Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar
Visit one of the biggest and oldest covered markets in the world, a real taste (and smell and sound!) of the diversity that Turkey has to offer.

Originally opened in the mid-15th century by Sultan Mehmet II as a site for textile trading, the Grand Bazaar continues to offer everything from pottery and tiles to spices and brassware, as well as belly-dancing clothes, pipes, ashtrays, and much more. It used to be that each street had a craft, and while this isn't strictly the case any longer, there are areas of the bazaar where you'll be able to compare your craft of choice side by side with lots of others.

Located between the Bayezid and Nuruosmaniye mosques, the Grand Bazaar covers a huge area. Keep a look out for the Cevavir building, the oldest structure here and a fine example of Ottoman architecture and design.

Walking through one of its 21 gates, you'll find yourself among 3,000 shops under a seemingly endless sea of roofs, in a maze of over 60 streets. Allow yourself to get pleasantly lost among the bustling crowds, and soak up all the different and varied goods on offer – this is not a place for a quick visit! Listen to the calls of the vendors, and make sure that you're ready to engage in the strong local custom of haggling, as the shopkeepers can be very good at talking you around.

Pick up a beautiful and intricate Persian rug, or watch a demonstration of the weaving process. The goods on offer are wonderful, but they form only a part of the experience here. The Grand Bazaar is always full of people, so soak up the atmosphere as you walk around. Check out the old mosque and the fountain. Sit down in a cafe or restaurant in a hans (three storey building), or sample some deliciously sweet Turkish delight.

The Grand Bazaar is in the Old City, in the Fatih district and is open every day, except Sundays. The easiest way to get here is to take the tram to Byazit or to walk. Given that it is always crowded, you should be cautious of your belongings and beware of pickpockets.

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Reviews of Grand Bazaar

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
352
" "5 - Excellent 50.94066570188133%
4 - Good
255
" "4 - Good 36.90303907380608%
3 - Okay
73
" "3 - Okay 10.5643994211288%
2 - Disappointing
8
" "2 - Disappointing 1.1577424023154848%
1 - Terrible
3
" "1 - Terrible 0.4341534008683068%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
16 Mar 2020

They do charge higher prices than the normal local shops, be careful not to get ripped off but worth visiting

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
6 Jan 2020

very very very big and busy

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
15 Nov 2019

Very busy, very touristy and quite expensive. Go to the Asian side and you’ll find most of the items a lot cheaper

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
12 Nov 2019

great building but not the cheapest

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
4 Nov 2019

Always haggle at the Grand Bazaar! Our Turkish Delight was less than half price after haggling. Also it is a very busy bazaar so take only essentials and no handbags. Not that we felt unsafe, just that it is nicer to shop without worrying about handbags. Also visit the spice bazaar outside! It is separate and worth a visit.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
26 Oct 2019

Take a lot of money! Great for xmas shopping.

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