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Analakely Market
Best time to visit
The best time is in the morning between 7 and 10 a.m., when the goods are still fresh, there is the least crowding at the stalls, and the air is cooler than in the afternoon.
Budget tips
Entry to the market is free, and every price can be negotiated, usually down to half of the initial offer. Carry small banknotes in ariary with you, because the merchants don't have change and are reluctant to exchange large sums.
Recommended for
Gourmets and foodies, Photography enthusiasts, Souvenir hunters, Cultural tourists
Plan your visit
2-3 hours
About
Quick facts: Vanilla from the east coast plantations, which the stalls here offer, covers about 80% of the world's natural production. Roughly 300 merchants sell spices, vegetables, raffia fabrics and wooden carvings here, and every price can be bargained down by up to half.
Highlights: In the side passage, a vanilla auction takes place every morning, where the price per gram rises within one minute and the winner pays cash on the spot. Bags of vanilla are placed on a large metal scale, and the air smells so strongly of sweet vanilla that your head spins.
Insider tips
- Wear closed sports shoes; between the stalls the concrete is damp and slippery.
- Photograph the vanilla passage in the morning, when light penetrates between the stall fabrics and there are still few people.
- Skip the souvenir stalls with magnets and keychains; instead buy food and raffia bags.
- Bargain with a smile and without aggression; merchants give better prices to those who smile.
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