How to Prepare For the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, World’s Oldest and Biggest Covered Market Your personal Istanbul city trip & expat guide How to Prepare For the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, World’s Oldest and Biggest Covered Market by Istanbul Trails in City Trip , Things To See & Do The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), built in the 15th century, is the oldest covered market in the world. Covering an area of 54.653 square meters, it also still ranks as one of the world’s biggest covered markets. In other words, keep on reading if you want to be prepared before entering this maze of 56 interconnecting vaulted passages, housing over 4.000 shops with persistent shopkeepers eager to use their relentless sales tricks. Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) There are four main entrances to the Grand Bazaar.

Tel: +90 212 522 31 73 – +90 212 519 12 48 on Map with Tourist Attractions in the Historical Part of Istanbul Open Daily between 08.30 and 19.00. Closed on Sundays and October 29th. The bazaar is also closed for the full duration of religious holidays. Ticket Sales This series on the Grand Bazaar will cover: The history of the Grand Bazaar (see below) The Grand Bazaar Essentials, including a map, tips and tricks The Grand Bazaar Started Out Small The Grand Bazaar was commissioned by Mehmet II (1444-1481) immediately after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453 to provide financial resources for the Hagia Sophia . The construction of the Grand Bazaar began in 1461. The Grand Bazaar, which was a wooden structure at the beginning, is now entirely built of stone and brick. Bricks were used for the vaulted arches, cut stones were used at the base of the arches, and walls were built by plastering over bricks or stone.

The oldest building is the Cevahir or İç Bedesten. The second oldest building is the Sandal Bedesten. Bedesten, a vaulted and fireproofed segment of the Grand Bazaar, gets its name from bez (cloth) and means cloth seller’s market. Both bedestens are typical examples of classical Ottoman architecture. The Cevahir Bedesten, initially built for cloth trading and separated from the rest of the Grand Bazaar by four gates, later developed into a market for gold and precious stones. Located in the center of the Grand Bazaar, it also houses a bank. Named after a type of cloth woven of silk and cotton fibers, the Sandal Bedesten spans an area of 2.435 square meters and is covered by 20 lead-plated domes. The Istanbul Municipality used the Sandal Bedesten as an auction house 1914 to 1980. The Grand Bazaar Today The Grand Bazaar reached its present size after the surrounding streets were provided overhead cover using canvas and the neighboring hans were integrated into it. Hans (inns) are two- or three-storied buildings.

The shops within the hans were called hucre (cell) and they faced the square or rectangular inner court. Every street was dedicated to a profession. Today most of these professions have disappeared but their memories live on through the names of the streets. Initially the roofs of the domes were covered with lead sheets. Later clay tiles from Marseille were used and today they are covered with ordinary tiles. Competition was banned in the Grand Bazaar. Up to the 19th century, the shops, called dolap, did not have a name or signboard. The Grand Bazaar underwent restoration only after the 1894 earthquake. It was after that when Western style signboards and display windows started being used. While there were 29 hans before the restoration process, only 17 were left after the restoration. Up until recently the Grand Bazaar was home to 5 mosques, 1 school, 7 fountains, 10 wells, 1 water dispenser and 1 ablution fountain. Today only 1 mosque and 1 ablution fountain are left.

It has 21 gates, 2 bedestens, 17 inns, 56 streets, nearly 4000 shops and employs more than 30.000 people. Tourist Trap or Not? For centuries the Grand Bazaar was the most vital centre of commerce, handicraft and finance in the Mediterranean and Near East. Today, many may refer to the Grand Bazaar as a tourist trap, but that’s a distortion of the truth. Sure, without proper preparation for a visit to the Grand Bazaar , you may be an easy prey for the seasoned shopkeepers. But if you know how to bargain like a Turk, you can make excellent deals for authentic leather items, carpets, gold, silver or souvenirs; just like the locals do. In the end, the Grand Bazaar was and is a place where (import/export) businesses flourish. The fact that it became a tourist attraction is of course a nice extra. Istanbul’s Best Hotels, at Guaranteed Lowest Prices! Reserve online - Pay at the hotel!

Grand Bazaar Grand Bazaar Home » Attractions » Grand Bazaar Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) is one of the world’s largest covered markets, spread over 60 streets and containing over 3000 shops of jewelry, textiles, pottery, glazed tiles, bronze, leather and carpets. The Grand Bazaar is also one of the oldest of its kind, with roots stretching back to the 15th century. Its first ‘bedestan’ (domed building) was built in 1455 on the orders of Sultan Mehmet I. In the 16th century, it was expanded by Suleiman the Magnificent. During its history, the Grand Bazaar has seen damage from fires and most significantly, an earthquake in 1894. The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants.

In the centre is the high domed hall of the Cevahir Bedesten, where the most valuable items and antiques were to be found in the past, and still are today, including furniture, copperware, amber prayer beads, inlaid weapons, icons, moth er-of-pearl mirrors, water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewellery. Its subsequent restoration ensured it remained intact and today, its marvellous labyrinthine structure is said to attract up to 400,000 people each day. It’s said that this early version of a shopping mall is the largest concentration of stores under one roof anywhere in the world. Many people visit the Grand Bazaar to marvel at its beautiful interior and mind-boggling array of shops. But, of course, there’s plenty to buy here too, with certain sectors of the market specialising in different goods. Address: The Grand Bazaar | The Guide Istanbul image The Grand Baazar is very high on most tourists’ itineraries, and with good reason. This enormous site is the largest still-existing covered market in the world, spanning an area of tens of thousands of square meters.

While the layout of the Bazaar is relatively geometric (in comparison to, say, the famously labyrinthine medina of Fez), the size of the place and the profusion of goods for sale still make it easy to lose one’s bearings. The Bazaar can boast a total of 64 streets and no fewer than 22 entrances, the most commonly used ones being the Beyazıt Kapısı and the Nuruosmaniye Kapısı. The original historical core of the Bazaar is the İç Bedesten, completed by Mehmet II (or Mehmet the Conqueror) in 1461. A bedesten (the word is a Persian borrowing) refers to an indoor arcade with shops; the İç Bedesten or Interior Bedesten has thus become a building-within-a-building in the Grand Bazaar. This area, the oldest section of the entire Bazaar, is also known as the Cevahir Bedesteni or Jewel Bedesten, as jewels, gold, and other precious items were, and still are, sold within its well-guarded precincts.

The second oldest part of the bazaar is the Sandal Bedesteni further to the Northeast, also called the Yeni (New) Bedesten since it was built later than the İç Bedesten. The name of the Sandal Bedesteni is a bit deceptive. It was originally a place to buy not boats (the meaning of sandal in present-day Turkish) but rather a type of luxury cloth known as sandal, made in Bursa – a center of textile production then as now. Though sandal can no longer be found there, the Sandal Bedesteni still continues to be a venue for buyers and sellers of rugs, carpets, and kilims, as well as other textiles.

The original bedesten has been known by no fewer than five different names throughout its history: İç Bedesten (the Inner Bedesten), Bedesten-i-Atık (another term for the Inner Bedesten in Ottoman Turkish), Büyük Bedesten (the Big Bedesten), Eski Bedesten (the Old Bedesten), and Cevahir Bedesteni (the Jewel Bedesten.) Over the years the Grand Bazaar expanded from this core of two bedestens to become a sprawling roofed complex of thousands of shops, fringed by the tradesmen’s inns/workshops known as hans. According to the Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname, by the 17th century the Kapalı Çarşı (or the Çarşı-yı-Kebir as it was then known) had already reached its present size, with over 4000 shops, plus nearly 500 stalls known in Turkish as dolap (literally “cupboards”). In addition there were various other amenities for the merchants who worked there: restaurants, a hamam, and a mosque, plus at least ten smaller mescits or prayer rooms.

Today, this city-within-a-city contains a police station, a health dispensary, a post office, branches of most major banks, and (last but not least) a tourist information center. In comparison with street-names in the English-speaking world, those in Turkey are often very picturesque, and the names of the streets in the Grand Bazaar – referring to their original functions – are no exception. Takkeciler Caddesi is literally “Skullcap-makers’ Street”; Aynacılar Sokak was for sellers of mirrors; Halıcılar Caddesi was where carpet-sellers plied their trade; and Keseciler Caddesi was for vendors of the kese, the rough exfoliating cloth used to scrub oneself in a hamam. The Grand Bazaar has been damaged numerous times in its 500+ year history, both by fires and by the earthquakes with which Turkey is periodically plagued. The earthquake of 1894, approximately 7.0 on the Richter scale, wrought particularly heavy damage to the complex, and its present appearance reflects extensive renovations undertaken after this earthquake.

More recently, in 1954 a terrible fire (started by an electrical spark) spread throughout the Bazaar; due to the narrowness of space and the basic firefighting technology of the time, it took 489 firefighters a record 28 days to completely extinguish this fire. While the Grand Bazaar has not been the commercial center of Istanbul for quite some time, it is still one of the best places to get a taste of life in Ottoman-era Turkey. Unfortunately, much of the quaint merchandise once sold there is no longer available, and (it has to be said) parts of the Bazaar are now given over to cheap mass-produced goods and tourist kitsch. Nonetheless, with a little planning, it is still a good place to shop – and of course to window-shop. For advice on where to buy specific products in the Bazaar, see The Guide’s related article, available here . Exploring the Grand Bazaar is an experience no visitor to Istanbul should pass up.

Tags: Istanbul Historic Hotels | All about historic hotels in Istanbul New Mosque: A Sanctuary in the Heart of the Old City Standing tall and proud against the old city skyline is the New Mosque or Yeni Valide Camii, a traditional Ottoman style imperial mosque. This impressive structure is a major landmark of Istanbul, located in Eminonu, Istanbul, on the Golden Horn. Learn more about the history of the New Mosque and appropriate protocol for visitors. Visiting Hagia Sophia: An Istanbul Museum Not to be Missed Considered by many as one of the world’s most magnificent Byzantine structures, the Hagia Sophia is known by many names including the Church of Divine Wisdom, Sancta Sophia, and the Church of the Holy Wisdom. This incredible Istanbul museum features some of Turkey’s most prized historical relics, tombs, and mosaics set amid its striking architecture that take you back in time, where you can literally feel the rich history of this revered Istanbul landmark. Hagia Irene: Constantine’s First Church An impressive structure within the grounds of the Topkapi Palace is the Hagia Irene, an Eastern Orthodox Church with its beginnings going back to the time of Constantine.

It has byzantine elements and is one of the most important Istanbul churches, especially from a historical standpoint. This landmark of Istanbul and early Christianity during the era of Constantine is found sequestered in the outer courtyard of today’s Topkapi Palace. Discover more about the Hagia Irene Museum today. The Grand Bazaar The Grand Bazaar The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewellery and the like. The bazaar has been an important trad ing centre since 1461 and its labyrinthine vaults feature two bedestens (domed buildings), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.

The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake. The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. In the centre is the high domed hall of the Cevahir Bedesten, where the most valuable items and antiques were to be found in the past, and still are today, including furniture, copperware, amber prayer beads, inlaid weapons, icons, moth er-of-pearl mirrors, water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewellery set with coral and turquoise. A leisurely afternoon spent exploring the bazaar, sitting in one of the cafés and watching the crowds pass by, and bargaining for purchases is one of the best ways to recapture the romantic atmosphere of old Istanbul. Gates: The Grand Bazaar has four main gates situated at the ends of its two major streets which intersect near the southwestern corner of the bazaar.

Kapalıçarşı - Historic Site in Beyazit Travel + Leisure November 14, 2014 Hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, copperware, gold Byzantine-style jewelry, and more products vie for your attention within this 15th-century bazaar’s vaulted walkways. Read more Upvoted Dec 10, 2016 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts February 26, 2013 Your Perfect Day is now nearing its end, and the Grand Bazaar is a thrilling afternoon treat. The oldest of its kind, it features all sorts of small shops, notably nargilehs, jewellery or carpets. Read more Upvoted Dec 10, 2016 Otel.com January 9, 2014 There are more than a thousand shops in almost 60 streets in this market. It is laid on about 31,000 square meters. You will definitely find the most beautiful gifts here before leaving.

Upvoted Dec 10, 2016 DHR.com February 9, 2012 Also known as the Grand Bazaar, this covered market is one of the largest and oldest in the world. You will not run out of shops to choose from here, so if you want to do serious shopping, go here. Upvoted Dec 10, 2016 Rodolfo Gabriel October 9, 2016 Get lost, enjoy the culture and grab a taste of it. The grand bazaar is part of Istanbul and also part of each visitor like the heart that needs blood to keep pumping. Bargain for that price ;) Alia Alsharif May 15, 2015 Been here 5+ times One of the oldest and biggest pazar in Istanbul huge and you can bargain as well. If you plan to buy things make sure to get shipping company cheaper than buying extra baggage kg Thanos Antonis. 🍻🍺😝☕😀 November 7, 2015 Aged since 1461 this is the right place to make your bazaar for sth you want to buy.

One of the biggest covered markets in the world, a must see place for everyone in Istanbul. Asa Baum March 28, 2016 The biggest closed market in the world! It's packed full of everything under the sun. The traders can be a bit pushy but just make sure you barter hard with them. Great for watches, handbags & spices manu prasad June 7, 2015 Like kids in a toy shop. There's so much to buy, but make sure you keep on bargaining. Start at 30% of what is said. Great for lamps, water pipes, souvenirs and pretty much everything! Otel.com September 22, 2011 One of the best places to shop in Istanbul. From jewelry to carpets, from ceramics to spices, this covered market has it all. Practice your haggling skills, and prepare to bargain for hours here. Terror Risk October 15, 2014 Huge bazaar with various items from shoes, bags, scarfs, t-shirts, gold rings & bracelets.

I noticed some stalls haggle you to shop from them while others let you browse until being approached.👍👎 Lubna J November 29, 2015 Amazing place, very traditional. A bunch of flirts around, all the shopkeepers actually are very flirty ! A bit annoying for girls traveling alone. I loved the apple tea served for FREE ! Yum yum * Bonítaxon November 30, 2012 A must visit place. There are thousands stores inside the 'dome' but the real eastern bazaar starts outside of it. Lots of streets packed w/ shops where u can find anything u want. Beware of thieves. Asif K March 27, 2013 From Entrance 1, take your first right is an amazing calligrapher called Adnan. His work is priceless, but you can get your name written in fantastic calligraphy for about 10 liras. Şerif Yenen February 10, 2012 With more than 4000 shops, the Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and greatest bazaars in the World?

Go to the Cevahir Bedesten; a big variety of merchandise, especially silver jewelry is sold there. Terror Risk October 15, 2014 The prices here are much higher than stalls operating outside the Grand Bazaar. You need to negotiate for 40% from offered price. Great visiting with lots of choices. Leather goods are in abundance Turkey Tourism May 27, 2013 Istanbul has been at the center of trade between Europe and Asia for thousands of years and it is no surprise that the thrill of buying and selling still attracts thousands of people to the city. Read more Turkey Travel Centre February 23, 2014 One of the oldest shopping places in the world.Attend with a guide for the first time who can give background history on the Ottoman building and then after, shop until your heart is content! M ALDossary January 14, 2015 A must Visit in Istanbul. shopping for almost everything starting from Turkish sweets and ending with Silver. Highly recommended 👍 Madina Suleimenova January 8, 2015 Expensive tourist attraction for buying souvenirs, but still you can bargain. So, just try :3!

Still beautiful place to visit, to see and to get to know the history of local crafts works A ... May 29, 2015 You can find everything there!From jewelry to leader goods, carpets to silver goods and much more.Kapalicarsi means Covered Bazaar to be exact and this place has 60 streets & 5000 shops!! Must see! Tania Martinez October 20, 2015 People told me I shouldn't buy anything here because it would be more expensive than any other place...Not true! This is the best place to buy souvenirs, best prices. And beautiful ceiling decorations Ece S. February 24, 2015 You should definitely take a look at Nick's Caligraphy Store. He is an amazing artist. The store is located in the old bazaar. M. B. October 17, 2015 Always good to roam here when you have the time. Big place and a lot to see. Make sure you understand the value of items before buying and always bargain IzApps October 5, 2012 Kapalıçarşı is a unique experience, isn’t it?

If you look for another unique experience in İstanbul, we invite you to Chora Museum to see uniqe Byzantine frescoes. Xenia Temchenko September 17, 2016 A very special atmosphere which reminds of Bourne films) Everyone is nice and helpful. But I wouldn't suggest buying baklava here as it's next to spices and it affects the flavour. Lucille Fisher February 24, 2015 Overwhelming! You can simply get lost in this commercial maze!Something for everyone! Bargain. For big ticket items, it's best to go with someone on the know. Erin Semir July 9, 2012 For the best restaurants try "Havuzlu", " Subaşı" (both exp) best local kebap "Dogan" and "Gel-gor" ( fair and yammy) best Doner Gul-ebru bouffet" and " Çardak Bouffet" Réka Manon June 15, 2015 Unique! Some of the vendors invite for a cay and to have q seat after buying something great (eg.

carpets) Abdulrahman Almutairi November 21, 2014 Art Turkish display, A good place to see the crafts and art of Turkey, the lampshades, pottery, gold jewellery. However, buying I would not recommend. Güven Tokdemir October 22, 2014 If you are looking for a certain thing, ask different shops for prices. It may vary much more than you can imagine. And also shops outside of bazaar are cheaper in general. istanbul January 27, 2011 Any shopping lover will appreciate bargaining at the Grand Bazaar. With over 5,000 vendors, this shopping extravaganza is a great way to shop for Turkish treasures Anna Trifonidou October 12, 2014 A closed market with 300 stores. Here you can find anything you want but don't forget to bargain! You can drop prices up to 60%. A must see! Tihomir Kit January 24, 2016 One of the must-visits in Istanbul. Make sure to bargain - they might rip you off if you don't.

I reduced the price to 1/3 of what was asked. Play the game. :D Elvira Van Noort December 3, 2010 This is fun. If someone wants to sell a souvenir for 100 lira make it 10 lira, be persistent and get it for 20! Which is probably still a rip-off :-) Yadviga Yuslegko May 7, 2016 Carpets, Turkish delights, spice, little local cafés and haggling for the best price. Kati Ambrózy December 29, 2011 If you wanna buy carpet, go to Kaya Halicilik (Kapalicarsi Takkeciler No. 21-23). Kind, helpful salesman with good English who tells stories and everything you need to know about carpets. Kaan Karakuş December 30, 2012 @istanbul Ocak 27, 2011Any shopping lover will appreciate bargaining at the Grand Bazaar.

With over 5,000 vendors, this shopping extravaganza is a great way to shop for Turkish treasures Kristof Van Genegen April 8, 2016 don't forget to bargain a good price ! Try to end your bargaining at least 30% down, so start with 50% down.. stay focused, it really works Avi March 17, 2014 You can get lost in the 75 streets crisscrossing each other. Just remember there are 4500+ shops, so its good to keep a landmark and start from there. Abdullah AYTEKIN August 25, 2015 Even just see the first covered and Mall examples of World you should visit. For shopping if you feel price and quality is good for you means you are at the right place. Joanna Sable June 12, 2015 Plan to spend a day at the Grand Bazaar, spice market, mosque and fish restaurants at the wharf Anna Zhdanova April 4, 2015 Must see when in Istanbul. Great experience, get prepared for bargaining:) and enjoy it!

You could get lots of souvenirs here Nicolay Ofner April 27, 2014 one of the largest indoor marketplaces in the world;a quarter-million visitors a day;dates back to 1461;Skyfall;start at 30% of the asking price and work your way up to 50% Jose Rios April 26, 2014 Come in for a stroll even if you don't shop. The people are great and will offer you tea. Take it and for feel obligated. Waleed Al-jehani July 21, 2016 If u want to bargin with the shops just shoot for half of the price. . If ut cost 100 say 50 and go down more .. ull have it. . The tip dosnt include food 😉 or spices or sweets lol Mari December 17, 2015 Great place for finding local things to buy: carpets, lamps, leather, decorations, ceramics... You need to be willing to bargain. Raseel AlHammad August 13, 2015 It's really crowded, avoid everything but the jewelry section and the dried fruits shops ❤️.

Never ever go with any man if he asked you to go to see his stuff just Hold your bag and walk 🙌🏼 Hus Adel August 29, 2014 Nice shopping open bazar.the best place for traditional Turkish goods.the prices unstable from shop to other .nice to visit Mahmeed Almahmeed October 11, 2014 Burc kebab has a great skunder!! The place does not look modern but the food is good 👍 The 9 Best Flea Markets and Bazaars Around the World - Vogue From Istanbul to Paris: The 9 Best Flea Markets and Bazaars Around the World Paris: Marché aux Puces The mother of all flea markets was established circa 1870 in Saint-Ouen. This is where Picasso went on walks to find inspiration, where Woody Allen had his Midnight in Paris characters search for hidden treasures, and where you could find that rare first-edition Albert Camus hardcover, a collectible camera, or a charming knickknack you didn’t know you just had to have. The Puces , as locals call it, features some 1,700 dealers and 14 distinct markets.

Dress for the occasion with good walking shoes, and be prepared to practice your most charming bonjour.Photo: Courtesy of Marché aux Puces Bazaars - All About Istanbul More News Bazaars in Istanbul Istanbul has always been an important city throughout the history . Located on the crossroads of trade routes, it surely enjoyed a great deal of international attention and its economy has always grown up. Since the beginning of the settlement here, commerce was heavily practiced and bazaars were filled with all kinds of items, buyers and sellers from everywhere. This commercial activity has left its mark on the city with its old bazaars, and today the tradition of shopping continues with many old and modern malls in this great city. Grand Bazaar The Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi in Turkish ) is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. It was built of wood after the Conquest of Istanbul around an old Byzantine building which became the part of the Old Bedesten (Old Bazaar) today, and got bigger and larger throughout the centuries with the addition of new sections and inns. The Bazaar initially consisted of two warehouses only, known as Inner Bedesten and Sandal Bedesten.

Than open streets were covered with doomed roofs connecting separate buildings to each other. Today the bazaar covers an area of approximately 31thousand square meters (333thousand square foot) with its over 3000 shops (some even say 4000), 17 inns (Han), 61 streets, over 20thousand employees, 4 fountains, 10 wells, 2 mosques, several cafes and restaurants , change offices, a police station, and 22 gates. It resembles a giant labyrinth and can be a little complicated for the first-time visitor, but after a couple of visits there you can familiarize with it because streets are arranged almost on a grid plan, and shops tend to group themselves according to the type of goods they sell. The old wooden Grand Bazaar built by Mehmet II suffered several fires and earthquakes during centuries but has always been repaired after each disaster. Last restorations were made after a big fire in the mid-fifties when it was finally made of stone.

During Ottoman times all kinds of jewelry, fabrics, weaponry and antiques were sold by merchants, unfortunately today quilt makers, slipper makers, turban and fez makers do not exists anymore. Today, it's very popular for tourists looking for traditional shops and goods. There are thousands of things you can find and buy in the Grand Bazaar, or just enjoy local people and Turkish hospitality with some window shopping. It's one of the most significant tourist sites in Istanbul owing to its location, architecture , history and fame. Depending on the season, between 250-400thousand people visit the Bazaar everyday. The Grand Bazaar is open daily between 09:00-19.00 except on Sundays and during public or religious holidays . Click here for high resolution photo gallery of the Grand Bazaar. Egyptian Bazaar The Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi in Turkish ) is also known as Spice Market. It's located just behind the Yeni Mosque at Eminonu neighborhood , at the entrance of the Golden Horn . The Bazaar was originally made of wood in mid-17th century by the architect Kazim Aga, and got its final restorations during mid-forties.

The name comes from the fact that Egyptians used to sell their spices here and that it once received income from taxes levied on Egypt. Instead the English name comes from the days when the Bazaar was specialized on selling spices and herbs, medicinal plants and drugs. Lately, there are also shops selling stuff other than spices but you can still see and smell many interesting spices, dried fruits and nuts, teas , oils and essences, sweets, honeycombs, and aphrodisiacs. The Spice Market has 86 shops inside. Outside there is a plant market on one side and a food market on the other. There are 6 gates of the L-shaped Bazaar. The ceiling is higher respect to Grand Bazaar , and this is also covered with domes. The Egyptian Bazaar is open daily between 09:00-19.00 except during public or religious holidays . Since 2009 it remains open on Sundays too, between 10:00-18:00. Click here for high resolution photo gallery of the Egyptian Bazaar.

Arasta Bazaar The Arasta Bazaar, also known as Sipahi Carsisi in Turkish , is located behind the Blue Mosque in the old city center, just next to the entrance of the Mosaics Museum . Despite The Grand Bazaar , Arasta Bazaar is a small and simple traditional market in Istanbul. There are about 40 shops lined on both sides of a street, selling mostly traditional items. Originally this place was built in the 17th century together with the mosque and used to be stables during the Ottoman period. Several fires in the past destroyed the stables and it was left in ruins for a long time. It was converted into shops in 1980s, permitting the money from rents to be used in the restoration works of the Blue Mosque. The Arasta Bazaar is open daily. Sahaflar Carsisi Sahaflar Carsisi is the second-hand book bazaar located in the old courtyard between Beyazid Mosque and Grand Bazaar . It's one of the oldest markets of Istanbul built on the same site as the Chartoprateia, book and paper market of the Byzantines , where booksellers settled their shops in the 18th century leaving the Grand Bazaar .

Printing and publishing legislation introduced soon after thus enabling the trade to expand in the whole courtyard. Also during this century the market remained the main point for book sale and distribution within the Ottoman Empire , and a meeting place for intellectual people. Unfortunately in the last 50-60 years the market lost its importance due to inevitable rise of modern bookstores and lately of the internet. Today, there are still some old books, new ones, and examples of Ottoman miniature pages can be found. The Sahaflar Bazaar is open daily except on Sundays and during public or religious holidays , with the exception of smaller stores. You can check the Google Map of these Old Bazaar at this link . Others There are many other small bazaars and old shopping sites in Istanbul, such as; Kumkapi Fish market, Sariyer Fish Market, Beyoglu Flower & Food market (Cicek Pasaji), Fatih bazaar, and so on. There are also weekly bazaars settled in every neighborhood of the city on one day of the week, frequented mostly by local people. Istanbul has several ultra modern shopping malls with international and national brand names too, which fits today's world needs in every aspect.

These are mainly located in the new part of the city close to residential or financial districts . Some of these modern shopping centers are: Akmerkez, Metro City, Kanyon, Istinye Park, Zorlu Center, Astoria, Trump Towers, Nisantasi City's, Akbati, Mall of Istanbul, Axis, Galleria, Historia, Caroussel, Olivium, Atrium, Capitol, Profilo, Tepe Nautilus, Cevahir, Mayadrom, Aqua Florya, Atakoy Plus, Paladium, Saphire, Brandium, Neomarin, Kozzy, 212 Power Outlet, Forum Istanbul, Marmara Forum, Marmara Park, Airport, Viaport, Metroport, Torium, Demiroren, Is Kule, Dogus Power Center, Kale, Meydan, Buyaka, Polcenter, Boyner, Carrefour, Bauhaus, Praktiker, Gotzen, Metro, Bricolage, etc. Hope to see you soon in Istanbul. Bazaars Five Things to Do in Istanbul | Travel + Leisure T+L Just In newsletter.

T+L Newsletters The Turkish city of Istanbul is one of the most complex, attractive, historic, and significant cities on earth. Despite being caught in the crossfire of a global conflict, Istanbul has charmed us all with its world-class hotels and diverse cultures. One thing T+L editors love most about Istanbul (and Turkey, in general) is the city’s incredible views. Get a 360-degree panorama from the top of Galata Tower. This medieval stone building was built in 1848 and boasts an uninterrupted vantage point of the Istanbul skyline. Visiting Istanbul can be very much like stepping back in time. Take Topkapi Palace, for example. For almost 400 years, Ottoman sultans called this enormous palace, one of the oldest and grandest in all of Turkey, their home. Another Istanbul attraction plucked from the pages of a history book is the Kiliç Ali Pasa, an ancient Turkish bathhouse created during the classical Ottoman period. As much antiquity as there is in Istanbul, visitors will appreciate the burgeoning contemporary art scene as well.

What to do in Istanbul to see street art is to head to the Beyoglu district, where building walls and side streets are filled with colorful murals. Elites from the art world, on the other hand, head to the neighborhood’s cutting edge galleries like Collectorspace and Rodeo. Shopping at the Grand Bazaar—the largest covered market in the world—is one of the most fun things to do in Istanbul . Come here to see the works from generations of craftspeople. Before you complete an Istanbul trip, stroll down Istanbul’s main pedestrian thoroughfare, Istiklal Avenue. Almost 3 million people pass through here, and after sundown locals linger longer to sip Turkish coffee (and read the fortunes in their coffee grinds), smoke hookah, and nosh traditional meze platters. Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) (Istanbul, Turkey): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor Neighborhood Profile Grand Bazaar Tourists, hawkers, and locals come together at the Grand Bazaar to comb its labyrinthine passageways in search of a bargain – be it a pair of brand name jeans, a handcrafted silk rug, or a perfectly brewed cup of tea.

Outside the vast bazaar, worn, narrow streets wind their way down from its lofty perch to the southern shore of the Golden Horn, where the evocatively aromatic Spice Bazaar beckons alongside the elegant New Mosque (opened in 1665). Nearby, the famed Galata Bridge offers pedestrian access to urban delights across the river in Istanbul’s more residential and contemporary neighborhoods, while the must-see sights of Sultanahmet are but a leisurely stroll away.

Question: The Grand Bazaar, said to be the world's largest covered market, is in which city?
Answer: Instanbul