Los mejores mercados

Parte del curioso encanto de Francia reside en que no existe mercado más perfecto que aquel por el que uno pasea en ese preciso instante. Siempre está presente el temor de no volver a ver frambuesas de un fucsia tan intenso ni a percibir el mismo aroma a salchichón con ajo, hinojo o queso Comté.

Los mercados de los cascos antiguos de la Costa Azul son, en esencia, el corazón palpitante de cada pueblo. Son lugares vibrantes donde los lugareños compran sus productos a diario y saludan con un "¡Bonjour!" a sus vecinos, mientras los turistas observan con curiosidad, intentando captar la esencia de la vida cotidiana en la Riviera.

En los mercados de la Costa Azul hay mucho que ver y comprar. Desde artesanías, textiles y antigüedades hasta productos de lavanda hechos a mano, flores, frutas frescas y secas, verduras y pescado, se puede encontrar prácticamente de todo.

For this guide, we focused on only the very best markets that are year-round at least twice a week. If you want more, you can check out our complete list of French Flea Markets and guide to the best places to find shopping deals.

Like most Provencal markets, the French Riviera’s markets are the kind of place that’ll make you wonder how you’ll ever manage to drag yourself into a big box store back home again. Here, you gaze at towers of pastel-colored jasmine, lavender and rose petal jams, pass by bins groaning with flavored sea salts, alongside terracotta bowls of briny olives and lemon confit, towards baskets of purple artichokes dwarfed by their still-attached leaves.

In this Iconic Riviera list, we will give you the best markets you should visit during your trip to the wonderful and lively French Riviera:

Nice: The Saleya Food, Plants & Crafts Markets

Uno de los mercados más famosos de la Costa Azul se encuentra en pleno centro histórico. El mercado de Cours Saleya es un mercado grande y auténticamente mediterráneo. Considerado uno de los mejores mercados de Francia por el Consejo Nacional de las Artes Culinarias, ofrece los ingredientes más frescos y de origen local de la ciudad.

Los toldos a rayas albergan flores coloridas como dalias y geranios y los clientes pueden examinar puesto tras puesto de verduras, frutas y quesos orgánicos. Los puestos brindan sombra incluso durante los días más calurosos del verano y estás rodeado por las calles del antiguo Nice. La negociación es bienvenida, si no se espera.

This market has several different faces:

The Food market

Aquí encontrará productos frescos de la zona interior. El ambiente es cálido y animado, lleno de colores y aromas. Filas y filas de especias invitan a probarlas. Hay uvas del tamaño de pelotas de golf y aceitunas que brillan al sol. Al sonar el cañonazo del mediodía, los vendedores están dispuestos a negociar para vender lo máximo posible antes de que el mercado cierre a la 1 de la tarde.

The Plants & Flowers Market

El mercado de flores está considerado por el Consejo Nacional de las Artes Culinarias de Francia como uno de los mercados más especiales del país. En él, flores de todos los colores y formas cobran vida. Está repleto de coloridos ramos, plantas y flores exóticas que impregnan el aire con agradables fragancias.

The Artisan crafts Market

En verano, el Cours Saleya nunca duerme, y por las noches se transforma en un mercado nocturno de artesanía. La norma es que todo debe estar hecho a mano o pintado por artistas locales, lo que, afortunadamente, elimina la presencia de baratijas producidas en masa. Esto crea un ambiente festivo encantador, rodeado de mesas de cafés y restaurantes.

The Antiques Market

Los lunes, el Cours Saleya se transforma en un extenso mercado de antigüedades o 'Brocante', donde se puede encontrar una amplia gama de antigüedades, objetos de colección y fascinantes objetos de segunda mano franceses.

Food Market Open Times: Tuesdays to Sundays from 6am to 1pm (closed on Mondays). Flowers Market Open Times: Tuesdays to Sundays, from 6am to 5:30pm (closed on Mondays and Sunday afternoons). Artisan Crafts Market Open Times: Del 1 de junio al 30 de septiembre, todos los días de 18:00 a 00:00. Antiques Market Open Times: Mondays from 7am until 6pm (but they start to pack up just after 4pm). More information: Detalles del mercado en el sitio web oficial Nice.

Consejo de un experto: si busca marisco, compre una bolsa de ostras, erizos o bulots (caracoles de mar) en el Libération Market, exclusivo para locales de Nice . Learn about the platos gastronómicos por los que Nice es conocido.

Antibes: The Provencal Market

In the heart of the old town, Cours Massena’s historic covered food market offers a wonderful blend of fresh food and vegetables, cheeses, olives and olive oil, charcuterie and more. The outer stalls are for practitioners and merchants; people with large gardens or smallholdings run down through the center.

Although the prices here can get steep, it is a good place to come and see some excellent local products including fruit, flowers, vegetables, meats, cheeses, spices, herbs, fish and sausages. You are sure to be able to pick up some fantastic samples of goods used in traditional Provencal style cookery and fine local olive oils, herbs, and fruits.

Marche Provencal Open Times: It is open daily from 6am until 1pm (except Mondays during winter). Echa un vistazo a nuestro guide to Antibes.

Saint Tropez: Place des Lices

El mercado de la Place des Lices, en el centro de Saint-Tropez, es un mercado fabuloso que ofrece una gran variedad de alimentos, como pasteles, pan, embutidos, quesos, aceitunas, hierbas, especias, frutas, verduras y flores. Los habitantes de Saint-Tropez compran sus frutas y verduras frescas en este mercado.

There’s also a good antique market for souvenir hunters. This is also the best place to find great bargains for t-shirts, bags, and other accessories in a typical French Riviera style. You can pick up posh luggage, fabrics, and furniture or lovely odd items like old tins, wine glasses, plate, home accessories, antiques, mirrors, vintage posters, paintings, and arts & crafts. This is a more high-end market where you’ll find good quality items (there is no tacky plastic junk).

Saint Tropez Market Open Times: Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Echa un vistazo a nuestro guide to St Tropez and to their once-per-year massive street sale, la Grande Braderie.

Monaco: Condamine Market

The terracotta-colored squares in the market of Marche de la Condamine in Place d’Armes serve as the “other face” of extravagant Monaco. This market is of the most authentic local experiences one can have in visiting the Principality.

Monegasque and other regional specialties are also available. You can find the wet-goods such as meat and fish inside the hall while the fruits and vegetables are on the streets. There are also two stalls selling both potted and cut flowers. Don’t expect a bargain though — the prices are much steeper than at the supermarkets.

Part of the Condamine market, called the “Gourmet Hall” (the large building with many food vendors inside), is the place where locals go to quickly grab a bite with friends after work, or eat together as a family.

Marche De La Condamine Horarios de apertura: Every day from 7am to 3pm. The Gourmet Hall is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 9:30pm. Aprender more about Monaco and check out our guide to the best places to shop in Monaco.

Villefranche-sur-Mer: Jardin Francois Binon

Este mercado provenzal está abierto en Jardín Binon. Se dedica a la venta de productos locales y exquisiteces como tapenade de aceitunas, quesos de la zona y paella. Los sábados también se venden artículos como ropa y joyería.

Jardin Fançois Binon transforms into a flea market and an antique bazaar every Sunday, where people from all over the Riviera come to find vintage tourism posters, home goods, silverware, jewelry, etc.

Farmer Market Open Times: The market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. Flea Market / Antique Bazaar: Open all day long on Sundays. Echa un vistazo a nuestro guide to Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Cannes: Forville Market

El mercado de Forville es cubierto pero también peatonal y se encuentra cerca de la famosa Croisette y al pie del casco antiguo, Le Suquet.

It has seasonal organic vegetables, fresh seafood, and handmade local delicacies. Cold meats are available, like tripe sausages, ham, and dried sausages. Many stalls also sell Italian cuisine specialties, such as ravioli Nicois, Provencal pasta sauces, and delectable polenta.

On Mondays, instead of the food market, there is an all-day mercado de pulgas selling many different kinds of trinkets.

Cannes Forville Market Open Times: The market is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 7am to 1pm. Forville Flea Market Open Times: Mondays from 7am to 1pm. Echa un vistazo a nuestro guide to Cannes and where to go shopping in Cannes.

A block away from Forville Market, in the old port on weekends from 7am to 5:30pm, you’ll find an art, vintage clothing, and antiques market.

Other Great Markets

For this guide, we focused on only the very best markets that are year-round at least twice a week. If you want more, you can check out our complete list of French Flea Markets and guide to the best places to shop. Plus, don’t miss this massive, coveted yearly sale in Saint-Tropez.

Markets to Avoid

While there are many amazing markets on the French Riviera, there are also plenty that have been overrun by sellers hawking cheap goods made in China. Check this page for a regularly updated list of which markets to avoid.