10 Best Food Markets (Costs & Tips, 2026)
10 of the world's best food markets, picked for real costs and real local tips. Save one, track your experiences, and share them with friends.
Tsukiji Outer Market, Tokyo, Japan
Tsukiji Outer Market, Tokyo, Japan
The inner wholesale market moved to Toyosu but the outer market (free to enter) still has the best seafood breakfast in the world — fresh tuna sashimi for ¥1,000 (~$7) at 7am. Go Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday.
Borough Market, London, UK
Borough Market, London, UK
Free to enter. Open Monday–Saturday. Thursday is the least crowded. The free samples from cheese and charcuterie stalls can constitute lunch on their own. The Raclette stall and the Gujarati Rasoi curry stall are unmissable.
La Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain
La Boqueria, Barcelona, Spain
Free to enter — the Rambla entrance is tourist-priced but walking to the back of the market finds locals buying at half the price. The fresh fruit juice stalls at the entrance are €1.50 and worth it. Go before 10am to avoid the worst crowds.
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Free to enter, open Monday–Saturday. One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets with 4,000 shops. Buy saffron, Turkish delight, and apple tea from stalls deeper inside where prices are half what they are at the entrance.
Mercado Central, Santiago, Chile
Mercado Central, Santiago, Chile
A cast-iron 1872 market hall with the finest seafood in Chile. Caldillo de congrio (conger eel soup) costs ~$8 and is the national dish. Go at 12:30pm for lunch when locals fill every table. Free to enter.
Marché d'Aligre, Paris, France
Marché d'Aligre, Paris, France
The least touristy market in Paris — entirely free to enter, open Tuesday to Sunday until 1:30pm. The outdoor flea section has €1 second-hand books. Cheese, oysters, and rotisserie chicken at half the price of Rue Mouffetard.
Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand
Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok, Thailand
Open Saturday and Sunday only — 15,000 stalls across 27 acres. Section 2 and 3 have the best street food. A full morning of eating and browsing costs under $10. Take the BTS Skytrain to Mo Chit station.
Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria
Naschmarkt, Vienna, Austria
Vienna's oldest market, free to enter, open Monday–Saturday. Saturday has a flea market section from 6:30am. The Turkish stalls in the middle sell the best olives and feta in the city. Café Drechsler at the end is a classic Viennese breakfast for €8.
Mercado de San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mercado de San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
A stunning 1897 iron-and-glass market hall with the best empanadas in Buenos Aires for under $2 at La Mano stall. Free to enter. The Sunday antiques fair outside on Calle Defensa is a bonus spectacle.
Pike Place Market, Seattle, USA
Pike Place Market, Seattle, USA
Free to enter, open daily. The flying fish at Pike Place Fish Company are the most photographed moment. The original Starbucks is inside (worth seeing, skip the queue). Rachel the market pig collects coins for charity. The lower levels have cheaper, less touristy food.