Market shopping in Europe
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A
Bazaar
İzmir's Bazaar is a little slice of fast-vanishing Turkey; this is also the place to head for İzmir's heart and soul. It's a great place to get lost for a few hours amid the stalls, sound of caged songbirds, wedding dress shops and spice stalls. Seek out if you can the flower and bead markets, then stop for a reviving shot of Turkish coffee in one of the delightful cafés at its core.
reviewed
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B
Spazio Multiculturale
Set up in an attempt to clear central Florence of some of its many street vendors, and put a lid on the conflict that had arisen between them, the police and local residents, this ethnic market on the banks of the Arno is now the place to come for an orderly browse of all those African carvings, North African fabrics and similar objects you might find in your local souq.
reviewed
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C
Produce Market
Copenhagen's main produce market is at Israels Plads, a few minutes' walk west of Nørreport station. Stalls are set up until 17:00 Monday to Friday and until 14:00 on Saturday, when it doubles as a flea market. As we went to press, there were ongoing plans to move the Israels Plads market underground, which would certainly make it more pleasant to shop there in winter.
reviewed
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D
Rag Market
If the designer stores get too much, head for Birmingham’s famous, frenetic Rag Market. This huge, hangar-like hall is crammed with everything from handbags and cocktail frocks to leather jackets and jeans. Dressmakers delight in the rolls of satin, chiffon and organza, while many a fancy-dress outfit has been sourced from the wigs, hard hats and boiler suits on sale.
reviewed
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E
Fresh Produce Market
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the main square Piazza del Duomo and its surrounding streets become a sea of blue awnings and jostling shoppers as Pistoia hosts a lively market. The town's fresh produce market occupies Piazza della Sala, west of the cathedral, and is situated close to the helpful tourist office .
reviewed
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F
Gewandhaus
Of the several market places in Braunschweig, each representing an original township, the Altstadtmarkt is arguably the most appealing, with the step-gabled Renaissance Gewandhaus (1303, façade 1590) and the Gothic Altstadt Rathaus. Inside the Rathaus is the magnificent Dronse meeting hall. The tourist office can help with individual details on other buildings.
reviewed
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G
Monument Square Farmers' Market
Liverpool's peripatetic farmers' market comes to Monument Square twice a month. A great way to get to know what regional producers are coming up with.
As the English food revolution gathers pace, farmers' markets are becoming an increasingly popular way of bringing real food to the urban masses. Cut out the middleman and meet the meat at Liverpool's biggest.
reviewed
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H
Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen
This vast flea market, founded in the late 19th century and said to be Europe’s largest, has more than 2500 stalls grouped into a dozen marchés (market areas), each with its own speciality (eg Paul Bert for 17th-century furniture, Malik for clothing, Biron for Asian art). There are miles upon miles of ‘freelance’ stalls; come prepared to spend some time.
reviewed
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Ortaköy Market
On Saturday and Sunday the laneways around the waterfront mosque in Ortaköy host a flea market. Merchandise is tacky - most seems to come from the Subcontinent and Africa and is found in flea markets worldwide - and the handicrafts on offer are firmly in the hippy camp, but it's still a pleasant spot to while away a weekend hour or two.
reviewed
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I
Marché Saint-Michel
The popular and multi-ethnic market is held every Tuesday and Saturday morning alongside the Saint Michel Cathedral. It features stalls selling fresh fruits and vegetables, foodstuffs, and used clothing, as well as second-hand dealers, whose shops are set up around the Place to the south. It is a lively place that should not be missed.
reviewed
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J
Sotheby’s
The oldest auction house in Britain, Sotheby’s has sold some unique treasures in its time, including Picasso’s Garçon á la pipe and one of the seven printed copies of JK Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard, purchased by the owners of Amazon.com for a staggering £3.8 million.
reviewed
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K
St Nicholas Market
Shopophiles will find plenty to feed their habit in Bristol, whether it's a designer hand-me-down in a retro clothes shop or a choice cheese in a local food market. Top stop is the St Nicholas Market , a chaotic melee of wobbly stalls and indie shops selling everything from recycled clothes to handmade jewellery and artisan bread.
reviewed
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L
Galway Market
Galway's festive market is filled with buskers and stalls selling farm-fresh produce, crafts, jewellery and hot food. At the time of writing, plans were underway for the markets to operate from Thursday to Sunday - check with the tourist office for updates. Saturday usually offers the widest choice of stalls and liveliest crowds.
reviewed
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M
Marché aux Puces
Marseille's premier market has to be seen to be believed. You can spend ages perusing the many indoor and outdoor stalls and if you start to get hungry, live chickens are killed to order, although there are less violent alternatives too. African carved animals and Marseille sweaters are among the colourful sights you can enjoy.
reviewed
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N
Apraksin Dvor
While the exterior and surrounds of this sprawling market are getting a billion dollar facelift, the interior, a chaotic warren of stalls selling mainly cheap clothes, shoes and leather goods, continues as usual. Worth a mooch for bargains and gritty Dostoevsky-style atmosphere before the whole place becomes a sanitised mall.
reviewed
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O
Spittelberg
Occupying the charming cobblestoned streets of the Spittelberg quarter, this market is traditionally the most beloved of the Viennese. Stalls sell quality arts and crafts, but not at the cheapest prices. No matter what the temperature, you’ll find people crowded around gluhwein stalls, especially outside Lux and Plutzerbräu.
reviewed
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Sıramağazalar Caddesi
Half a dozen shops along Sıramağazalar Caddesi sell jackets, bags and other garments, with alterations or made-to-measure fittings available - it's a prime area for leather goods. At time of research the standard asking price for a basic soft-leather jacket was US$100, maybe half what you'd pay in İstanbul.
reviewed
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P
Market Hall
The 19th-century Market Hall is a lively place, hosting a general market (food, drink, clothes, household goods) on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, a flea market (bric-a-brac, collectables, second-hand goods) on Wednesday, regular weekend crafts and antiques fairs, and a farmers market on the fourth Thursday of each month.
reviewed
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Q
La Batte
This Sunday morning market stretches along 1.5km (0.9mi) of river quays (the word 'batte' is old Walloon for 'quay'). Locals and tourists alike frequent here for their weekly food shop, bric-a-brac, exotic birds and fishes, farmyard animals, household goods, old books and other fantastic treasures. Haggling is allowed.
reviewed
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R
Borgo Parioli Market
Parioli is Rome’s most expensive residential area, and its weekend market is a hot date on the capital’s monthly shopping calendar. Among the often-expensive bric-a-brac, you’ll find original jewellery and accessories from the 1950s onwards, silverware, paintings, antique lamps and old gramophones.
reviewed
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S
Maltevsky Market
Bargaining is encouraged at this bright spacious market, packed with vendors selling exotic fruits and vegetables, mounds of multicoloured spices, and fresh meats, fish and fowl. In some cases, the meat is so fresh it is still being hacked off its carcass. Don’t miss free samples of honey straight from the hive.
reviewed
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T
Fresh Fish Market
The small but enthralling fish market is a daily fixture at the Vieux Port docks. Cours Julien hosts a Wednesday-morning organic fruit and vegetable market and an Aladdin's cave bric-a-brac market every second Sunday of the month (running from 08:00 to 19:00; metro Notre Dame du Mont-Cours Julien).
reviewed
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U
Havelská Market
Souvenirs have insinuated themselves among the fruit and veg of this formerly produce-only market. While the shops on either side of the street are selling entirely resistible tat, the market stalls are worth a quick browse for fresh honey or sweets, as well as colourfully painted eggs sold in the run-up to Easter.
reviewed
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V
Place des Lices Market
The massive place des Lices Market is a jam-packed kaleidoscope of everything from fruit and veg to antique mirrors and slippers. It's truly legendary (as the horrendous traffic coming into town on these days attests!). It is studded with plane trees, cafés and (when the market's not on) pétanque players.
reviewed
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W
Mercato delle Stampe
The Mercato delle Stampe (Print Market) is well worth a look if you’re a fan of vintage books and old prints. Squirrel through the permanent stalls and among the tired posters and dusty back editions, and you might turn up some interesting music scores, architectural engravings or chromolithographs of Rome.
reviewed