A giant mortadella sandwich, a 15th-century bazaar, and shopping among barges: a tour of 7 surprising markets around the world

There is a popular belief and a widespread healthy tourism practice that could be summed up with the following phrase: “A city is known by its markets.”

The maxim has a reason. Just visiting one of these places in the first few hours of a trip is enough to understand what's eaten there, how sellers and buyers interact, and how to choose products to take home and fill your memory with aromas, textures, and sounds that will remain as postcards of the moments you've lived.

Markets are a showcase —sometimes small, sometimes monumental—of the customs and products of a country and its people.

For example, visiting Tsukiji in Tokyo helps you understand the centrality of fish in Japanese cuisine. Visiting the Central de Abasto in Mexico City helps you appreciate the diversity of ingredients in a country whose dishes are listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Here's a tour of some of the most iconic markets , places to plan a trip, get inspired for a recipe, or simply discover a culture through its food and products.

More than 1,500 workers. More than 350 tons of food. Nearly 300 stores. The figures at the Municipal Market of São Paulo , Brazil 's financial heart, are shocking, but perhaps what's most striking upon entering are its 72 beautiful stained-glass windows by Conrado Sorgenicht Filho, depicting various aspects of food production. The Russian artist also worked on the Sé Cathedral and 300 other Brazilian churches.

The “ mercado ” – as the people of São Paulo call it – is known for its stalls full of spices, exotic fruits, condiments, sausages, cheeses, wines, meats, fish and a multitude of colorful ingredients.

The shrimp and cod cakes and the pork sandwich are famous. But the most iconic—the one everyone goes looking for—is the mortadella sandwich . In some places, it's served plain, and in others, with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. In either case, it's always enormous.

Within the market, one of the most famous is the one served by Bar do Mané , which has been present in this place since 1933.

Handmade rugs, mosaic lamps, amulets, ceramics, tea sets, antiques, colorful and aromatic spices ... The list could go on (almost) indefinitely. Istanbul 's Grand Bazaar, with its labyrinthine passageways , is an undisputed hallmark of this Turkish city that straddles Europe and Asia.

Its warehouses date back to the 15th century , a time of great prosperity for the city. At that time, Sultan Mehmed II proposed and promoted the construction of a large market to promote economic progress and serve as a crossroads for the trade of the time.

Today, it is one of the oldest covered markets in the world , housing more than 4,000 shops spread across some 61 shopping streets. The bazaar is divided into zones called "bedestens"—dome-shaped commercial buildings—which are in turn divided into smaller sections.

Although the variety of products to buy is enormous, there are two favorites among travelers: the colorful Iznik bowls and other examples of Turkish ceramics, and the blue amulets against the evil eye. Whatever your purchase, the most deeply rooted tradition is haggling: discussing the price is almost a ritual. During this exchange, you'll be offered tea in tulip-shaped glasses, and at times, it seems as if their lives are spent negotiating.

Not far from there, in the Eminönü neighborhood, very close to the Galata Bridge, is the Spice Bazaar , another place to visit and indulge in the colorful stalls of spices, Turkish sweets, and dried fruits. Also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, it is the second largest covered market in the city.

The century-old floating market is one of Thailand 's most popular attractions. Located almost 100 kilometers from Bangkok—buses depart from the southern bus terminal in the Thonburi district—it's a chance to explore an intricate network of canals and stop at stalls to buy local food, snacks, and, of course, souvenirs. There are stalls on land and others aboard boats.

When taking one of the barges, it's recommended to explore some of the area's residential areas. It can also provide a welcome respite from the frenetic market experience . The boats also double as floating restaurants.

Now a tourist attraction—the market has appeared in films like The Man with the Golden Gun and Bangkok Dangerous—there are several delicacies to try here, such as Pla Pao (salt-crusted grilled fish), mini coconut pancakes with crispy edges, and Khao Lam (sticky rice mixed with sugar and coconut milk). The latter dish is slow-roasted inside bamboo stalks.

A complementary visit to make on the same day is the Mae Klong Railway Market (Talad Rom Hoop), where vendors set up their stalls on the train tracks and quickly fold them up every time a train passes.

They are two very touristy spots and agencies suggest visiting both markets on the same day.

Although the city has seven municipal markets, La Ribera is undoubtedly the most famous in the region and an emblem of the city of Bilbao .

Inaugurated in August 1929 in Bilbao's Old Town , the historic heart of this northern Spanish city, the building stands out for its rationalist style, the hallmark of architect Pedro Ispizua. The construction is made of reinforced concrete—modern for its time—with monumental touches.

Their stalls are a showcase of Basque cuisine , considered one of the best in Spain for the quality of its ingredients and the combination of tradition and culinary innovation. Highlights include fish and seafood; meats and charcuterie; cheeses; fruits and vegetables; and pickles, preserves, and spices.

On the second floor of the market are the gastrobars, where you can try excellent meats, fish, seafood, and cheeses.

Basque pinchos are an institution. A classic is gildas , a pincho combining salted olives and anchovies skewered on a toothpick. On weekends, there are often musical offerings, mainly jazz.

Fish is a staple food in Japan . It forms the basis of its traditional cuisine and has led the country to be among the countries with the highest per capita consumption in the world.

And although the wholesale fish market moved to Toyosu in 2018, the streets surrounding the old Tsukiji are still alive , filled with restaurants, food stalls and shops selling kitchenware.

What to try on a walk through this area? The specialty is raw seafood, but there's also a wide selection of cooked and grilled fish. Steamed oysters, fresh tuna, and pickled fish are among the most tempting options.

In Mexico City , everything is big, everything is excessive, and everything feels overwhelming . Some 21 million people live there, just in the capital and metropolitan areas.

A large portion of the city receives food from the Central de Abasto (Basque Market), considered the largest market in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. It occupies 327 hectares and operates daily from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m.

More than 120 tons of produce circulate through its aisles every day . The produce sections are the largest, but the aisles also contain a wealth of meat products, raw materials, and flowers.

"If one is what one eats, with whom one eats, how one eats, and the meaning one gives to what one eats, one can conclude that Mexicans are children of corn, but we were kneaded with chile. I wonder if the gods created us together or separately, and what came first, man or chile," Mexican writer Laura Esquivel once wrote.

Strolling through this wholesale center is like discovering the world of flavors and colors of chili, moles, and the blood red of tomatoes.

Restaurants offer a wide variety of food, from classic tacos —the quintessential Mexican fast food—to more elaborate dishes.

The most classic tacos—always with freshly made tortillas—are those with carnitas, belly, seafood, and grilled meat.

Another option is family-run inns, which serve homemade stews and full breakfasts.

It opened in Seattle in 1907 and is currently one of the oldest farmers markets in the United States.

With more than 20 million visitors annually, it is an important tourist attraction and also a business center for many of the city's artisans and merchants.

In addition to its produce, one of its main attractions is the Pike Place Fish Market, where employees toss fish from one stand to another as part of a spectacle that entertains tourists and customers.

But there's much more to the place than flying fish. Le Panier is known for its French pastries; Mee Sum specializes in dumplings; and DeLaurenti's offers a curated selection of imported cheeses and delicacies, along with a café. The grilled salmon sandwich is a local classic, as is the mac and cheese.

More than just a place to stroll and shop, markets are spaces where the traditions, flavors, and collective memories of a people live. You only need to lose yourself in every stall, every bite, and every conversation—or bargain, where applicable—to feel that, even for a short while, you too are part of the place.