10 Food Markets From Around The World That Inspire Wanderlust

When you're exploring other countries, the local food markets are the perfect place to experience the bridge between culture and cuisine. Usually centrally located in a city or town, they're a great way to gather new recipes, learn regional culinary practices, and discover new-to-you spices, cheeses, baked goods, and seafood selections. You can also find souvenirs, handmade crafts, textiles, art, and jewelry. 

The world's food markets pay homage to a region's history through agriculture, art, and architecture. Wrought-iron structures, domed and decorative ceilings, bright stalls, and city-like set-ups accent indoor and open-air markets. These extensive culinary complexes sit on acres of prime property. It's easy to spend hours perusing the colorful and overflowing aisles, sampling regional delicacies, and picking out items to take home (or enjoy right on the spot). You're likely to be inspired to recreate authentic dishes at home or just infuse some of those local herbs and spices into your current culinary line-up. 

We've scoured the internet reading numerous review sites and articles to select 10 of the top international food markets in the word to inspire your culinary wanderlust. Although we can't guarantee a seat on a plane anytime soon, wherever you're flying to next make it a point to stop by one of these food markets. 

India's colorful and bustling bazaars are a cultural port of call whether you're searching for spices, fruit, or paneer. Chandni Chowk, built in the 17th century, is one of India's oldest and largest retail and wholesale markets spreading across many streets in Old Dehli. When you imagine a traditional spice market, this is the scene you're likely to picture. Open every day except for Sunday, Chandni Chowk is located near the Jama Masjid mosque, the historic walls of the Red Fort, and the Yamuna River.

Chandni Chowk features the largest spice market in Asia called Khari Baoli where cloves, turmeric, jeera (cumin) and mirch (made from red capsicums and red chilies) as well as fresh herbs like reetha abound. Take in the wide range of food vendors where you can try north Indian cuisine like parantha, ghee patista, lassi, and chicken mughlai. You'll also find clothing, designer fabrics, intricate lace and tapestries, silver jewelry, housewares, decorative lights and lanterns, cameras, and electronics.

If you're craving wurst, cheese, bread, or German riesling, you'll find all of it and more at Kadewe. Located on the sixth floor of a department store, the Kaufhaus des Westens (or KaDeWe), features food stands and vendors selling upwards of 34,000 items. Shop for lobsters, champagne, 1,500 varieties of meat, 1,800 kinds of cheese, jams, Kobe beef, macarons, and oysters. If you want to learn the differences between bratwurst, leberwurst, weisswurst, and oh, about a thousand others, this is the place to go. 

This extravagant food hall dates to 1956, but the department store has been around since 1907. Fun fact: KaDeWe is Europe's second-largest department store (after Harrods in London, of course). The seventh-floor wintergarten, a sunroom type of venue constructed of gleaming glass and steel, also offers a culinary scene of food stalls, restaurants, and cozy bars where you can enjoy authentic German dishes such as wienerschnitzel and Berlin currywurst. KaDeWe is conveniently near the Berlin Zoo, the Berlin Aquarium, and a short drive to the 18th-century Brandenburg Gate.

One of Andrew Zimmern's Top 15 Food Markets Around the World, Pike Place Market opened in 1907 and sits on nine acres in downtown Seattle. If it's related in any way, shape, or form to the culinary world, you're sure to find it here. Farmers, crafters, and specialty food vendors sell flowers, fruit, vegetables, cheese, wine, gourmet popcorn, and baked goods. Pike Place Fish Market, home at Pike Place since 1930, offers sustainable Pacific Northwest seafood like king salmon and halibut. The spectacle of fish throwing, where the fishmongers throw frozen fish to each other while filling customer orders, is one of the more unique aspects of the lively market scene.

A wide selection of restaurants offer Chinese, French, Brazilian, and Mexican cuisine. Visit candy, chocolate, and ice cream stands for sweet treats. Along with the fantastic array of food and beverage choices, the lively venue features street performers, antique vendors, and souvenir stands with Washington state items.

Reading Terminal Market has been a foodie favorite in the City of Brotherly Love since 1893. Regional farms provide free-range poultry, eggs, milk, and organic meats while other vendors sell seafood, baked goods, and honey as well as jewelry, apparel, and houseware items. Enjoy prepared foods that make Philly famous, such as the Philly cheesesteak, the classic hoagie, and savory tomato pie. Chow down on Amish, Mennonite, and other Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like apple dumplings, scrapple, chicken and waffles, creamy mashed potatoes, or shoo-fly pie.

Situated on a slab of land between the Delaware River and the Schuylkill River, Reading Terminal Market is conveniently located near the Liberty Bell, the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art where you can recreate Rocky to your heart's content. Reading Terminal Market is open daily, but the Pennsylvania Dutch merchants are only open Wednesday through Saturday.

The St. Lawrence Market is a must-visit culinary destination in Ontario, Canada. Established in 1803, it sits along the harbor of Lake Ontario near the CN Tower. Shop for baked goods, pickles, fresh fruit, tea and coffee, European-style bread, New Zealand honey, and Canadian products like maple syrup, mustard, and sausages. Monogram at the Market Kitchen features culinary classes and demonstrations. Sign up to learn about Tuscan, Thai, and other global cuisines.

There are three main indoor market buildings for all things cuisine. The South Market has more than 120 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, and baked items. The North Market, which dates to 1803 when it first began hosting the Saturday Farmers' Market, is the place to shop for seasonal produce. On Sundays, it's an antique outlet. St. Lawrence Hall, built in 1850, features event space for weddings, receptions, and other special culinary occasions.