Market shopping in Europe
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Kolaportið Flea Market
Held in a huge industrial building by the harbour, this weekend market is a Reykjavík institution and definitely worth a visit, particularly in these economically challenged times. Browse through piles of secondhand clothes, music, antiques and children’s toys, or pick up Icelandic fish delicacies including cubes of hákarl.
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Sali Pazari
On Tuesday there is a massive market in Kadıköy, on the Asian side: the Sali Pazari. The cheapest clothes in town are on sale here, so if you've been on the road for a while and your underwear needs replenishing, this is the place to do it! To get there, get off the ferry and move straight ahead along the major boulevard of Söğütlüçeşme Caddesi for about 500m until you come to a busy intersection, Altıyol Square.
Cross over, take the right fork and continue eastward along Kuşdili Caddesi for another 250m (three cross streets). At Hasırcıbaşı Caddesi turn left and you'll see the tent-city market spread out before you. It's open between 08:00 and 18:00. On Sunday t…
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Camden Market
Although this market remains a top attraction, its heyday is a distant memory. Commercial tat has long taken over from the truly inventive, although you might find some good retro pieces. The place is busiest at weekends, especially Sunday, when the crowds elbow each other all the way north from Camden Town tube station to Chalk Farm Rd. It’s composed of several separate markets, which tend to merge.
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Santo Spirito Organic Market
This monthly market attracts artisans and organic farmers from around Tuscany, with stands devoted to fresh produce, hand-painted crockery, spices gathered from Chianti hillsides and much more.
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Mercat de la Boqueria
Shop in the Mercat de la Boqueria, one of the world’s great produce markets, and complement with any other necessities from a local supermarket.
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Saluhallen
A mouth-watering market hall, it peddles reasonably priced grub, from fresh fish and piping-hot pasta to Thai, kebabs and croissants.
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Albert Cuypmarkt
Exotic goods as well as cheap basics from nations around the globe.
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Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is The market in Vienna. This massive market extends for more than 500m along Linke Wienzeile between the U4 stops of Kettenbrückengasse and Karlsplatz. The western end near Kettengasse is more fun, with all sorts of meats, fruit and vegetables (this is the place for that hard-to-find exotic variety), spices, wines, cheeses and olives, Indian and Middle Eastern specialities and fabulous kebab and felafel stands. (Check out the vinegar and oil place, with 24 varieties of fruit- and veg-flavoured vinegar, 11 balsamics and over 20 types of flavoured oil.) The market peters out at the eastern end to stalls selling Indian fabrics and jewellery and trashy trinkets – …
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Izmaylovo Market
This sprawling area, also known as Vernisazh market, is packed with art, handmade crafts, antiques, Soviet paraphernalia and just about anything you might want for a souvenir. You’ll find Moscow’s biggest original range of matryoshki, palekh and khokhloma ware, as well as less traditional woodworking crafts. There are also rugs from the Caucasus and Central Asia, pottery, linens, jewellery, fur hats, chess sets, toys, Soviet posters and much more. Feel free to negotiate, but don’t expect vendors to come down more than 10%. This place is technically open every day, but many vendors come out only on weekends, when your selection is greater.
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Torget Fish Market
For price and atmosphere, it’s hard to beat the fish market. Right alongside the harbour and a stone’s throw from Bryggen, here you’ll find everything from smoked whale meat (Nkr349 a kilo if you can live with your conscience) and salmon to calamari and chips (Nkr130), fish cakes (from Nkr89), prawn baguettes (Nkr45), local caviar and, sometimes, nonfishy reindeer and elk. Stallholders are usually happy to make up a take-away platter or prepare a sealed bag to take home.
reviewed
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Brunnenmarkt
Brunnenmarkt is the largest street-market in Vienna and reflects the neighbourhood’s ethnic make-up – most stallholders are of Turkish or Balkan descent. The majority of produce sold is vegetables and fruit, but there are a few places selling unbelievably tacky clothes – this is the place to pick up that Hulk Hogan T-shirt you’ve always wanted. The kebab houses here are truly superb. On Saturday nearby Yppenplatz features the best Bauernmarkt in the city.
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7-Kilometres Bazaar
The sprawling 7-Kilometres Bazaar on the city's southwest edge is probably the largest market of any kind in the former Soviet Union. Nicknamed the tolkuchka or tolchok (both meaning 'push' in Russian), its appeal lies in its sheer size, rather than in its shopping selection, which mainly entails row after row of the same old cheap knock-offs and junk. The official name has to do with its location about 7km outside the city.
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Barras on Gallowgate
Glasgow’s flea market, the Barras on Gallowgate, is the living, breathing heart of this city in many respects. It has almost a thousand stalls and people come here just for a wander as much as for shopping, which gives the place a holiday air. The Barras is notorious for designer frauds, so be cautious. Watch your wallet, too.
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Vernissage Market
The main weekend flea market caters to locals shopping for car parts and plumbing fixtures as well as tourists rummaging though piles of antiques and old communist medals. It’s also a good place to pick up a chess set and intricately carved jewellery boxes among other locally produced handicrafts.
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Kauppahalli
This intriguing indoor market is one of Finland’s best, with picturesque wooden stalls serving a dazzling array of wonderful meat, fruit, baked goodies and fish. There are good cafes, and, at No 50, Teivon Liha, the best place to try cheap mustamakkara with berry jam.
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Columbia Road Flower Market
London’s most fragrant market shouldn’t be missed. Merchants lay out their blooms, from everyday geraniums to rare pelargoniums, between Gosset St and the Royal Oak pub.
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Ridley Road Market
Massively enjoyed by the Afro-Caribbean community it serves, this market is best for its exotic fruit and vegetables, as well as specialist cuts of meat.
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Outdoor Arts and Crafts Market
This large market sells rugs, embroidered blouses, wooden pysanky (patterned eggs), woodcrafts and lots of everyday knick-knacks.
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Roman Road Market
This market along Roman Rd between St Stephen’s and Parnell Rds has pretty standard fare on offer, though some people rave about the low prices.
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Mercato di Ballarò
Although it's popular with tourists, many Palermitans shop for their fresh produce and household goods at Mercato di Ballarò.
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Mercado Central
The Plaza de Topete adjoins the large, animated Mercado Central, built in 1837, the oldest covered market in Spain.
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Food Market
Pack a picnic basket from the 40-plus outlets filling Les Halles' food market.
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Spice Bazaar
Need a herbal love potion or natural Turkish Viagra? This is the place to find them, although we won’t vouch for the efficacy of either! As well as baharat (spices) , nuts, honey in the comb and olive-oil soaps, the bustling spice bazaar sells truckloads of incir (figs) , lokum (Turkish delight) and pestil (fruit pressed into sheets and dried). The number of shops selling tourist trinkets increases annually, yet this remains a great place to stock up on edible souvenirs, share a few jokes with the vendors and marvel at the well-preserved building. It’s also home to one of the city’s oldest restaurants, Pandeli, and an attractive competitor, Bab-i Hayat. The market w…
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