To market, to market: 10 of the world’s most amazing to visit
Shopping at a local market is a satisfying way to get to know a place and its people. Wake up early (and check the calendar) and experience first-hand local customs, delicacies and wares.
1. Tha Kha Floating Market, Bangkok, Thailand
Tha Kha may not be the most famous, but it is a local favourite, known for homemade cooking, sellers showcasing produce grown in their own gardens and the requisite rowboats. Arrive early in the morning or visit at night when the fireflies come out and light up the trees.
Tha Kha Floating Market in Bangkok. Photo: Unsplash
2. Marché Atwater, Montréal, Canada
Housed in a 1933 brick hall off the Canal de Lachine, this market has it all: Fresh produce from local farms, excellent wines, crusty bread and more, best devoured picnic-style on the grassy banks near the water.
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3. Pike Place, Seattle, US
You haven’t lived until you’ve witnessed the fish fly at this Seattle hotspot. If taking a whole salmon home isn’t an option, pick up treats from any of its speciality food stores, offering everything from momos (Nepalese dumplings) to doughnuts.
Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Photo: Unsplash
4. Queens Night Market, New York City, US
The scene at this seasonal night market is an olfactory bonanza, befitting an NYC venue that celebrates innovation. Here, young up-and-coming cooks ply their trade, turning out a plethora of cuisines and infusions at a mercifully low price point.
The Queens Night Market in New York City. Photo: Unsplash
5. Marché des Lices, Rennes, France
Every Saturday, France’s second-largest market comes alive. For 400 years, shoppers have been procuring Brittany’s best fish, meat, produce, cheese and much more from an array of indoor and outdoor stalls and food trucks.
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6. Neighbourgoods Market, Cape Town, South Africa
On weekends, locals and visitors congregate to see and taste the region’s freshest produce, oysters, wine and coffee, along with global dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Communal tables up the feeling of camaraderie.
Cape Town’s Neighbourgoods Market in full swing. Photo: Unsplash
7. Nishiki-ko ̄ji Ichiba, Kyoto, Japan
Nishiki Market is a wonder for anyone with a passion for cooking and eating. Known locally as “Kyoto’s kitchen”, it draws high-end restaurateurs to shop for ingredients here, while visitors can ogle the unusual foods that go into the city’s traditional cuisine.
8. Farm Gate Market, Hobart/Nipaluna, Tasmania
When Sunday morning rolls around, Farm Gate (aka Farmy) comes alive with local purveyors hawking their bounty of locally produced items: Fruit and veg, baked goods, spirits. Before perusing, fill your belly with breakfast from the food trucks at Farmy’s Grub Hub.
9. Mercado San Pedro, Cuzco, Peru
The food on offer at vibrant San Pedro Market – designed by Gustave Eiffel, of ‘tower’ fame – runs the gamut from fresh fruit and smoothies to fall-off-the-bone- bone beef ribs and river fish. This place is a feast for the senses, though the aromas are the most alluring.
10. Khari Baoli, Old Delhi, India
This famous labyrinth of spice and colour feels frozen in time. There’s a throat-tickling pungency hanging in the air and mountains of lentils and rice, enormous jars of chutneys, nuts and teas at every turn. Your clothes will smell delicious for days.
This list is taken from Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 ($32.99 RRP). shop.lonelyplanet.com
