I'm going to europe for 3 weeks in May with a friend and wanted to find out about some good open markets. Either for food or shopping. Here's where we'll be, let me know if you know of any good ones.
London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Salzburg, Munich, Rome, Barcelona.
(fiy: we're both 25 and female...so shopping will be done!

The best food market in London, IMO, Borough Market on Fridays around noon. Combine it with the South Bank area, Tate Modern and The Eye.Don't forget Portobello on Saturdays.

For Paris, here's a listing by arrondissement

http://www.v1.paris.fr/EN/Living/markets/markets.asp

My favorites are Saxe Breteuil aand Richard Lenoir,

La Boqueria market in Barcelona is just FABULOUS! Just get on Las Ramblas and you should be able to spot it. It is mostly food; vegetables, meats, fish, fruits, and people watching! Great fun! Have a great time!!

WOW, that's a lot of places in 21 days!!

Eight major european cities in 3 weeks--sounds exhausting with that many transits, countries and languages. I appreciate the desire to see it all but have you considered trimming the number down so you can enjoy your purchases? You will "lose" close to a day each time you relocate getting out and in a hotel, going to airport etc. Good luck hauling all your finds! Paul

Hi G,

More important than markets is your itinerary.

7 changes of venue? There's 3-4 days gone.

8 major cities in 17 days?

Are you sure?

it's a little too late to change the plans. the hostels are booked and the airplane is set. We're taking the train around Europe and a lot of the trains are night trains, so we're not really loosing many day hours. I figure I'm 25, I've got the rest of my life to go back and see it all again at a slower pace! thanks for your concern though!

Munich: Viktualienmarkt, of course, the famous food market, just round the corner from Marienplatz. Open every morning.

Agree 100% with macanimals and ira on the itinerary problem, but it's your trip.

Is the selection better on Fridays at the Borough Market than it is on Thursdays? Numerous posters have noted that due to crowding Thursday may be the better day to go.

Wow - that is a pretty aggressive plan! (nothing has to be set in stone unless you have pre-paid all those hostels BTW)

This may end up feeling like a forced march across 2/3 of Europe -- especially if most of your travel is on night trains. Have you ever slept on a night train? Once or twice as an adventure, fine. But a steady diet of sleepers may mean you are too tired to enjoy all those markets you are asking about.

Those 8 countries may just become one big blur after about 12 days . . . . .

If you have enough energy to arrive at 6:00 a.m., the Bermondsey Market in South London is great fun. The goods range from high quality antiques to the worst junk that will bring a few pennies.

It runs from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. every Friday.

The cities you mention are all huge urban areas. Seems like somehow you'll need to get to the local neighborhoods for finding the various weekly markets.

I'm thinking along the lines of checking either guidebooks or city tourist information bureaus to get this kind of specific info?

For markets in Berlin:
http://tinyurl.com/2czdtl

The first flea market on that list is the best/biggest - but only on weekends. Kunstmarkt means that you will find mostly "art", which can be anything from real and pricey antiques to affordable kitsch and crafts.
Going there shortly after opening gets you the biggest choice, going there in the afternoon can get you the best prices.

The food markets are not that exciting, and do not stand out in comparison from what you will find elsewhere.

Amsterdam:
IJ-hallen/Docklands Street Neveritaweg 15. fleamarket with 1500 stands..only individual stand holders are allowed, only 2nd hand goods may be sold. The flea market is held on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month.

Albert Cuyp market, Albert Cuypstraat Surround Pijp
Largest daily open-air market with clothing and textile to food and furniture. Open: Mon-Sat.

Street Noordermarkt Surround Jordaan
Flea market on Mondays on the Jordaan, along the Prinsengracht. simultaneously with the ‘lapjesmarkt', the organic farmers market. There’s also a small antiques section, quirky boutiques, galleries - along the streets of Tweede Anjeliersdwarstraat, Tuinstraat, and Egelanteirsstraat.

Barcelona:
Glories Metro (red line)
Fleamarket encants.
9am-2-30pm mon, wed, fri, sat.
huge selection of antiques and fleamarket stuff, clothing but mainly collectable stuff, really interesting. remember to barter hard, you can get stuff for next to nothing.

Paris:
Again, here's a link to area guide with markets located:
http://www.waytostay.com/area-info-Paris-en-109.htm

Rome:
Market by san Giovanni, every day i think (maybe except monday).
It looks small until you get to the back, theres a huge space full of retro and vintage stalls, 2nd hand good etc.

p.s. you will probably need to really co-ordinate each city well, for each market or you'll miss them.

Besides the Boqueria market off the Ramblas in Barcelona, don't miss the Santa Caterina market in El Born.
In Paris, try to check out either the barbes market near Montmartre or the Joinville market on the banks of the canal St. Martin. Both are very ethnic and afford sights that other markets probably won't offer--like goat heads with eyes and teeth still intact and veggies you're probably not familiar with if you've not lived in Africa or other exotic places. Great people watching too and the marketers holler. It's fun.

Since many markets are only held on certain days of the week (as someone mentions above) you'll really need to do some advanced planning, since you'll only be in each city 1-2 days.

Or check at the train station information booths as you arrive each place, and hope for the best.

Also in Amsterdam, Waterlooplein, a fleamarket, daily. The flower market of course, on the Singel, Nieuwemarkt, daily, a general market.
There are so many in Amsterdam. There are a few listed here: http://tinyurl.com/2tsbfa but there are plenty of others.

I'm really not looking at going to every market in each city. If time permits and we walk by the market we'll stop in a see what they have. If we miss a market in a certain city, i'm not all too worried about it.

Thanks to those who've given me some great information about some markets. I am so greatful for it!