Sunday is market day in Tillaberi, and if your journey happens to pass through then it is worth stopping for an hour. Traders come in from the surrounding villages and farming communities, and the market covers a wide strip near the centre of town.
The main goods are produce, livestock and basic household items, but the real interest is watching the mix of Songhay, Hausa and Tuareg traders going about their business. The atmosphere is more functional than touristic, which is precisely what makes it worthwhile. Come early — by midday the heat drives most people indoors.