Progresul Market is one of the largest and most reliable food markets in Bucharest. It doesn’t try to impress, but it delivers on quantity, variety, and good prices – which is why it draws people from across the sector and beyond. The main hall is huge, packed with meat, fish, dairy, and produce stalls, while outside you’ll find local producers selling straight from the back of their vans. It’s not fancy, but it’s efficient, and if you know how to look, you can score excellent goods at fair prices.

Access: Located on Șoseaua Giurgiului, near the intersection with Toporași Street. Easily reached by tram 7, bus 232, or minibuses connecting the southern neighborhoods.

Photo: Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea