If you want to truly immerse yourself in the culture of a destination (who doesn’t?), join the throng at a market. Feel the jostle of the crowd, inhale the aromas of fresh food and live the local lifestyle.
From the one-stop-shop bazaars of Tashkent to the winter wonderland stalls of Prague, here’s a shopping list of some of the world’s best marketplaces and the unique wares you can get there – made by sellers with tales to tell. Buy a trinket, get a free story.
Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
In the heart of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, you’ll find Chorsu Bazaar, one of the oldest and biggest markets in Central Asia. In place of supermarkets, locals come here for their regular shop.
Before you even set foot inside, Chorsu’s awe-inspiring turquoise dome is a sight to behold. The outer circle greets you with aromas of freshly baked obi non (Uzbek bread) or honim (vegetables or meat rolled in dough and steamed). Inside, the stores are arranged in a maze-like circle piled in colourful mountains of fruits and vegetables.
Tashkent brings new meaning to the phrase ‘one-stop shop’. Intrepid’s global leader engagement partner Sarah Wallace says, ‘You see toilets and plumbing stuff, and the next thing you see kitchen implements or meat, dairy, vegetables, fruit, dried fruit and nuts, then you see children’s toys!’ she says. ‘You could be in there for a couple of days and not see the same thing.’
Jagalchi Market, Busan Port, South Korea
If you like your seafood fresh and your views pretty, make Jagalchi Market part of your trip. This enormous fish market is right on the waterfront in Busan, South Korea, so you know the seafood – everything you’ve tried and more – is the freshest possible.
But if you’re not into seafood, there’s still lots to see and lots to buy. Step outside for southside views and breathe in that fresh ocean air. Or keep moving through the building to find kitchen utensils and cooking ingredients. Sarah nabbed a game-changing grater that’s a must-have for Korean cooking: ‘It’s this implement that grates cabbages beautifully. There’s no other way to grate it that finely, even with a food processor.’ She does warn that the blades can be extremely sharp though: ‘It’s like a weapon!’
Takayama Market, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Early birds rejoice: Japan‘s Takayama Asaichi (Morning Markets) reward patrons who arrive first thing.
Takayama is home to two centuries-old morning markets. The Miyagawa Market sells fresh produce along the river, while the Jinya-mae Market offers up sweets and traditional crafts. The stall owners all live in the area and have long histories of stocking their own produce: cute hand-crocheted keyrings or seasonal flowers plucked from their own gardens.
Sarah found that going with an Intrepid leader guarantees you can chat to the owners – a really special experience.
‘That’s the highlight. Leaders take you to their favourite places, where they know the store; they’ve got a connection with the store owner. And they translate for you, so you can ask them anything.’
The markets open as early as 6 am. If you can drag yourself out of bed for it, you get the wholesome experience of watching the owners set up shop. And you get to grab the freshest produce before it’s snapped up. The early bird gets the fruit, right?
Christmas Markets, Prague, Czech Republic
If you prefer to hit the snooze button, Prague’s Christmas Markets grant you a festive experience that’s especially wondrous at night. The square sparkles with tiny lights, and you’ll embrace the Christmas spirit among locals. Wander through rows of stalls sipping horká čokoláda (hot chocolate) while you browse hand-crafted wooden clocks, glass ornaments and Christmas baubles.
Although the main markets are in the city, Sarah says they can be found almost anywhere. ‘Each of the tiny towns has their own Christmas market. Basically wherever you are, there’s normally a few little stalls open.’
She says the variety of stalls and the bustle can be overwhelming at first – but that’s what leaders are for. They can point you to the best ones and introduce you to the owners too, so you can hear how they made their goods. ‘You get that beautiful backstory, which makes it more meaningful,’ she says. ‘And then you want to actually buy the product.’
Just remember to leave plenty of extra room in your bags for your new haul – you’re gonna need it.
Pay a visit to our fav food markets on a Real Food Adventure, jingle your way through a tour of Europe’s best Christmas markets or search hundreds of other Intrepid trips.
