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Ok this 14th-century market is absolutely gorgeous and somehow barely any tourists know about it. Hidden at Gracechurch Street in the financial district which totally explains the tourist absence — Office workers grab lunch here but zero tour groups swarm it like other historic spots.

Harry Potter filmed Diagon Alley entrance scenes here (specifically the blue door of Leadenhall Market leading to the Leaky Cauldron) but unlike Platform 9¾ or other filming locations, no crowds recreating movie scenes. The ornate Victorian ironwork roof restoration from 1881 creates incredible natural lighting through cobblestone streets. Feels like stepping into atmospheric 1880s London.

Lamb Tavern inside dates from 1780 serving traditional pub atmosphere with Fuller's ales £5.50-7. Several decent lunch spots including Champagne + Fromage for cheese plates £8-12. Obviously completely free to wander and photograph the incredible architecture.

Bank or Monument tube stations (Central, District, Circle, Northern lines) both 2-minute walks. Perfect quick detour when doing City of London walks or Tower of London visits — Adds maybe 15 minutes but delivers serious wow factor most guidebooks somehow miss.

Front car (closest to engine) for Terminals 1 or 3. You'll be closest to escalators, avoid crowd bottlenecks.

Middle cars for Terminal 2 — Platform is longer, you exit center.

RER B splits at Mitry-Claye. Make sure you're on train marked "Aéroport Charles de Gaulle" not "Mitry" or you'll add 30 minutes.

35-40 minutes from Châtelet-Les Halles. Trains every 10-15 minutes but check weekend engineering works on RATP website.

Line A (Orange): Battistini to Anagnina. Key tourist stops are Ottaviano-San Pietro for Vatican Museums (use Ottaviano exit for shortest walk), Spagna for Spanish Steps and luxury shopping, Barberini-Fontana di Trevi (take Bernini exit), Repubblica-Teatro dell'Opera for Diocletian Baths, and Termini for central station connections.

Line B (Blue): Runs Laurentina to Rebibbia but splits at Bologna station. Take Rebibbia direction for city center. Essential stops include Colosseo (use Colosseum exit for amphitheater, Oppian Hill exit for Roman Forum back entrance), Cavour for easy Forum access via Via dei Fori Imperiali, Piramide for Testaccio market and Trenitalia trains to Ostia beaches, and EUR Magliana for modern business district.

Line C (Green): Monte Compatri-Pantano to San Giovanni. Newest line connecting eastern suburbs. Transfer to Line A at San Giovanni for Vatican access. Most tourists won't need this line unless staying in Centocelle area.

Operating Hours: Monday-Thursday 5:30am-11:30pm, Friday-Saturday 5:30am-1:30am, Sunday 5:30am-11:30pm. After closure, night buses MA, MB, MC follow metro routes. Single ticket €1.50 valid 100 minutes includes all metro, bus, tram transfers.

Traditional markets in Jongno-gu still use Korean age counting. You're born at 1 year old, everyone ages up January 1st regardless of birthday. So your international 20 becomes Korean 22 when buying alcohol at Gwangjang Market vendors.

Don't argue with the dried fish ajumma about your age - she's counting Korean style and fighting it just marks you as clueless foreigner. Accept your temporary promotion to elder status and move on.

The narrow streets around Çukurcuma Caddesi in Beyoğlu are basically one massive antique market. Dozens of small shops crammed with Ottoman-era copperware, vintage textiles, old photographs, and Islamic calligraphy pieces.

Prices range from 50 TRY for small items to several thousand for museum-quality pieces. Haggling is expected but these dealers know their stuff. Best finds are usually tucked in the back corners of shops. Many pieces come with provenance stories from old Istanbul families. Much better hunting than the tourist souvenir shops near major attractions.