Grand Bazaar in Istanbul: A Shopper’s Paradise

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a superb place to search out souvenirs on your family and friends again dwelling. But it’s additionally an amazing place to get misplaced in for a couple of hours!

Best-known for its lots of of retailers flogging every thing from spices to jewellery, the Grand Bazaar is among the largest and oldest coated markets on the earth.

Located centrally in Istanbul, the market is one among Turkey’s most well-known landmarks. It has been round for hundreds of years and continues to be a busy hub of exercise, with stalls promoting an array of wares together with spices to jewellery. Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is secure and straightforward sufficient to navigate.

Good to learn about Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Grand Bazaar opening hours

The Grand Bazaar is open on daily basis from 8:30 within the morning to 7:00 within the night. However, throughout spiritual holidays, the shops are closed.

How a lot time must you spend within the Grand Bazaar?

You must spend a minimum of 3 hours to go to the Grand Bazaar, together with espresso and a lunch break. If you wish to skip lunch, you possibly can most likely cowl the market is about 1.5 hours – however we advocate tasting a number of the native delicacies available in the market.

Is there an entrance price to the Grand Bazaar?

No, you don’t pay an entrance price once you go to the Grand Bazaar.

Where are you able to meet when you’re misplaced?

There are 22 gates within the Grand Bazaar. The commonest ones are Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye, as a result of Kalpakçılar Street, the primary avenue of the bazaar, stretches between them. However, the opposite large gates are Çarşıkapı, Çuhacıhan, Jewelers, Mahmutpaşa, Örücüler, Sepetçihan, Takkeciler, Tavukpazarı and Zenneciler.

Each gate additionally has a quantity. So I like to recommend selecting one of many main gates and bear in mind its quantity, so for those who ought to get misplaced, you possibly can meet up there once more.

What sort of issues can you purchase on the Grand Bazaar?

There are loads of shops within the Grand Bazaar, with all kinds of things on sale. The fundamental issues you can purchase from the Grand Bazaar are listed beneath.

• Dishes
• Glassware
• Leather items
• Textiles
• Carpets and rugs
• Antiques
• Traditional artwork
• Customized jewellery
• Turkish delight
• Saffron
• Spices
• and lots of different issues

Of the greater than 4,000 retailers on this 546-year-old rabbit warren, a handful have anchored the luxurious scene for years, occupying the key rosters saved by vogue designers, consumers and locals. The hassle is discovering them. No one goes by avenue addresses; simply because the Istanbullus do, common guests really feel their approach by way of the labyrinth by landmarks, righting themselves at Kalpakçilar Caddesi, the lengthy extensive thoroughfare referred to as the gold avenue once they get misplaced.

And getting misplaced might be the easiest way to discover this place.

Popular souvenirs are caftans. They can be found in many various qualities within the bazaar, from elongated tunics (hirkas) that you simply may take to the seashore, to the lengthy robes that Grand Bazaar retailers supply once you ask for a caftan. These usually fasten down the entrance with buttons.

Haggling for items on the Grand Bazaar

The sellers will converse to you in Spanish, English, Russian, German and lots of different languages. Depending on the looks or treacherous dialog as you stroll by. If you say “Merhaba” (Hello in Turkish), it’s dangerous information for the opposite individual, since you’ve already lowered the costs earlier than starting to barter. 😉

Don’t be fooled by the tag costs. Remember you can at all times discount within the Grand Bazaar. If you aren’t happy with what’s on supply, transfer on to different shops. There are only a few shops that promote uncommon merchandise. You will most likely discover the identical or comparable product in 10 different shops. A very good tip is to take an image of that retailer and its enterprise card. If you ever wish to come again, that is the one approach yow will discover it. Do not depend on your reminiscence.

Where to eat on the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

At the Grand Bazaar in Instanbul, artisans work exhausting on daily basis to create lovely items of artwork. Similarly, eating places within the space compete for purchasers by providing good meals at cheap costs. You can discover some nice locations to eat if the place to look!

Nusr’et Steakhouse

The Nusr’et Steakhouse is among the hottest locations to go when visiting the Grand Bazaar. The institution, owned by Nusret Gokce, gives a wide range of scrumptious choices together with kebabs, shish, burgers and steak. If you’re searching for a tremendous eating expertise whereas exploring the bazaar, you’ll want to cease by Nusr’et Steakhouse!

Degirmencioglu – Self Service

This restaurant is hidden in a tiny alley, however actually value visiting if you wish to eat just like the locals. You will likely sit and ‘dine’ between the store sellers.

They cook dinner a couple of dishes and it’s best to are available in time, as a result of when all is bought, the chef gained’t cook dinner extra for that day. The costs are low and the dishes are conventional and actually yummy.

And for Oriental espresso and tea lovers:

• Şark Kahvesi is positioned within the coronary heart of the Grand Bazaar and is the proper place to take a break from purchasing with a cup of tea or espresso. The copper samovar rabbit blood tea is a must-try, and the nostalgic photos on the partitions and music within the background make it all of the extra pleasurable.
• Address: Beyazıt, Yağlıkçılar Sk. No:134, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul

Extra tip: Walk up the steps subsequent to it on the precise and also you’ll have the ability to get a look from above of the Grand Bazaar.

Sights at or near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar has a protracted historical past, and up to now, it was additionally dwelling to numerous inns that accommodated consumers and sellers from all around the world. There had been 11 absolutely enclosed inns in whole.

The so-called “hans” or “caravanserais” supply shelter to the caravans of merchants touring the legendary Silk Road. In addition to offering lodging, additionally they saved the products from the ships arriving on the Golden Horn.

Zincirli Han

Zincirli Han is essentially the most well-known and most photographed inn within the Grand Bazaar. If you’re visiting the Grand Bazaar, you possibly can’t miss it, or a minimum of you shouldn’t! It’s positioned on the second avenue to the precise of Nuruosmaniye Gate, and it stands out with its crimson facade, darkish inexperienced shutters and courtyard.

Today, the inn homes jewellery workshops. It’s believed that the inn was constructed on the finish of the 18th century.

Büyük Yeni Han

Büyük Yeni Han is a historic constructing positioned on Çakmaklar Yokuşu in Fatih, Istanbul. The inn was in-built 1764 on the request of Mustafa III, and its architect was Mehmet Tahir Aga.

It has three flooring, with 58 rooms on the bottom and first flooring, and 57 rooms on the second flooring. There are additionally 40 retailers positioned outdoors the inn. Inside, the courtyards are related to one another by arched and barrel vaulted passages.

Cebeci Han

There is an inn known as Cebeci Han within the north of the Grand Bazaar. The constructing most likely dates again to the 18th century and has two flooring with two courtyards.

At that point it served as lodging for the retailers. After it was severely broken within the earthquake of 1894, it remained in ruins for a very long time till it was ultimately repaired and put to make use of once more.

Extra Highlight: Büyük Valide Han

The oldest and maybe most spectacular of Istanbul’s hans is the Büyük Valide Han. Built within the mid-Seventeenth century on the request of Sultan’s mom, this Ottoman constructing housed hundreds of retailers over its lifetime. The Büyük Valide Han is a hidden gem in Istanbul. The grand han of Sultan’s mom is a historic inn from which you’ll be able to see previous, current, future and finest views of Istanbul.

Büyük Valide Han is positioned within the heart of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, particularly in Çakmakçılar Yokuşu between Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. The finest option to get there’s by taking the streetcar to Eminönü after which discovering your approach by way of the connecting alleys from Spice Bazaar to Grand Bazar. If you’ve gotten GPS, search for Çakmakçılar Yokuşu or use…

Although it is probably not simple to search out at first, a part of the expertise is discovering your approach by way of the busy bazaar streets. The constructing is known as on the entrance, so once you discover it, you’ll know you’re in the precise place. Once you’ve gotten positioned the Büyük Valide Han, enter by way of the big picket door and stroll by way of the primary courtyard. To your left, you’ll see an deserted constructing in a state of decay. Go up the stone stairs and you can be contained in the previous han.

The Han has two flooring and three inside courtyards.

When you go to the Büyük Valide Han, please accomplish that responsibly. This 300-year-old constructing is in a state of disrepair and isn’t a vacationer web site or listed in any guidebook. However, teams of vacationers usually go to and take photos on the roof. Some of them leap on the domes, which endangers each the constructing and themselves. If you go to, please be cautious: steer clear of the sides, watch your step and respect the place. Remember that you simply go to at your individual danger. Or even higher, miss out that half and discover the darkish alleys.

How do I get to the Grand Bazaar?

The Grand Bazaar is conveniently positioned close to vacationer points of interest and has a number of entrance gates. It’s simple to get there by public transportation; the cable automobile is essentially the most handy methodology. You can take the Kabataş-Bağcılar cable automobile line and get off on the Beyazıt cease.

Alternatively, metropolis buses go on to Beyazıt Square from many components of the town.

If you’re searching for a extra relaxed strategy, you may want taking the ferry. It’s an effective way to benefit from the surroundings and never fear about time. There are direct ferries from Üsküdar and Kadıköy to Eminönü, after which you possibly can simply hop on the cable automobile heading to Bağcılar proper in entrance of the ferry terminal.

Insider tip for visiting the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Don’t spend all of your cash within the bazaar itself. Head out and stroll the streets North in the direction of the Galata Bridge. Here you’ll discover many extra shops and likely the products you’ve seen within the bazaar itself, however for much cheaper costs.