Somewhere in between huge industrial shopping centers and tiny grocery marts fits Sarajevo’s marketplaces. A prestigious historian once observed that the Markale (The City’s Marketplace) “‘resembles a theatre more than an area where meat and vegetables are sold’” (Dizdar). As I walked through the enormous building, many different merchants tried to grab my attention with their fresh meats and cheeses. Even though the building is large, the separate sellers give the markale a more friendly, inviting feeling that made me feel more like I was at a local grocery mart.

Additionally, the Bezistan (The first Sarajevo roofed marketplace) offered a similar feel as the Markale. Although I was in a large building, various shopkeepers made me feel welcome. Dizdar notes that the three roofed marketplaces in Sarajevo indicate its status as a trade center during the Ottoman Empire.

Finally, Baščaršija Square has a different environment than the Markale and the Bezistan. Mostly outdoors without a single covering, it consists of small shops which are a tad more intimidating than the little grocery stores. These merchants sell crafts, in fact, each street is named after a particular craft according to historical organization (Dizdar). I sometimes found the salespeople to be a little pushy and less friendly than in other areas of the city, but Baščaršija Square was definitely more welcoming than a gray skyscraper.