Carmel Market

Lonely Planet review

Passionate free-marketeers pedal everything from fresh-cut flowers to piles of cumin in this frenetic market, squeezed between the old Yemenite Quarter and Nahalat Binyamin St. This bubbling cauldron of commerce starts at Kikar Magen David, where hippies strum guitars for shekels. You need to push your way past the first few metres of clothing (Sponge Bob Square Pants boxer shorts and knock-off Nikes) to reach the more aromatic and enticing stalls of fruits and vegetables, hot breads and spices.

When in form, the stallholders have an amusing sales patter, singing songs to promote their goods and often joining in with one another.

Each of the narrow sidestreets specialises in produce ranging from poultry or fish to dried fruit and nuts or spices sold from sacks. The best prices are to be had as the market closes, especially around 15:00 or 16:00 Friday, when everyone wants to sell up before the Shabbat.