In Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Souq Al-Qaisariya | One of the oldest traditional souqs, built in 1822, with hundreds of shops for bishts, dates and spices. | Al-Rifa'a district, Hofuf |
| Souq Al Balad | The heart of old Taif: shops for roses, perfumes, honey, traditional sweets and gifts. | Central Taif |
| Al Musawkaf Souq | A traditional souq of mud buildings, with antiques and local food. | Unaizah |
| Souq Waqif | A heritage souq of lanes, restaurants, spices and perfumes, loveliest in the evening. | Central Doha |
| Souq Al-Mubarakiya | One of Kuwait's oldest souqs, with traditional restaurants and shops for perfume, dates and traditional dress. | Kuwait City |
| Mutrah souq | An old souq of frankincense, silver and Omani halwa, and a corniche on the harbour. | Mutrah, Muscat |
| Haffa souq | The main market for frankincense, incense and Omani crafts. | Salalah |
| Gold Souq and Spice Souq | Deira's traditional markets by the Creek. | Deira, Dubai |
Türkiye, the Caucasus, Egypt and Morocco
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Grand Bazaar | One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. | Fatih, Istanbul |
| Koza Han | An old Ottoman inn for the silk trade, with scarf shops and cafés in its courtyard. | Central Bursa, next to the Grand Mosque |
| Khan el-Khalili and Al-Muizz Street | Historic souqs and Islamic buildings in the heart of old Cairo. | Al-Hussein, Cairo |
| The souqs of Marrakech | Winding markets for leather, spices and handicrafts. | North of Jemaa el-Fnaa |
| The Kujundžiluk bazaar | A cobbled street of copper and gift shops on the riverbank. | Next to the Old Bridge, Mostar |
| The Dry Bridge market | An open-air market for antiques, rugs, paintings and old objects. | Tbilisi, Georgia |
| Vernissage market | An open-air market for handicrafts, carpets and gifts. | Near Republic Square, Yerevan |
| The Sheki caravanserai | An old stone caravanserai with a courtyard and arches on the Silk Road. | Central Sheki, Azerbaijan |
Central Asia
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Chorsu Bazaar | A market under a huge blue dome, for spices and dried fruit. | Old Tashkent |
| Siyob Bazaar | A traditional market for Samarkand bread, dried fruit and sweets. | Samarkand |
| The Green Bazaar | A market of dried fruit, nuts, honey and local food. | Central Almaty |
East and South-East Asia
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Chatuchak market | One of the world's largest weekend markets, with thousands of stalls. | Bangkok; open at weekends |
| Pratunam market | Clothes and shoes at wholesale prices, cheaper still when you buy three pieces or more. | Bangkok |
| Sunday Walking Street | A street closed to traffic and filled with handicrafts and street food. | Chiang Mai; every Sunday evening |
| Ubud art market | Handicrafts, fabrics and souvenirs; haggling is part of the fun. | Central Ubud, Bali |
| Nishiki Market | A covered street of more than a hundred Japanese food stalls, known as Kyoto's kitchen. | Kyoto |
| Kuromon Market | A popular food market known as Osaka's kitchen. | Nipponbashi, Osaka |
| Dongmun Market | The island's best-known market, for local fruit, seafood and gifts. | Jeju City, Korea |
| Ben Thanh Market | Ho Chi Minh City's best-known market for gifts and food. | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
| Yiwu International Trade City | The world's largest wholesale market for small goods, with more than 75,000 stores selling toys, gifts, accessories and homeware. | Yiwu, about 1 h 30 min by high-speed train from Shanghai |
| Baima Garment Market | One of Guangzhou's best-known wholesale clothing markets, with floors of women's and men's fashion. | By Guangzhou Railway Station |
Europe and the islands
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Naschmarkt | Vienna's best-known market for fruit, food and restaurants. | Near central Vienna |
| Viktualienmarkt | An open-air market of fruit and food in the heart of the city. | Near Marienplatz, Munich |
| The Farmers' Market | A colourful market of tropical fruit and flowers. | Central Funchal, Madeira |
| Victoria market | A colourful market of tropical fruit, spices and fish. | Victoria, Seychelles |
Tips before you go
- Haggling is part of shopping in the markets of Istanbul, Marrakech, Cairo and Asia: start below the asking price and keep smiling.
- Carry cash in the local currency, as many small shops do not take cards.
- Visit covered markets at midday in summer and open-air ones in the morning or late afternoon, and watch your wallet in the crowds.
Hotels in Traditional markets
- Hotels in Istanbul
- Hotels in Cairo
- Hotels in Dubai
- Hotels in Bangkok
- Hotels in Taif
- Hotels in Doha
- Hotels in Muscat
- Hotels in Salalah
- Hotels in Marrakech
- Hotels in Al Ahsa
- Hotels in Kyoto
- Resorts in Taif
- Hotels in Al Hada
- Hotels in Al Shafa
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous traditional markets in Saudi Arabia?
Souq Al-Qaisariya in Al-Ahsa, Souq Al Balad in Taif and Al Musawkaf Souq in Unaizah.
What are the most famous traditional markets in the Gulf?
Souq Waqif in Doha, Souq Al-Mubarakiya in Kuwait, Mutrah souq in Muscat, and the Gold and Spice souqs in Deira, Dubai.
Where are the world's biggest markets?
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the oldest and largest covered markets, Chatuchak in Bangkok is one of the largest weekend markets, and Yiwu in China is the largest wholesale market for small goods.
Where is the best place to buy frankincense and incense?
Haffa souq in Salalah and Mutrah souq in Muscat.
Last updated: October 2026. The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.