Salamanca Market

About this place

Salamanca Market is a street market held every Saturday at Salamanca Place in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Since it began in 1972 it has become Tasmania's most visited tourist attraction, with over one million visitors a year, and it is the best way into the island's crafts and food. It runs the length of the square on the city's historic waterfront, between Georgian sandstone warehouses that now house galleries, cafes and shops. There are over 350 stalls selling hand-worked glass, Tasmanian timber, jewellery, clothing, organic produce, artworks, ceramics, leather goods, cheese, bread and hot food. You stroll among white and coloured tents, with blue Mount Wellington rising behind the city. Small stalls sell second-hand books and crafts, and musicians play in some corners. The rest of the week the square remains handsome with its old stone buildings and fountain, so it is worth a look on any day. It is 700 m in a straight line from central Hobart, so walk, as parking is tight on Saturdays. Come early to avoid the crowds. Tasmanian weather is changeable, so bring a jacket even in summer. The market sells local wines and foods, so ask about ingredients if you need halal, and carry some cash for small stalls.