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Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Home → Istanbul, Turkey → Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

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The largest and oldest covered markets in the world Grand Bazaar (Kapali Çarşı), 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 350,000 and 600,000 visitors daily‘ should be any dedicated shopper’s first port of call in Istanbul. Crammed in among chaotic covered streets and alleys, its thousands of stalls hold all manner of items, such as carpets and kilims, leather, suede and denim clothes and accessories, ceramic tiles, bowls and vases, hand-beaten copper and brass lamps, coffee-grinders and samovars, gold and silver jewellery (beware imitations) and much more.

Much of the current prosperity comes from gold (of which nearly 100 tons is sold in the Grand Bazaar each year), coachloads of ‘black bag’ shoppers.(so called because of their habit of filling bin sacks with cheap clothing) and tourism. But, among t he sea of mantlepiece trinkets, nasty leather jackets, no-label jeans and hippie-wear, there • ire attractive quality goods to be had. To take time out I rom the constant hard sell, head for the Şark Kahvesi, a fine old-style coffee house on the prominent Yağlıkçılar Caddesi.

A paradise for some, the crowds and hawkers, and indeed the sheer size of the bazaar, can render the experience quite nightmarish for others. As a result, some shoppers prefer the smaller Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) in Eminönü. As well as offering the typical souvenirs found in its larger cousin, the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) also sells vast quantities of herbs and spices, as well as delicious candies and mixed nuts. It’s also a good place to buy a nargile (water pipe) and accompanying fruit-flavoured molasses.

Although the shops are now mainly geared towards tourists, the Grand Bazaar still retains a great deal of its oriental flavour in the blackened corners and arched courtyards of its bans (merchants’ inns), as well as in the workshops and stalls of traditional blacksmiths and bronzesmiths, jewellers and fabric merchants, miniature painters and antiques dealers.

Istanbul was always one of the world’s most important trading centres, with extensive open markets in Byzantine times. The Ottomans ushered in a new economic era, with the city at the) centre of an empire that stretched from the Arabian deserts almost to the European Alps. In 1461 Mehmet the Conqueror ordered the construction of a bedesten, a great lock-up with thick stone walls, massive iron gates and space for several dozen shops. This survives in modified form as the Old Bedesten (If Bedesten), at the very heart of the bazaar. It remains a place where the most precious items are sold, including the best old silver and antiques. The Sandal Bedesten was added later, named after a fine Bursan silk and filled with textile traders. It now hosts a carpet auction at 1pm every Wednesday, well worth attending as an audience spectacle.

It is as easy to lose track of time in this covered labyrinth as it is to lose oneself in its hectic, meandering alleyways. Don’t be afraid to put the map away here, as part of the fun is getting lost, although making your way through the crowds amid the persistent cajoling of shopkeepers can certainly take its toll.

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Istanbul Travel Guide

  • Bosphorus, Istanbul
  • Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
  • Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul
  • Etz Ahayim Synagogue
  • Galata Tower, Istanbul
  • Golden Horn
  • Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
  • Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
  • Hippodrome, Istanbul
  • Istanbul Archaeology Museum
  • Istanbul Jewish Cemetery
  • Neve Shalom Synagogue, Istanbul
  • Spice Bazaar, Istanbul
  • Suleymaniye Mosque Istanbul
  • Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
  • Underground Cistern, Istanbul
  • Zulfaris Synagogue
  • Beylerbeyi Palace
  • Rumelihisari (Fortress)
  • Camlica Hill
  • Bosphorus Bridge
  • Istanbul Mosaic Museum
  • Church of the Holy Apostles
  • Eyup Mosque and Mausoleum
  • Beyazit Camii
  • Fatih Camii
  • Fethiye Camii “Pammakaristos Church”
  • Hagia Eirene
  • Orthodox Patriarchate and Cathedral
  • Sts Sergius and Bacchus
  • Yeni Camii
  • Zeyrek Camii “Church of the Pantocrator”
  • Prince’s Islands
  • Mosque of Rustem Pasha
  • Galata Bridge
  • Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
  • Miniatürk
  • Istanbul Modern Museum
  • Galata Mevlevihanesi
  • Pierre Loti
  • Istanbul, Turkish Baths
  • Walk through Istiklal Street
  • Tunnel
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  • Port of Istanbul
  • City Walls of Istanbul
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  • Tofre Begadim Synagogue
  • Yıldız Park
  • Bulgarian St. Stephen Church
  • Ahrida (Ohrid) Synagogue, Istanbul
  • Ashkenazi Synagogue, Istanbul
  • Balat, Istanbul
  • Blue Mosque, Istanbul
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Rating: +8996 (from 8996 votes)
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, 100% based on 8996 ratings
148 Reviews
  1. WilliamInNaples
    11:45 pm on November 28, 2004

    The shops are very nice. Shop keepers are friendly. They loved our little boys and paid special attention. One street vendor gave the kids freshly squeezed juice for free. Others let the kids touch things and gave them free samples.
    We went in the evening before closing time and it wasn't busy. Definitely manageable with young kids.

    Reply
  2. Schurig
    7:22 am on December 20, 2004

    Very well organized, clean and with huge variety of products! The Grand Bazar is a must go for every turist, this is the heart of trading in Turkey and the products are nothing less than OUTSTANDING.

    Reply
  3. suuuuuuun
    6:32 pm on January 29, 2005

    In every culture, there are many tout (for business) on the street .. But Grand Bazaar was more than other. And touts were too much kept making passes at asian girls.

    Reply
  4. Penney
    6:12 am on April 7, 2005

    You must go as this is truly this is what I imagine a Turkish Bazar to be like, in scale, and variety. However, I found the prices to be quite high compared to the stores just outside of the Egyptian bazar. Plus I was really struck by the scuzzy factor.

    Reply
  5. J. K. Rowling
    9:26 am on April 26, 2005

    This place was crazy. Shops, shops, and more shops with aggressive vendors and lots and lots of noise and sales pressure. Be prepared to say "NO!" and walk on if you're not interested. Everything is one of a kind until the next shop where you see it again.

    Reply
  6. DONGNI
    10:30 pm on August 19, 2005

    you can find everything in this market.the price for souvenirs are reasonable..

    Reply
  7. Novas
    5:18 am on November 15, 2005

    Fantastic place we spent 1day in here, haggling and taking in the sights sounds and smells, we had great fun and is a must for anyone visiting Istanbul!

    Reply
  8. AustraliaWanderers
    3:06 pm on December 7, 2005

    Apparently it's the worlds biggest market. The atmosphere is amazing and well worth spending an hour or two…

    Reply
  9. Nephthys
    2:42 pm on January 8, 2006

    The place to learn how to deal. Some of the local traders could sell a car to Henry Ford so be careful. Generally, you can get anything at minimum 30% off ticketed price, often 50%. Just show them respect.

    Reply
  10. Silverbugle2006
    1:49 am on March 6, 2006

    Be prepared to be thrilled, shocked and intimidated all at once.
    There are literally thousands of market stalls here offering everything from leather goods to Hand crafted silver jewellery etc.
    You must be prepared to be man handled by he vendors who do not understand the word "No".

    Reply
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