Carmarthen Market is one of the genuine institutions of west Wales. A market has been held on essentially the same site since the 13th century, and the present indoor halls date from 1846, with an extension in 1996 that doubled the floor area without ruining the original character. There are over a hundred permanent stalls, plus outdoor pitches on Wednesday and Saturday.
The food is the heart of it. Several butchers and bakeries, a cheese stall with the full range of Welsh farmhouse cheeses, fresh fish from Cardigan Bay, regional specialities (laverbread, salt-marsh lamb, cockles from the Burry estuary) and a strong farmers' section on Fridays. Beyond food, there are second-hand book stalls, fabrics, hardware and a couple of pubs and cafés inside the halls.
The market is open Monday to Saturday from about 8.30am to 4.30pm. Friday and Saturday are the busiest and best days. It is on the eastern side of the town centre, a five-minute walk from the railway station.