Markets are the place to go when traveling to pick up a variety of goods all in one central spot. Plus, it’s fun to interact with the locals and see one of the hotspots of their city. These are some great outdoor markets to visit while traveling.
Djemaa el-Fna In Marrakech
During the day, this area doesn’t look like much as it’s just a square that locals tend to walk around in. Once the sun sets it is transformed to a place where people can go to get a bite to eat. There tend to be about 50 food stalls located here with each one containing some sort of local favorite or specialty item. Many of these stalls have been in a family for generations so you can trust that you are getting a good meal. If you aren’t sure which one to go to, your best bet is to pick one with a long line as that usually means that the food is good.
Camden Market In London
On average around 100,000 people visit this market every weekend. It’s one of the most famous ones in the world and for good reason. Not only can you buy food items, but a lot of original items from independent designers. This means that a lot of the goods offered here can’t be found anywhere else in the world. What’s interesting about it is that 6 different markets actually make up Camden Market and each one tends to have it’s own style to it.
Pike Place In Seattle
This waterfront market overlooks Seattle. It’s been open for over 110 years and one of the U.S.’s oldest markets that’s been continuously operated. Over 10 millions people visit it each year and its considered to be the world’s 33rd most visited attraction. The market consists of both lower levels and a main level. The different levels feature things like antiques, produce, comic books and crafts. If you are all the way in Seattle and have the time, consider an Alaska land tour or cruise vacation.
Chatuchak In Bangkok
Bringing thousands of visitors every weekend, the Chatuchak Market has literally hundreds of different stalls to explore. They feature everything from Buddha statues to live animals. While here, don’t forget to check out some of the street food. Some of it is rather interesting, but much of it is pretty tasty, especially if you aren’t afraid to try something new. Thailand is one of the most economical places to travel and one of the most popular for group travel. Browse Thailand tour packages 2019.
Grand Bazaar In Istanbul
With more than 4,000 shops here, it’s not surprising that this market can attract up to 400,000 visitors each day. This market is covered so people do tend to visit it rain or shine. Many of the vendors are starting to sell more items that have a Western flair than an Oriental one. Still though, there are plenty of things to do look at that may catch your eye. A word of warning though is that the vendors love to try to engage with tourists which can be intimidating. However, if you find the humor of it all you will enjoy yourself while at this market.
Khan el-Khalili In Cairo
Those looking for a loud, crazy market that’s authentic and exciting should visit this one. It’s full of all sort of trinkets plus a lot of unique, handmade items. The fabric and antique shops tend to be interesting, but try to stay away from the perfume vendors as they don’t always have a lot of quality items.
Temple Street Night Market In Hong Kong
Once the sun goes down it is the time to go to this market. It’s a very popular place to visit and not only will you find things like watches and electronics here, but a variety of food items like noodles and seafood as well. In addition to all of this there is some entertainment that takes place like fortune tellers ready to tell you your fortune or opera singers gathered together belting out some songs. It ends up being not just a shopping experience, but a festive event as well.
If you love visiting markets while you travel, we have some other blog posts that will surely interest you: 8 of the Best Fresh Food Markets in Europe, Great Markets in the U.S. Barcelona’s Best Markets and Christmas Markets You Must Visit
