The Most Amazing Markets In The World

From homemade textiles and shiny trinkets to fresh produce and street food delights, these are the most beautiful traditional markets around the world that you can visit on a small-group Culture Trip adventure.

Spring Sale

Jagalchi Fish Market, South Korea

There aren’t many food markets in the world that offer a sensory experience quite like Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan. South Korea’s second city is famed for its seafood – must tries include eomuk (steamed fish cake) and, if you’ve got the stomach for it, saengseonhoe (sliced raw fish) – and walking along this 3km (1.8mi) outdoor market is an amazing experience. Hear local vendors sing and shout, watch live fish still swimming in tanks and, naturally, pinch your nose at the pungent smell of sea creatures that woke up in the ocean that morning. The market, which you can visit on our Soulful South Korea trip, is also famed for the Busan wives – sturdy saleswomen that have been providing for their families for decades.

From US$3223

Next available from 19th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Seoul, South Korea

ENDS AT

Seoul, South Korea

DURATION

10

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Spring Sale

Churchkhela. Georgian traditional desert. Street market.

Dezerter Bazaar, Georgia

This farmer’s market in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, gets its name from the deserting soldiers who sold their weapons here during the Russo-Georgian War of the 1920s. By now they’ve long swapped pistols for fresh fruit and vegetables, traditional cheeses and locally reared meat. Perhaps best of all is the vibrant selection of Georgian spices and world-class array of local wines, often made using ancient fermentation techniques that outdate all other wine-making countries. Parts of the market have a real old-world feel to them. It can get a little bit chaotic but it’s also super authentic and an experience not to be missed in Tbilisi. On our Georgia and the Caucasus trip you’ll get a guided tour of the market with a local chef, who’ll help you pick out the best ingredients needed for our cooking class back at the chef’s own home!

From US$1287

Next available from 18th May 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Tbilisi, Georgia

ENDS AT

Tbilisi, Georgia

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Spring Sale

Lamps hanging in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

The Grand Bazaar, Turkey

Istanbul is probably home to the world’s most famous market. It’s also one of the oldest and largest, with over 4,000 stores across 30,700 sqm (330,452sqft) of covered shopping streets. It’s kind of like the original shopping mall, so no trip to the city is complete without a few hours spent getting lost, un-lost and lost again in the Grand Bazaar. Naturally, as one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, you can expect a lot of tack and tat on sale, but if you look hard enough you can really find some hidden gems here, particularly in the antique quarter. You’ll get a guided tour of the bazaar, as well as the nearby Spice Market, on our Majestic Turkey trip. You’ll have plenty of time to work on your haggling skills, before celebrating your bargain price with a refreshing glass of Turkish tea and a plate full of delicious baklava.

From US$2798

Next available from 16th Aug 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Istanbul, Turkey

ENDS AT

Antalya, Turkey

DURATION

12

GROUP SIZE

18

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Spring Sale

Raohe Night Market, Taiwan

Our Taste of Taiwan trip puts a lot of emphasis on this island nation’s extraordinary culinary culture. That includes a tasting session in a world class tea factory and an authentic cooking class, but Taiwan’s food scene is undoubtedly best explored in one of its many incredible night markets. Our trip includes a visit to Fengjia Night Market in Taichung, but our personal highlight is Raohe Night Market in the capital, Taipei. This 600m (1,968ft) neon-lit street market is a bustling hive of activity come nightfall. Bouquets of flowers and unique works of folk art add a little colour, while smell and taste is more than catered for, with countless excellent street vendors serving up classic dishes like sticky rice dumplings and fish cakes, washed down with a refreshing pearl tea.

From US$2031

Next available from 20th Jul 2024

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Taipei, Taiwan

ENDS AT

Taipei, Taiwan

DURATION

9

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

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Spring Sale

Jamaa el Fna market square at dusk, Marrakesh, Morocco, north Africa. Jemaa el-Fnaa, Djema el-Fna or Djemaa el-Fnaa is a famous square and market place in Marrakeshs medina quarter.

Jemaa el-Fnaa, Morocco

This iconic square in the heart of Marrakech’s old medina is a truly singular market experience. The place is teeming all day long, from early morning when local chefs come to pick up fresh herbs and spices, to nightfall when the whole place is lit-up by the sizzling fires of local street food vendors. As well as fresh produce, hot food and various other ware-selling stalls, you can also expect a wide variety of street performers, who give the square an extra level of atmosphere. Our Epic Morocco trip ends in Marrakech and your time here will start with a guided street food tour, in which Jemaa el-Fnaa features heavily. Tuck into Moroccan classics like tagine, couscous and doughy pastries, or get a little experimental by sampling some sheep’s head or snail soup.

From US$2343

Next available from 12th Apr 2025

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Trip highlights and details

STARTS AT

Casablanca, Morocco

ENDS AT

Marrakech, Morocco

DURATION

11

GROUP SIZE

16

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate

STYLE

Discovery

View Trip

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.