Lautoka Market
Lautoka Market
3.9
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3.9
119 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
61
Average
19
Poor
8
Terrible
3
MumbaiRiders
Mumbai, India2,028 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
The market is situated next to the public bus terminal and in totally enclosed and very large.First thing i did on entering the market was to sit around with a group of local working men and sip the traditional "Kava" drink of Fiji.This was authentic "Kava" ritual and not the normal tourist exhibition as performed in group tours.After the "Kava" strolled around the massive market and the largest section of the market sold only vegetables and fruits. A few of the vegetables and fruits were indigenous to Nadi and totally different from my home market in Mumbai in India. Enquired about the " Fish section" and was surprised to see a tiny corner of the giant vegetable market being allocated for selling of fish .As a regular purchaser of fish in.my home city of Mumbai was seeing for the first time fish not being sold by weight or individual specimen's but in a cluster strung to a coconut tree leaf.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kai C
Half Moon Bay, CA1,366 contributions
Mar 2023
Huge open-sky + hall market where you see and buy every vegetable & fruit produced in the area (pineapple, kassava, taro, okra, tomatoes etc). Everyone friendly even though they know you are unlikely to buy. I would however recommend you try to find the stall selling huge & beautiful conch shells from the Yasawas.
Written 2 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AllSeven
8 contributions
Feb 2020
This market is a very short and easy walk off the main street in Lautoka. Along the way are a few small shops and a larger department store that caters to Indian shoppers on its top floor. Beautiful saris and colorful scarves, shoes, bags and make-up. But, back to the local market. A fiesta of colorful fruits and vegetables and flowers. The best thing about it is the vendors who are lovely in every way. Without a single exception, the Fijians were friendly and so helpful. Highly recommend for local flavor and a great spot for photography. I asked each time if I could take their photo and they were happy to oblige. It just might be he best thing about Lautoka.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelbob1
New Windsor, NY1,130 contributions
Jan 2023
A pleasure to visit with its rows of stalls displaying all sorts of produce, fruits, flowers and eggs. The color of all this is wonderful to experience as your eyes look over this huge market.
Take some time to chat with the merchants. they are friendly and welcome you with a pleasant "bula." Don't forget to share a "bula" back. It is a customary greeting.
Take some time to chat with the merchants. they are friendly and welcome you with a pleasant "bula." Don't forget to share a "bula" back. It is a customary greeting.
Written 20 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WorldTravellerSoon
Canada392 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
We went to Fiji couple of months ago. We stayed at Nadi and we explored some cities and Lautoka is one of them. We took a local bus from Nadi to Lautoka. It was FJ$1.1 and 30 minutes away.
The market is one of the focal points in Lautoka. It is in the middle of the town (mind you, Lautoka town is very small). There are > 100 vendors selling fruit, vegetable and some other dry goods. The market is nice and clean and dry. It smells a little which is probably from the tropical weather. The fruit and veggies are cheap.
There is a washroom in the brown building next door (the town hall?). You have to pay a small fee (FJ$0.20) for the use.
When we strolled along the streets in Lautoka, we found that the town was nice and clean and quiet (better than Nadi). People were quite lay back and friendly. And no, we didn't see any beggar as the previous reviewer has described. The city/country may be poor, it doesn't mean that people will rob you. Most people there are nice citizen and we need to respect their culture and way of living.
The market is one of the focal points in Lautoka. It is in the middle of the town (mind you, Lautoka town is very small). There are > 100 vendors selling fruit, vegetable and some other dry goods. The market is nice and clean and dry. It smells a little which is probably from the tropical weather. The fruit and veggies are cheap.
There is a washroom in the brown building next door (the town hall?). You have to pay a small fee (FJ$0.20) for the use.
When we strolled along the streets in Lautoka, we found that the town was nice and clean and quiet (better than Nadi). People were quite lay back and friendly. And no, we didn't see any beggar as the previous reviewer has described. The city/country may be poor, it doesn't mean that people will rob you. Most people there are nice citizen and we need to respect their culture and way of living.
Written 10 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MerianiK
Nadi, Western, Fiji20 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
Lautoka is slightly different from Nadi in that it isn't a tourist town.
Lautoka is a very big town, with many small little roads, and many shops.
The covered market at the end of the main street near the bus station is a must visit. The market is huge, and you have a variety and many options to chose from. The price range is very reasonable, and as it is a market banter and bartering can always be an option if need be, but as the prices are very good, its unlikely you would have to do that.
The range of fruit and vegetables is truly amazing. The stallholders very friendly and happy to help, and point us into the right direction of the different fruits and veg.
I would recommend anyone visiting Lautoka should take a slow walk through the market. It is truly amazing to see so many different kind of local produce on offer.
Lautoka is a very big town, with many small little roads, and many shops.
The covered market at the end of the main street near the bus station is a must visit. The market is huge, and you have a variety and many options to chose from. The price range is very reasonable, and as it is a market banter and bartering can always be an option if need be, but as the prices are very good, its unlikely you would have to do that.
The range of fruit and vegetables is truly amazing. The stallholders very friendly and happy to help, and point us into the right direction of the different fruits and veg.
I would recommend anyone visiting Lautoka should take a slow walk through the market. It is truly amazing to see so many different kind of local produce on offer.
Written 14 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nzlilibet
New Zealand7,335 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
Lautoka is quite different from Nadi in that it isn't a tourist town. It's noisy, busy and full of locals going about their business.
The covered market at the end of the main street is a must visit in my view.
The range of fruit and vegetables is truly amazing and you'll see things you don't recognise. We found the stallholders very friendly and happy to identify things for us, even though they knew we were not going to buy.
But it was the range of spices, pulses and herbs that was mind-boggling. I think anyone would be able to find even the most unusual spices here - if they could recognise them.
I would recommend anyone visiting Lautoka should take a slow walk through the market. It is a feast for all the senses.
The covered market at the end of the main street is a must visit in my view.
The range of fruit and vegetables is truly amazing and you'll see things you don't recognise. We found the stallholders very friendly and happy to identify things for us, even though they knew we were not going to buy.
But it was the range of spices, pulses and herbs that was mind-boggling. I think anyone would be able to find even the most unusual spices here - if they could recognise them.
I would recommend anyone visiting Lautoka should take a slow walk through the market. It is a feast for all the senses.
Written 15 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sola_ani
Rockhampton, Australia111 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
When I travel, I love going to local markets, and being the only white person in a place with hundreds of ethnic nationals can be an interesting experience. This market is by far the most laid back I have ever been too. There are hundreds of stallholders selling vegetables and fruit (most of which is locally grown and in season - when we went tomatoes, ginger, bananas were everywhere), but there were spice stalls, kava root stalls, and other selling vegetables I had never seen before. Its an assault on the senses, but in a good way. Watch out for soft drink/juice sellers. We saw someone washing a bottle in very ordinary water to refill again for resale. There is a grocery store just next door if you are desperate for a drink.
Written 14 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cokerbud
Baytown, TX1,079 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
If this market is one of the top attractions of this area that alone should tell you mountains of information. After arriving by cruise ship with no real plan we took the transportation provided to the center of the city. First of all, this area from a distance is a whole lot more beautiful than up close. The market is just that, a market. If you want to see fruits,vegetables, fish, and filth this is the place. In fact, the town itself was probably the nastiest visited on the cruise so far. It was complete with beggars and the area as a whole made you hold on to your valuables. I am sure there is beauty somewhere in the area but my advise is if the best thing to see in the area is the market, stay on the ship. I would never walk in this town without being with others. I did not feel safe and certainly did not see the attraction.
Written 2 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gunner do
Newcastle, Australia569 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
I write clean and comfortable because this was one of the cleanest dry markets I have ever been to. When I travelled Asia on business I always found the local market and have seen plenty. This lautoka market was both clean and fresh and obviously well organised. There were no offensive smells and certainly no agressive locals! Other reports of this market paint are very different to what I experienced.
My recommendation is go and enjoy the market and remember a smile goes a long way with these friendly Fijiians.
Lautoka town is a good place to shop and for men the "Bula" shirts are worth buying. If you need to catch a cab for a small tour, always get a few prices. They can vary in price enormously. Don't be afraid to compare prices and learn to decline politely!
Enjoy the sugar town of lautoka.
My recommendation is go and enjoy the market and remember a smile goes a long way with these friendly Fijiians.
Lautoka town is a good place to shop and for men the "Bula" shirts are worth buying. If you need to catch a cab for a small tour, always get a few prices. They can vary in price enormously. Don't be afraid to compare prices and learn to decline politely!
Enjoy the sugar town of lautoka.
Written 21 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can I use the Australian dollar in Layton’s and Suva?
Written 22 July 2019
What fruits are in season Dec/Jan in Fiji? Is there any "local food" available and if so would you risk eating it?
Written 10 December 2016
mangoes are coming in season now and generally speaking we are heading to the fruit season as it gets warmer..mangoes now,avocado,bananas,pineapples ,mandarins oranges will follow.
cooler months are for leafy greens and with that that i must say please do not go away by the outside looks of our fruits as thy do not have any cosmetics like some other parts of the world were they look very attractive due to the chemical but fijian fruits still go through lot of traditional way of growing without use of modern chemicals....just ask the vendor.unfortunately we do not have litchis but you may get rambutan at time especially suva side.
Written 2 October 2018
Is there flowers for sale at this market?
Written 1 April 2016
flowers are mostly sold on saturdays ....for flowers you may want to visit Namaka market in Nadi were it available everyday...include setups etc
Written 2 October 2018
As far as I know it's open from Monday to Saturday :-)
Written 14 March 2016
Hi Miyoch, thanks for your post. did you know the Lautoka market opening hours. i'm going to fiji in a couple of days and i want to buy food there in my way to the our villa,
thanks
ignacio
Written 2 June 2015
Laoutoka market opens from 7am to 5pm monday to saturday and if comming through Nadi Airport than Namaka market in Nadi may be another option for you
Written 2 October 2018
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