The Most Amazing Markets In The World

From homemade textiles and shiny trinkets to fresh produce and street food delights, these are the most beautiful traditional markets around the world that you can visit on a small-group Culture Trip adventure.

The food markets of Sicily, Italy

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.

From US$2924

Next available from 20th Apr 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Palermo, Italy

ENDS AT

Siracusa, Sicily

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

14

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Holiday Sale

Jagalchi Fish Market, South Korea

There aren’t many food markets in the world that offer a sensory experience quite like Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan. South Korea’s second city is famed for its seafood – must tries include eomuk (steamed fish cake) and, if you’ve got the stomach for it, saengseonhoe (sliced raw fish) – and walking along this 3km (1.8mi) outdoor market is an amazing experience. Hear local vendors sing and shout, watch live fish still swimming in tanks and, naturally, pinch your nose at the pungent smell of sea creatures that woke up in the ocean that morning. The market, which you can visit on our Soulful South Korea trip, is also famed for the Busan wives – sturdy saleswomen that have been providing for their families for decades.

From US$3499

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Seoul, South Korea

ENDS AT

Seoul, South Korea

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Winter Sale

Churchkhela. Georgian traditional desert. Street market.

Dezerter Bazaar, Georgia

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!

From US$1199

Next available from 18th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Tbilisi, Georgia

ENDS AT

Tbilisi, Georgia

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Green peas and other beans on Masai market in Kenya Africa

Karatina Market, Kenya

Our Immersive Kenya trip includes a visit to Karatina, home to the largest open-air market in all of East Africa. Its name is thought to derive from the muratina sausage tree, and trade was first held here by Kikuyu women in pre-colonial times, who came to sell crafts and food. Business flows from 4am all the way to 10pm, with hard-working local entrepreneurs selling mostly fresh farm produce, piled high on large stalls. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the market and talk to some of the locals about their produce before we continue our journey to Aberdare National Park.

From US$2959

Next available from 10th Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

ENDS AT

Nairobi, Kenya

DURATION

8

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Light

STYLE

Discovery

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Lamps hanging in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

The Grand Bazaar, Turkey

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.

From US$2699

Next available from 1st Mar 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Istanbul, Turkey

ENDS AT

Antalya, Turkey

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Winter Sale

Raohe Night Market, Taiwan

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.

From US$2029

Next available from 30th Dec 2023

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Taipei, Taiwan

ENDS AT

Taipei, Taiwan

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Winter Sale

Jamaa el Fna market square at dusk, Marrakesh, Morocco, north Africa. Jemaa el-Fnaa, Djema el-Fna or Djemaa el-Fnaa is a famous square and market place in Marrakeshs medina quarter.

Jemaa el-Fnaa, Morocco

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.

From US$2369

Next available from 10th Feb 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Casablanca, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

landscape with balloons floating in the air

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