Wet markets haven’t really been getting the best press after that whole Covid-19 business. Whether it originated on the Wuhan wet market or not, the whole world is looking at these markets to find a reason to close them down for good. And while the Asian ones might not always get the best scores when it comes to being safe for everyone’s health, wet markets are actually a global phenomenon and not limited to the Chinese ghettos. As long as someone’s selling fresh food on the market, it technically qualifies.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest wet markets in the world.

Porta Palazzo

This Italian market spans over a 50,000 m² area and is mostly known for having a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. But don’t worry, you can also get cheese or some meat there. And flowers, if that’s your kind of thing.

Otavalo Market

Even Ecuador has its own giant food market. This one doesn’t just sell produce, but you can also find traditional household items there. Among others, there’s a wide assortment of blankets, clothes and even houseware.

Rungis

This is probably the biggest food market you can find. You can get all kinds of high quality food in this market that’s located just off Paris, but getting inside won’t be easy. It opens at midnight, closes in the early morning and is usually only open to locals.

Central De Abasto Market

In Mexico, this’ll probably be the market you want to visit. It’s possible to get pretty much every kind of food you could ever desire there, and it’s probably the freshest you can find it in Mexico.