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Whether you're strolling through Barcelona’s La Boqueria positioned within the heart of Barcelona’s thrumming La Rambla neighbourhood or find yourself weaving around the biweekly street market which brings a burst of flavour to Sarlat-la-Canéda, a small commune nestled in rural France, European Markets are melting pot of sounds, scents and gastronomy, all of which there’s never been a better time to soak up. And we know just where to find them.
1) Portobello Road
In the words of William Thacker from Notting Hill, “There’s the market on weekdays selling every fruit and vegetable known to man, the tattoo parlour with a guy outside who got drunk and now can’t remember why he chose ‘I Love Ken’, the radical hairdressers where everyone comes out looking like the cookie monster whether they want to or not. And then suddenly it’s the weekend and from break of day, hundred of stalls appear out of nowhere filling Portobello Road right up to Notting Hill Gate and wherever you look thousands of people are buying millions of antiques, some genuine and some not quite so genuine.” To put it simply, this is a market that has all manner of weird, wonderful and wacky pieces for sale, from vintage to household goods, bric-a-bracs and trinkets.
Address: London, W11 1LJ. (Open Monday - Saturday)
2) Mercat De Vell de Consell
Displaying everything from second-hand pieces to playthings, jewellery and furniture, Consell Flea Market held each Sunday, is Mallorca’s most considerable and holds a treasure trove of truly spectacular, idiosyncratic pieces making it the ideal market to leisurely browse through on a tranquil Sunday morning. Resting nearby, are a number of restaurants to give you plenty of energy for the hunt ahead, from Tajer D’Oro to Sa Torre de Santa Eugenia.
Address: Carrer Antonio Barceló García de Paredes, 2, 07330 Consell, Illes Balears, Spain (Open Sunday)
3) Loppemarkedet
Nestled inside the Carlsberg Brewery District’s Tap 1, this fairly new, heaving market stretched out over more than 400 vendors with separate quarters for garments and furniture, offers an eclectic array of pieces, each with endless possibilities for the buyers willing to see their potential.
Address: Loppemarkedet, TAP1, 91 Ny Carlsberg Vej, Copenhagen, Denmark (Open Sundays)
4) Marché
Heralded as the most spectacular in the Provence region and open two times a week, this is one to visit for those looking to indulge their tastebuds with only the finest gastronomical offerings rural France has to offer. On Wednesdays, expect to encounter a mouthwatering selection of just-baked bread, artisanal cheeses, saucissons, honey and farm grown fruits and vegetables whilst Saturday presents you with various lavenders, soaps and linens. Sundays at Place Aux Herbes, also hold the promise of art, along with antique fairs as well as exhibitions just waiting to be browsed.
Address: Place Aux Herbes, Uzès : Pass. du Marché, 30700 Uzès, France (Open Wednesday and Saturday)
5) Mercato San Lorenzo
Composed of two separate fragments, an indoor space christened Mercato Central, home to various leather pieces together with a plethora of souvenirs, and an outdoor one which offers everything from pottery to notebooks around Florence to the Pizza San Lorenzo, this is undeniably one to visit should you find yourself in Tuscany’s capital from Monday to Saturday.
Address: Florence, Italy (Open Monday to Saturday)
6) Mercado de Santa Clara
Named as one of the Portuguese city’s oldest and referred to by locals as “Feira da Ladra” , this market is thought to have been in place since the 12th century. Making it Lisbon’s richest, not only in the goods it offers — CDs, books, coins and military objects — but also in the cultural resonance it invokes.
Address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-472 Lisboa, Portugal (Open Saturday and Tuesday 9am - 6pm)
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