You know, when I searched for information for this site, precious little is said about this great little square nestled in the heart of the city centre. And I think that’s a shame, because Green Market Square really is one of the places where you can feel the heartbeat of Cape Town.

A cobbled block of chaos, it can be found between Long market and Short market Streets, a block up from the St George’s Mall. Consisting mainly of the open air market, expect to be assailed by vibrant (think staring-into-the-sun kind of bright) artwork, a multitude of accessory and trinkets, pulsating drums moving undulating dancers, street vendor’s cries bouncing off the beautiful old buildings and mingling with the sounds of the traffic and the smells from the many eateries lining it’s surrounds... it is probably as popular with locals as it is with our foreign guests.

Everyone on the market is usually happy to haggle prices, (there are some exceptions) but it also depends how badly you want the item, so be cool about that rare antique find and you might walk off with a bargain… just apply some common sense, and you’ll be fine. There are public toilets on the square, impeccably clean on the day I was there, so you can really hang around and just get lost in the myriad winding paths between the stalls, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the street life.

Recommendations: travel light in the market, it’ll be easier to maneuver and it’s easier to keep an eye on things. Don’t expect your credit card to be accepted here, but don’t worry, there are many banks within close range. A hat and sun cream are always great assets, although you can pick up a million iterations of the former on the market, so why not get one there?

You will be surprised at how addictive Green Market Square is. If you are spending a day in Cape Town, you owe it to yourself to go there and experience one of the longest running informal markets in South Africa. It will suck you in, and if you are able to emerge from the other side without having bought something, you are a better man than I…