Zhenskiqt pazar (The Women’s market) is a curious place to explore – it is big, overcrowded on weekends and it always has various things to offer. The area has always been a busy market place and it used to be called “Wheat market” and “Horse market” but since it starts to be dominated only by women who sell and buy, the name naturally comes out. The men’s territory was on the animal market that does not exist anymore.

The most common products, of course, are the vegetables and people arrange them in a way as if the stalls merge and unite into a colourful vegetable river that flows into a flowery one at the end of the market, where Luvov Most (Lion’s Bridge) is. Everything is considered to be cheaper and that is why Zhenskiqt pazar is so popular or just people like the idea of lingering around to enjoy the market atmosphere that bears remembrance to the way business was done in the past.
You would see also many other goods scattered on the shores of the vegetable river that come from China, Turkey or Russia or you could submerge in a sea of fish or butcher’s shops.

And the smell of kepabche and kyufte is impossible not to sense.

At one of the ends of the market, Halite (The Central Market Hall), Sofia’s Sinagogue and Banya Bashi Mosque are situated, so you would be able to see other sights than the market itself.

Apart from the metaphoric references, you should be aware that the market might be targeted by pickpockets, so keep an eye of your belongings.