid: Don’t arrive late – because it’s best to visit around 10am when most of the shops open up. Plus it’ll be a bit cooler and less crowded.
