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It’s funny. When I started travelling, I didn’t care much for markets. I guess it was because I found them overly crowded and too “touristy.”
But as I’ve travelled more and learned to appreciate history better, I’ve realized just how important markets are. They’re where people have transacted and connected since time immemorial. It’s where history has been and is being made.
The weight of their stories is palpable when you visit them! So in this post, I’m sharing my favorite iconic markets worldwide, and the timeless, interesting stories behind them.
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
If you want to go time-travelling, visiting Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the closest things to it. It was built in the 15th century under Sultan Mehmet II, and it almost feels like it’s still in that period.
It’s truly a living remnant of the Ottoman Empire’s glory days, and it’s not just the architecture, either. Imagine traders from Venice haggling over silk, Persian merchants swapping carpets for gold, and local artisans hammering away at jewelry designs that would later become family heirlooms.
In many ways, you still feel that’s still happening at the Grand Bazaar today, except with leather handbags and colorful lamps, ha!
Tsukiji Outer Market, Tokyo
Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Market used to be the largest wholesale fish market in the entire world, which means that any sushi you might have enjoyed in Tokyo likely came from there.
It was built in the 1930s after an earthquake destroyed the fish market that preceded it, but it quickly grew into the heart of Japan’s seafood industry. It’s truly a story of resilience.
The wholesale fish operations were moved to Toyosu in 2018, but the outer market remains a foodie paradise. Its alleys are lined with 5-star restaurants and street food stalls, all serving seafood straight from the sea.
La Boqueria, Barcelona
If you stroll down La Rambla street in Barcelona, you’ll see the entrance to La Boqueria. You’ll hear all the chatter and smell all the food, too.
The city’s name is Catalan and (supposedly) refers to its role as a goat meat market. Its official name, however, is Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria. (I’ll stick to the shorter name, thanks).
It’s located in the heart of the city and undeniably part of its identity. Back then, it was the meeting point for fishers and farmers from the surrounding countryside. Over time, what was once a humble meat shop became the symbol of Catalonian culinary pride.
It’s an incredibly colorful place where locals and tourists buy fruit, jamón ibérico, and tropical juices at stalls.
St. Lawrence Market, Toronto
St. Lawrence Market in Toronto’s Old Town is one of North America’s oldest continuously operating markets, having been feeding the city since 1803.
Like Boqueria, it began as a simple farmers’ hub. But it quickly became a culinary melting pot for surrounding cultures, reflecting Toronto’s diverse immigrant roots.
Inside its red-bricked walls, over 120 vendors sell food from all over the world. You’ll see everything: Canadian peas, Portuguese custard tarts, Caribbean jerk spices, Italian olive oils, and Japanese matcha.
I remember how, after spending the day shopping, I wound down at a cafe with coffee and the custard tarts I bought, and watched some Netflix with a VPN Toronto connection. Life was good.
Khan el-Khalili, Cairo
Cairo’s beating heart, Khan el-Khalili, has been a trade center since the 14th century. It was actually built as a caravanserai, an inn, essentially, for travelling merchants. Traders across Africa, Asia, and Europe would stop here to barter all the time.
You’ll see lots of modern goods and tourist trinkets here. But you’ll also see handcrafted silver, brass lanterns, and perfumes—all made in the same way they have for generations. You’ll see all the shining brown and gold goods from afar.
It feels stuck in the 14th century, and that’s the best part.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak is one of the biggest markets in the entire world, with over 15,000 stalls, that’s an entire town’s population if you think about it!
It’s a sprawling, crowded place (definitely not for the claustrophobic). Here, you’ll see everything from handmade ceramics to pet squirrels (yes, really, I was almost tempted to buy one).
The market’s story began in the 1940s as a small flea market. Now, well… it’s anything but small. It grew into a cultural center as much as a market, attracting over 200,000 visitors each weekend.
It reflects Bangkok’s undeniably vibrant personality as it is unapologetically chaotic (for better or for worse). If you want to visit, be ready to haggle!
Mercado de San Juan, Mexico City
Mercado de San Juan is the city’s go-to shop for special (read: exotic) ingredients.
Wild mushrooms? Imported cheeses? Crocodile meat? Flowers you’d never thought were eaten? It’s all here. Selling everything from indigenous Mexican ingredients to global goods reflects Mexico’s diverse culinary heritage.
It’s where all the chefs go for their wilder dishes. And it’s where you should also go to if you’re in Mexico City. (And try the grasshoppers!)
It’s not the flashiest or most aesthetically unique-looking place, but it is authentic.
Souks of Marrakech
The Souks of Marrakech isn’t a single market, more a network of alleyways. The most common goods sold here are spices, leather, textiles, and even metalwork.
People have bartered here for over a century. It was a key stop in the Saharan trade routes through which goods from across Africa and the Middle East passed. Today, it’s not much different.
The air is dripping with the scrumptious scent of cumin and saffron—so strong that it’s almost too much, but definitely more than enough to get you hungry, especially after walking through the alleyways.
And even more so if, like me, you get careless and too engrossed looking at all the goods and get lost in its winding, winding paths. But you know? At least for me, wandering was part of the fun.
What say you?
Thoughts on these Iconic Markets Around the World?
Let’s hear it!
