The Most Amazing Markets in the World

Where better to start than in everyone’s favourite culinary destination? Italy’s food culture is as old as it is mouth-wateringly delicious, which means that fresh markets play a huge part in their society to this day. The best place to get the classic Italian market experience is in Sicily, where piping-hot street food delights like arancini and panelle sit alongside fresh produce like lemons, oranges, tomatoes, pistachios and almonds. Our Spectacular Sicily trip is one big foodie extravaganza, starting with a guided tour of Palermo’s markets. More market fun awaits in Syracuse and adjoining Ortigia, both of which are home to some of the most amazing fresh produce in the world.

This farmer’s market in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, gets its name from the deserting soldiers who sold their weapons here during the Russo-Georgian War of the 1920s. By now they’ve long swapped pistols for fresh fruit and vegetables, traditional cheeses and locally reared meat. Perhaps best of all is the vibrant selection of Georgian spices and world-class array of local wines, often made using ancient fermentation techniques that outdate all other wine-making countries. Parts of the market have a real old-world feel to them. It can get a little bit chaotic but it’s also super authentic and an experience not to be missed in Tbilisi. On our Georgia and the Caucasus trip you’ll get a guided tour of the market with a local chef, who’ll help you pick out the best ingredients needed for our cooking class back at the chef’s own home!

Istanbul is probably home to the world’s most famous market. It’s also one of the oldest and largest, with over 4,000 stores across 30,700 sqm (330,452sqft) of covered shopping streets. It’s kind of like the original shopping mall, so no trip to the city is complete without a few hours spent getting lost, un-lost and lost again in the Grand Bazaar. Naturally, as one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, you can expect a lot of tack and tat on sale, but if you look hard enough you can really find some hidden gems here, particularly in the antique quarter. You’ll get a guided tour of the bazaar, as well as the nearby Spice Market, on our Majestic Turkey trip. You’ll have plenty of time to work on your haggling skills, before celebrating your bargain price with a refreshing glass of Turkish tea and a plate full of delicious baklava.

Our Taste of Taiwan trip puts a lot of emphasis on this island nation’s extraordinary culinary culture. That includes a tasting session in a world class tea factory and an authentic cooking class, but Taiwan’s food scene is undoubtedly best explored in one of its many incredible night markets. Our trip includes a visit to Fengjia Night Market in Taichung, but our personal highlight is Raohe Night Market in the capital, Taipei. This 600m (1,968ft) neon-lit street market is a bustling hive of activity come nightfall. Bouquets of flowers and unique works of folk art add a little colour, while smell and taste is more than catered for, with countless excellent street vendors serving up classic dishes like sticky rice dumplings and fish cakes, washed down with a refreshing pearl tea.

This iconic square in the heart of Marrakech’s old medina is a truly singular market experience. The place is teeming all day long, from early morning when local chefs come to pick up fresh herbs and spices, to nightfall when the whole place is lit-up by the sizzling fires of local street food vendors. As well as fresh produce, hot food and various other ware-selling stalls, you can also expect a wide variety of street performers, who give the square an extra level of atmosphere. Our Epic Morocco trip ends in Marrakech and your time here will start with a guided street food tour, in which Jemaa el-Fnaa features heavily. Tuck into Moroccan classics like tagine, couscous and doughy pastries, or get a little experimental by sampling some sheep’s head or snail soup.