Copenhagen: Paper market
Paper Island (or Papiroen, locally) is a budget friendly isle of food trucks in a sea of expense in this Scandi capital. Fittingly, it is on the other side of the main canal from the picturesque tourist trap of Nyhavn. The walk (or boat ride) is worth it, as Papiroen offers more than just street food caravans – bands and DJs turn this into a nighttime hangout as well.
Seek out:
Get the Danish fix with an open sandwich from Hand Made.
Paris: Bastille market
The Bastille markets on a Sunday is a bit of an institution in the French capital and offers a mixed bag for travellers – from bric-a-brac to brie and baguettes – you will likely want to buy something from every second stall. All the ingredients for a classic French picnic are here, to be had at the nearby canal or a short walk away by Notre Dame Cathedral on the Seine. The emphasis is on fresh, raw produce rather than rows of street food vendors, hence why locals love it.
Seek out:
Any stand selling the prune and custard flan, the Pan Breton.
Bordeaux: Marche des Capucins
If you’ve found yourself in Bordeaux, chances are you’re a foodie anyway, but make sure Marche des Capucins is on your itinerary. All the delicious and cheap ‘‘eries’’ are here – patisserie, boulangerie, fromagerie – but what really grabbed my attention was the local weekend brunch tradition of oysters and local white wines ... at 10am. When in Rome ...
Seek out:
Half a dozen with a local sav.
Madrid: Mercardo San Miguel
The crowds head for the El Rastro flea Set among some set pieces of The Sound of Music, this Austrian city turns it on in December with Christmas markets to rival the best in Europe’s larger cities. While sitting down for the famous schnitzels in the capital Vienna can be expensive, Austria’s second city keeps the festive spirit high and the prices low (and the temperatures even lower). Live advent calendars, reindeer sleigh rides and gluhwein (mulled wine) add to the spirit.
Seek out:
Kasespatzle, venison sausages, dumplings, anything with cinnamon. Email if you have a travel issue you’d like Josh Martin, a London-based travel journalist, to write about.