Istanbul’s Grand
Bazaar is virtually a city within a city; there is so much going on in there.
Covering an enormous area, the bazaar’s 3,000 or so shops offer the intrepid
explorer an opportunity to buy almost everything imaginable. Come on in.
For those who
thrive on bustle and activity the bazaar will be a highlight of your trip to
Istanbul. It is certainly something to be in a good mood for and not pressed
for time. The shopkeepers will banter with visitors and expect their customers
to bargain for goods. This is all done in good spirits and often accompanied by
offers of tea and coffee that should not be viewed with suspicion.
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| Avenue in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey |
What to buy
Originally the
Grand Bazaar was organised into areas according to the wares of the vendors,
and the streets named accordingly. Nowadays this rule seems more relaxed. Some
of the many articles on sale include jewellery, clothing, shoes, fabrics, art,
ceramics, carpets, books, antiques, narghile pipes, glassware and souvenirs. It
is sensible to take some cash with you for smaller purchases, but credit cards
are often accepted for higher value items. Do not be surprised if your
shopkeeper takes you to another shop to make a credit card payment. This is
quite common amongst vendors who do not have their own machine and you can be
sure he will get his money in the end.
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| Ceramics, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey |
History
The Turkish name
for the Grand Bazaar is Kapalicarsi, meaning ‘covered market’. Construction of
the bazaar began in 1460 as a result of stallholders wanting to be able to
trade no matter what the weather conditions. When another market was built
nearby a century later opportune stallholders set up in between the two trading
areas and so the largest and oldest souk in the world was created. It has been
ravaged by fire and earthquakes over the years, but is always restored.
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| Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey |
Where is it?
The Grand Bazaar
is very centrally located in the district of Fatih and is slightly uphill from Sultanahmet. It is a 15
minute walk from Sultanahmet (follow the tramline and the bazaar is to your
right once you crest the hill) or you can hop on the Sultanahmet – Sirkeci
tram. It is near other tourist attractions and various accommodation options in the centre.
For ideas on other things to see and do in Istanbul check out my Top 10 things to do in Istanbul here.
For ideas on other things to see and do in Istanbul check out my Top 10 things to do in Istanbul here.
The bazaar is a
busy place and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors each day. Have you
been? What did you buy?
