The Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and most famous markets in the world, and with good reason. With over 4,000 shops inside and 16,000 shopkeepers to serve you, there’s virtually nothing you can’t find in this diverse bazaar.
Whether you’re looking for clothes, jewelry, silverware, food, or some other product or service, this huge market has it all! This guide will tell you what to do in Grand Bazaar Istanbul, including the best places to eat and stay while you are visiting.
Grand Bazaar - A Brief History
The Grand Bazaar Istanbul is the largest covered marketplace in the world and was originally founded in 1455. It has grown to become a major tourist destination for visitors to Istanbul and is composed of more than 4,000 shops that sell everything from souvenirs to clothes.
The Grand Bazaar Istanbul has also been an important meeting place for traders since it opened, and this tradition continues today. Visitors are encouraged to explore the maze-like market on their own or with a knowledgeable guide who can point out some of the more interesting shops along the way.
It’s easy to spend hours browsing through rows of tables piled high with vintage clothing, embroidered pillows, and sequined slippers at Cevahir.
The Grand Bazaar [Istanbul Grand Bazaar] Istanbul offers a lot more than just shopping though; there are cafes, restaurants, and plenty of street food vendors selling dishes such as simit (sesame bread) or meatballs from the Ottoman Empire era.
The Bazaars Istanbul’s Central Mosque was built in 1857 by Sultan Abdülmecid I as part of his drive for modernization; this site serves as both a place of worship and a social gathering spot.
And if you’ve got any energy left after your tour, why not visit one of Istanbul’s famous Turkish baths?
How to Haggle Like a Pro
If you’re going to visit the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, one thing you must do is haggle. This isn’t to say that all of your purchases need to be at a discounted price, but it’s a good way to learn what bargaining is like. It can also help you get cheaper prices on souvenirs and other things you may want.
You will always be able to find someone willing to lower the price or give you something for free if they think it will increase their profit margin.
One key thing to keep in mind when bargaining is that it’s always better if you have an idea of what the person would normally sell items for and how much they’re willing to lower their prices.
Many people are unwilling to negotiate over products because they know what the products are worth so if you try and bargain with them, they’ll just walk away. What To Do In Grand Bazaar Istanbul
What to Buy
” The Grand Bazaar Istanbul is a huge market that has more than 4000 shops and over 4 million visitors each year.”
It can be overwhelming, but with these tips, you’ll be able to get the most out of your time there:
– The Grand Bazaar Istanbul is full of jewels. You can find any kind of jewelry here, from diamonds to gold, silver, and bronze.
– You may want to bring cash if you want to buy something big at the Grand Bazaar Istanbul since credit cards are often not accepted. There’s an ATM in the lobby of the Spice Market with a 5 Euro fee for withdrawing money.
However, I wouldn’t recommend using it because the exchange rate will not be in your favor. Try instead to withdraw some money before arriving at Istanbul Airport or exchanging currency beforehand.
– Grand Bazaar Istanbul food court: If you’re hungry or looking for a quick meal, don’t forget about the Grand Bazaar Istanbul food court located on the first floor! They have everything from Turkish kebab sandwiches to falafel pita wraps and gyros (traditional Greek dishes).
– Grand bazaars all around Istanbul: For those interested in checking out other bazaars outside of Istanbul as well, don’t forget about markets like Taksim, Zeytinburnu, and Beyazit!
Where to Eat in the Grand Bazaar
The Spice Market in the Grand Bazaar is a must for any food lover.
The Spice Market is filled with countless varieties of spices, nuts, and dried fruits. You can find ground cumin, coriander seeds, green cardamom pods, black peppercorns, and Turkish apricots here.
The spice market also has many stalls that sell delicious Turkish pastries like baklava, Kunefe, and semolina cake. One place you should try is the Poğaçaçını which sells different kinds of cheese pies including a feta cheese pie, spinach pie, and another one made with pine nuts.
For lunch, you should try ordering some freshly made soup from one of the soup stalls found inside the Spice Market. The soup is served as kisir which means puree. There are various types of soups to choose from including lentil soup or red cabbage soup (hünkar beğendi).
How to Get
The easiest way to get to the Grand Bazaar is by taking a taxi from Sultanahmet, which will cost about 10-15 Turkish Lira. If you are coming from Taksim Square and want to walk, it will take about 20 minutes.
Walk down Istiklal Avenue and turn left onto Yahya Kemal Beyoglu street (which is also called Fevzi Pasa). Follow this street until you come across an intersection with Zeyrek Street. Take this right and head up the hill until you see the arched gate of the bazaar on your right-hand side.
You will know that you have reached your destination when you see stalls on both sides of the road selling leather goods and souvenirs. The bazaar is open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
There are plenty of things for sale at the Grand Bazaar, and most items can be found at more than one stall if you look hard enough. There’s a variety of clothing, accessories, carpets, and rugs for sale among other things.
The best time to visit the market would be during midmorning or midafternoon because there will be fewer people around and prices may be lower because merchants tend to sell their stock at cheaper prices later in the day in order to avoid having too much-unsold merchandise left over overnight.
What Time Does Grand Bazaar Close In Istanbul
The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest shopping centers in the world. The place is also a marketplace, with hundreds of individual shops selling goods from all over the world. It has a long and storied history that dates back centuries ago to when it first opened as an imperial Ottoman trading center.
What Time Does The Grand Bazaar Close? The shops open at about 9 am and stay open until 8 pm on weekdays, and until 5 pm on Sundays. However, if you’re planning to visit between noon and 3 pm on Saturdays, be prepared for congestion and crowds.
