A trip to New Orleans isn't complete without wandering through the French Market, browsing its abundance of wares.
It's a glorified flea market with lots of style and international flavor. Fake designer sunglasses, handbags, and clothing items will greet you at every turn. There are hardback books, CDs, DVDs, belts, scarves, ball caps, watches, lighters, throws, glassware, t-shirts, Mardi Gras beads and masks, every kind of jewelry imaginable and lots more.

The French Market is very crowded and the different storefront spaces are so close together it may be hard to tell where one ends and another begins. There's occasional tight squeezes, especially when shoppers stop to inspect merchandise without moving out of the way.

Don't buy anything until you've walked the entire marketplace because there are lots of duplicate items, and you could very well find the exact same thing at an even better price on further down. And don't be surprised if the booth owners haggle down the price without you even saying a word!

It's a great place to buy souvenirs for friends back home. We purchased Mardi Gras masks 3 for $5 - the cheapest price we saw anywhere, and they were really nice masks, too! Our friends loved them, especially knowing they came from the French Market.

If you enjoy shopping and browsing, you could easily spend a couple of hours here. There's just so much to look at!

Situated right near the banks green edge of the mighty Mississippi, this seemingly impromptu street fair happens everyday just passed its beige colored archway. The French Market is one crazy place and be prepared for thousands of people in a relatively small area for hours at a time. Try to get there either first thing in the morning, or more towards dusk, when they are closing. At any one time, you could be waiting for minutes as the wave of people come crashing in like a tsunami of consumers; taking all they can in the rush and leaving money in its wake.

Anything that you could possible be looking for is right here; beads, masks, boas, gifts, hats, shirts, etc. But everything is negotiable and a price can easily be rendered in your favor, as long as you are willing to bargain a bit. Try to never settle on a given price, unless you know its a deal, a always give a counter offer. At the French Market, this works really well. One of the coolest things that I found there were these paintings of the Crescent City on old pieces of marble and stone. These are all around the city, but for $10-$20 a piece; at the French Market, I got one for $7. A lot of things were like that, so before you plan on that perfect souvenir, the French Market should be one of last stops, this way you'll know it’s a good deal. However, if you are looking for that perfect Mardi Gras outfit, maybe this should be a first stop so you can save a bit of dough for the night time and you can have more money for Bourbon Street. Whatever your fancy, definitely make the French Market a sight that you witness, it's worth it.

We went when the place was just about to close, so most of the shops were closed. We did however go to a food area. The coffee and chicory were quite popular.

"You reply to anything and everything about life here with, "Only in New Orleans"." ~From You Know You're From New Orleans If..

The Italians of New Orleans used to sell their goods in the French Market. Why it was called French instead of Italian is possibly because New Orleans was founded by the French.

The French Market has much to offer. The market sells food products such as pralines (you have to try it), city books, and other things as you progress through the lanes. A praline is a type of candy that makes your mouth water. Once you try one, it has you addicted, like chocolate. Aunt Loretta's Praline Shop, where you can buy chocolate, regular, and other kinds of pralines, is in the French Market. The prices at the French Market and Flea Market are determined by the vendors. Oriental souvenirs, purses, wallets, sunglasses, clothes, and anything else that would be a perfect souvenir can be found here, but some of the items can be pricy. A major suggestion would be to keep purses near you and watch out for pickpockets because of the narrow squeeze when you first enter.

I adore shopping here, even though some of the items are cheap and not well-made. I guess I like to go back and forth on the prices with the vendors. I collect masks, so this is a great place for discounted ones. I also found some better deals here on the posters than anywhere else.