Fish vendor assuring a customer
You can’t beat Hamburg’s legendary fish market for early morning entertainment. It takes place on Sundays from 5 a.m. (I know, I know, but beer and food is served) to 10 a.m.
Local vendors pull up to the market in their trucks and sell whatever wares they have – fruit, fish, flowers, spices, household goods and, of course, the requisite junk – to the mob of tourists and locals.
The entertaining part is watching the Marktschreier (market criers) sing and yell out to passersby. I mean, really, really yelling. And kicking. And beating objects. I don’t know what they’re saying, but it’s quite a show!
Many of the vendors stuff bags with a variety of items and offer it up as a package. It must be a good deal, since I didn’t see any of those bags hanging out on offer for more than a couple of seconds.
Our favorites were the produce vendors, who drew non-stop business. They lined up the baskets and hustled up and down the line, dumping fruit and vegetables in until the baskets were overflowing. At one lively stand, the vendors loaded up customers with boxes of mangoes on top of their bursting baskets. It was a shame we flew to Hamburg; we could have dined from one of those baskets for a week!
Step One: lay out empty baskets
Step Two: fill the baskets as quickly as possible
Step Three: overstuff the baskets and throw in a box of extras
The Fischmarkt is a Hamburg tradition that has been going on since 1703.
Our breakfast: fish sandwiches, of course
There is one main hall, the Fischauktionshalle, which hosts live bands, food stands, a sit-down restaurant for brunch and, of course, beer carts.
fischmarkt, fish market, Hamburg, Germany
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