23 of the most colorful markets

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23 of the most colorful markets

I love visiting markets when I’m traveling. It was at my local market in Martinique that I mastered buying the juiciest mangoes; in Spain, I learned to make a proper paella.

But it’s the colors that are my most vivid memories — from fuchsia and white pitaya to burgundy chilies, from golden yellow pineapple to gleaming silver fish, it feels like walking into a kaleidoscope. Markets are places so full of life it’s easy to become enchanted.

1. Devaraja Market, Mysore, India

Photo: iolanda

The vibrant colors of the pots of paint are themselves an attraction at this market.

2. Castries Market, St Lucia

Photos clockwise from bottom left: Meng He, Meng He, …your local connection, Meng He

When I visited Castries Market, it wasn’t the colorful spices that stood out to me. I loved the madras patterns which I’ve come to associate with my time in the Caribbean.

3. Columbia Road Flower Market, London

Photo: Aurelien Guichard

The flowers aren’t the only reason to visit this east London market — cafés, buskers, and street art make it a great lazy Sunday location.

4. St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

Photos clockwise from bottom left: Ganmed64, Colin Campbell, Robbie, Manila B

This downtown Toronto market is more than 200 years old — opened before Toronto was the city it’s known as today.

5. Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Photos clockwise from bottom left: Dinudey Baidya, Meena Kadri, Andreea Chelaru, rajkumar1220

Narrow lanes and authentic Indian food makes this one of the most popular markets in the region.

6. Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok

Photo: farflungistan

If you’re looking for an eye into local life in Bangkok, Chatuchak Weekend Market provides 35 acres of opportunities.

7. Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech

Photo: Evan Bench

It isn’t just the food that adds color at Jemaa el-Fnaa — the 1,000 year-old night halqa (street theater) is a sight to see too.

8. City Market, Bangalore, India

Photo: Nicolas Mirguet

Bangalore is considered one of the world’s up-and-coming tech cities so it’s no surprise City Market was the first building in India to get electricity.

9. Rialto Market, Venice

Photos clockwise from bottom left: David Sifry, Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, Eric Parker, Context Travel

Visiting this market early in the morning means you’ll avoid the meandering tourists and see all the fishermen floating up on barges delivering fresh fish.

10. Mercado Ver-o-peso, Belém, Brazil

Photo: Luciana Christante

Fish and produce fresh from the Amazon — enough said.

11. Souk al-Madina, Aleppo, Syria

Photo: Toni Yammine

Let’s just take a moment to remember the Silk Road souk — a cultural casualty of Syria’s Civil War.

12. Pike Place Market, Seattle

Photo: NH567

I took a positive psychology course in university and we watched the clips of Pike Place Fish & Co. because the staff there have joie de vivre we should aspire to.

13. Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Photo: Pedro Szekely

Soak in all the colors of and sounds of one of the oldest markets in the world.

14. Great Market Hall, Budapest

Photo: Richard Ricciardi

One of the greatest discoveries I made in Budapest was at Great Market Hall on the Pest side of the city. The Hungarian lángos is indulgent but amazing.

15. Marché aux Epices, Guadeloupe

Photo: Keyne Charlot

Gwada (Guadeloupe in Créole) has a lot of markets to choose from, but this one is perfect for buying a variety of Caribbean spices and treats.

16. Mercado Feria Fluvial de Valdivia, Chile

Photos clockwise from bottom left: Alvaro Herrera, m.sanhuezacelsi, Rodrigo, SAIF*ANU

The coolest part about this market is the sea lions coming ashore to feed on scraps from the fish market.

17. Otavalo Market, Ecuador

Photo: SaraYeomans

It’s a couple hours away from Quito, but you’ll find authentically colorful local crafts here.

18. St. Lucia Market, South Africa

Photo: Decaseconds

Enjoy a local braai lunch and pick up some souvenirs at the market in this coastal town.

19. Cours Saleya, Nice, France

Photos clockwise from bottom left: Sébastien Mespoulhé, Rodrigo Martins, Patrico-06, Pranav Bhatt

Everyday is different at Cours Saleya — one day it’s a food market and the next it’s a ‘rummage-through-our-bric-a-brac-items’ market.

20. La Boqueria, Barcelona

Photo: Seba Sofariu

La Boqueria market in Barcelona is a main tourist haunt, but you’ll find it’s one of the few places where locals and visitors collide.

21. Leeds Kirkgate Market, UK

Photo: Dan

London isn’t the only place with great markets in the UK. Leeds Market was an open-air market until 1850 when they began building the ornate exterior that stands today.

22. Plaza Caracol, Cancun