- Jan 10, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 21, 2025
For years, solo travel to markets has been a part of my routine. A couple of days in a new town, a good audiobook in my ears, and an agenda that’s entirely my own. There’s a quiet joy in moving at your own pace and navigating streets and stalls without anyone needing to know where you are. I find it liberating—a rare indulgence in autonomy.
Travelling solo also has practical perks: no dawdling companions to contend with. Anyone on a mission knows that unnecessary lingering is maddening. My most recent market trip to Lille last September gave me pause. Laden with IKEA bags and backpacks, I wove through the bustling streets, passing cheerful groups perched at outdoor tables, sipping beers and savouring bowls of mussels under the September sun. I realized then that perhaps I’ve been a touch too rigid in my approach. Why not try to embrace the leisure alongside the work?
So, for 2025, I’ve vowed to create trips that strike a balance—a blend of the joy of discovery with a hint of holiday. Thankfully, Charlotte Becque, my indispensable right-hand woman, has brought this idea to life, curating an excellent list of European markets. Together, we’ll aim to enjoy the hunt for treasures and the pleasures of exploring and indulging in these beautiful destinations.
Marseille, France
Open: Tuesday - Sundays
Things To Do
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Château Borély, Museum of Decorative Arts, Earthenware and Fashion, Palais Longchamp
Hotels
Restaurants
L'Isle-sur-La Sorgue, France
Open: 18th–21st April & 15th-17th August
Things To Do
Hotels
L'appartement du Coeurisier, Air Bnb - Le 40 de Maisons Clotilde & House In The Heart Of The Luberon
Restaurants
Lille, France
Grande Braderie de Lille
Open: 6th - 7th September
Things To Do
Hotels
Mama Shelter Lille, Air Bnb - L’appart The Moodernists & Chez Marjolaine
Restaurants
Paris, France
Open: Fridays - Mondays
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Berlin, Germany
Suarezstraße – the Berlin Antique Mile, Großer Antikmarkt am Ostbahnhof & Antique and Book Market at the Bode Museum
Open: Sundays
Open: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Budapest, Hungary
Open: All Week, time may differ (Closed on Offical Holidays)
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Open: 25th - 26th January & 15th - 16th February
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Barcelona, Spain
Open: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays from 9 a.m - 8 p.m
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Vienna, Austria
Open: Every Sunday, From 6:30 a.m - 3 p.m
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Lisbon, Portugal
Open: First & Third Sunday Every Month, From 9 am - 6 pm
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Arezzo, Italy
Open: 1st- 2nd February, 1st - 2nd March, 5th - 6th April & 3rd - 4th May
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Rome, Italy
Open: Every Sunday until 2 pm
Things To Do
Hotels
G-Rough, Air Bnb - St. Peter Charming and Cozy Loft, Little Escape
Restaurants
Milan, Italy
Open: Monday - Fridays & Sundays. Hours differ depending on the season
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
Brussels, Belgium
Open: Saturdays & Sundays (9 am - 5 pm) / (9 am - 3 pm)
Open: Monday - Fridays (9 am - 2 pm) & Saturday - Sunday (9 am - 3 pm)
Things To Do
Hotels
Restaurants
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