
Just as food tastes better outdoors, shopping feels more real when wandering around a market.
Of course, there’s the sense that you’re shopping the same way your ancestors did, a romanticized idea of the consumerism of yesteryear. But there are also the immediate thrills and spills of the bustling marketplace.
Unique or rare products, salespeople with an emotional investment in their stall and the hope of finding a bargain add to the appeal. And when travelling, a flea market or food market is an excellent place to get a feel for the local culture and pick up some souvenirs or gifts.
But some markets are better than others, and some are more suited to locals than travellers. To find out the best ones for tourists, Merchant Machine analyzed publicly available review data from Tripadvisor and ranked listings tagged “farmers market” or “street and flea market” by their percentage of five-star reviews.
Sections
Key Findings
- Provo Farmers Market in Provo, Utah, is the highest-rated market in the U.S. and the world, with 97% five-star reviews.
- Deddington Farmers Market in Banbury, Oxfordshire, is the UK’s top-rated market (77.8%)
- Three UK markets (Deddington, Market Hall Shrewsbury and Bury Market) are among the top ten in Europe.
The Highest-Rated Markets in the World
An incredible 9.7 out of ten tourists rate Provo Farmers Market in Utah as a five-star market. This makes it both the top-rated market in the U.S. and the world. In fact, 12 of the top 20 markets are in the U.S., with the rest in Africa or Europe.

Like many other markets in our study, Provo sells fresh local food and unique arts and crafts. The market is set in Provo’s Pioneer Park, which makes it a nice stop on a walk along the town’s quaint and historic Center Street. “If you want your soul and your tummy to be full and satisfied, add the market to your weekend,” says one reviewer. “The vendors are all so friendly, and even if you don’t plan on buying anything, it’s worth the trip to see all the amazing things the vendors have created.”
Our next map shows every country’s top-rated market. The UK’s is Deddington Farmers Market in Oxfordshire, giving the UK the ninth best-rated market in the world — but only if you accept just one market from each country. Ireland’s Rathcormac Artisan Food and Craft Market in Sligo has nearly 14% more five-star ratings. Rathcormac is the sixth-best market when only one per country is allowed and the ninth-best when every market is included.
Rathcormac is “as much as a social experience for locals as a transactional one,” writes Samantha McCaughren, whose “children were fascinated by the wide range of locally-made goods on offer ranging from tasty homemade pesto and bread to soft handmade toys including fairies and modern TV characters.” The market is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

America’s Highest-Rated Markets for Shoppers and Foodies
The U.S. is doing something right with markets, boasting 12 of the world’s top 20 markets. Utah’s Provo Farmers Market is the best of all (see The Highest-Rated Markets in the World above), but the Santa Fe Society of Artists market is not far behind, with 95.2% of visitors giving it five stars.

In fact, Santa Fe Society of Artists is something of a gallery, promoting a selective group of artists’ works in stalls outside the First National 1870 Bank all weekend from April until October. The market is right opposite the New Mexico Museum of Art, making the area a great cultural destination for out-of-towners.
Next, we opened it up to identify the top market in each U.S. state. This reveals the diversity of America’s best markets. For example, in addition to farmers markets and flea markets, you can find the Native Art Market in Scottsdale, Arizona — which 92.0% of visitors gave five stars. “From the outside, you may not expect the quality and variety that is inside,” writes one reviewer. “Coupled with the awesome staff and live flute music (which made the experience very relaxing), it was hard to leave the store.”

Shady Hollow Flea Market in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, is given five stars by 80% of visitors. “Easy to locate and dog friendly huge open air flea market,” says one reviewer. “Tons of booths and buildings to rummage over, with just about anything your heart desires! Freshly made drinks, alcohol, food, snacks, and even live music!”
Says another: “Whether you are looking for rusty junk, vintage shabby chic, anything from hand crafters or the makers movement, fashion and women’s clothing, accessories, food…it’s different every single weekend.”
The Highest-Rated Markets in the UK, According to Travellers
Seventeen of the UK’s top 20 markets are in England. The top-rated of all is Deddington Farmers Market in Banbury, Oxfordshire, for which 77.8% of reviews are five-star rated. Deddington has won Farmers Market of the Year for the last four years running at the Oxfordshire Prestige Awards and was awarded Third Best UK Farmers Market by National Geographic Magazine in 2017. Deddington’s first market may have popped up as early as the 12th century; it is this historic, rural setting, along with “great mixture of food ready to eat and fresh produce,” that makes it so appealing.

Belfast’s Dock Market is Northern Ireland’s best, and there are no top twenty markets in Scotland. The St Dogmaels Local Producers and Mold Markets are both in Wales. Mold has a tiny fraction of a percentage more five-star ratings than St Dogmaels.
Mold Market boasts “a huge variety of produce including fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, meat, crockery, clothes and plants” across 70 stalls. It is the biggest in North Wales and the Borderlands, according to the local county council.
The Highest-Rated Markets in Australia, According to Travellers
Australia’s best market is Creswick Market, according to reviewers, 72.8% of whom give it a five-star rating. Located in a churchyard in the beautiful old town of Creswick, this market may not be the biggest, but it is authentic and picturesque. “Easy to recommend this market, with a great vibe and a good mix of stalls,” says one reviewer. “Easy parking, food stalls, clothing, retro, artisan, crafting, organics, music, kids activities – lots to love!”

Queensland’s Palm Beach Farmers’ Market offers a more urban and coastal take on the great Australian farmers market. Running every Saturday from 6 – 11.30 a.m., Palm Beach offers live music alongside more than 75 stalls selling fresh and ready-to-eat food. “The quality is absolutely first-rate. No second-hand goods, no tat – it is a farmers’ market,” warns one (five-star) reviewer. Well, you can’t have it all.
The Highest-Rated Markets in Europe, According to Travellers
Europe has three markets that more than 90% of visitors rate with five stars, and they are in Georgia, Poland and Portugal.
The best of all is Bazari Orbeliani in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. The first market opened in this historic part of town in 1886, but Bazari Orbeliani opened as recently as autumn 2021. The design is cosy yet modern, with a food hall and farmers market. “Our idea was to recreate as a fast food the Georgian tastes that we usually have at home from the cooking of our mums and aunts,” says Tornike Qurasbediani, the 29-year-old director of one of the eateries.

Gdanski Bazar Natury is a farmers market in the northern Polish city of Gdansk, which is open on Thursday afternoons. “The local sellers offer delicious jams, cakes and traditional preserves prepared in accordance with Polish tradition,” says one reviewer. “The perfect place to get to know regional traditions and flavors!”
And Feira de Artesanato de Faro is a craft market in Portugal’s Algarve region. The merchants sell reasonably priced handmade goods and souvenirs, from soaps and farm food to jewellery and ornaments. In particular, you can expect to find a plethora of the cork crafts for which the south coast is known.
The Highest-Rated Markets in the Middle East and Central Asia, According to Travellers
Seven of this region’s top 20 markets are in Turkey. And the top-rated Turkish market of all is the Kadikoy Carsisi in Istanbul. Kadikoy is a good neighbourhood in which to get a sense of the capital’s Asian side. According to Culture Trip, “you could stumble upon a long-loved family-run grocery store, a historic pickle shop, or try a dessert that’s famous across the city.” Of course, Turkish coffee and sweets are on hand to recharge you as you browse.

The Bazaar of Tabriz in the northwestern Iranian city of the same name scores five stars with 62.2% of its visitors. The city and its bazaar have thrived since at least the 13th century as an important hub along the Silk Road.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex is recognized for having “developed over the centuries into an exceptional physical, economic, social, political, and religious complex, in which specialized architectural structures, functions, professions, and people from different cultures are integrated in a unique living environment.”
The Highest-Rated Markets in Africa, According to Travellers
Africa’s highest-rated markets are clustered in South Africa, which is home to 12 of the continent’s top 20. The top by a significant margin is Johannesburg’s Victoria Yards, “a thriving hub of artists, artisans, designers, and small businesses.” Guided tours are available to ensure you make the most of this incubator-style development of local creative and agricultural entrepreneurs.

Outside of South Africa, Cairo’s Street of the Tentmakers (Sharia Khayamiya) is the top-rated market in Africa. Some 86.2% of visitors give it five stars. It is also one of the most unique in our study, populated by artisans who make colourful fabrics for the ceremonial tents used at wakes, weddings and other celebrations. These fabrics are affordable and high quality. You can buy them in various forms, including bed linens and tapestries. Or you can bring your own ideas:
“My store-bought reusable shopping bags are always falling apart,” says one reviewer, “so I decided to go to street of the Tentmaker’s, near ban Zuweiha and see if I could get some custom-made. I found the canvas and then someone to make them up according to specification, and they were able to make me 8 within 24 hours.”
The Market Experience
In an age of malls and online shopping, the ancient tradition of the marketplace is alive and well. In the U.S., farmers markets alone are a billion-dollar industry, while state-of-the-art markets continue to be designed to foster community and support local trade.
As the highest-rated markets in the world demonstrate, there are many ways to enhance the shopping experience, whether your business is based at home, online, or in a shop. Community spirit, the personal touch, and a unique sense of environment and ambience make shopping for everyday goods or something different a special experience for all.
Methodology
To determine the highest-rated tourist market in every country, we analyzed review data from Tripadvisor. Markets that were ranked equally on the percentage of 5 star visitor reviews were separated according to which had the higher number of reviews. Only markets with at least 25 reviews were considered. Data was collected in December 2023.
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