The Grand Bazaar Istanbul offers the ultimate cultural and shopping experience. This vibrant and overwhelming tourist destination in Istanbul, Turkey, is the oldest and largest markets of the city.
Befitting a city like Istanbul in all its grandeur, the Grand Bazaar Istanbul welcomes anywhere between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors every day. Become part of the large crowds to experience everything from Turkish cuisine to a genuine and very different shopping experience in the Istanbul Grand Bazaar.
If it’s not clear yet why you must see it, here is a quick breakdown of the reasons. The Istanbul Grand Bazaar, known as Kapalıçarşı in Turkish, is an enormous covered market. The market spreads over 60 streets. It also harbors almost 5,000 shops mostly grouped in their own quarter according to the inciting merchandise they offer.
From antiques to spices, carpets and handbags to all the souvenir trinkets you can possibly imagine, the Istanbul Grand Bazaar has them all.
If you’re not one for the hustle and bustle of crowds, the Grand Bazaar Istanbul Turkey might come as shocking to the senses. Nonetheless, the haggle and the busy streets are innate to shopping in Turkey, wherever you may go. As such, take a deep breath and a deep plunge in the crowd of the Grand Bazaar Istanbul.
Historic landmark
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul was built in the 15th century. The foundation of the first building to start it all was laid in 1455. By 1461, under the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the first bedesten or domed building of the Grand Bazaar was already completed. A second domed building was close to completion.
Already in 1461, the Grand Bazaar in modern-day Istanbul had become a highly important trading center. Its location on what was known as the Silk Road helped the Grand Bazaar to become a critical import and export market for merchandise around the world.
In the 16th century, the covered market was enlarged under the order of another fierce sultan, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In 1894, this crossroad of worlds was subject to restoration as a devastating earthquake almost erased it from the map.
Istanbul Grand Bazaar Shopping
The Istanbul Grand Bazaar has kept its importance as a trading center throughout the centuries. With good reason, nonetheless. Shopping in Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the most sought cultural experiences in the world.
Heading to the covered market spreading over 60 streets and comprising almost 5,000 stores is bound to yield some bountiful rewards. A quick glance at a map of the shopping quarters will reveal the variety of choices at your disposal. What to buy in Istanbul Grand Bazaar?
From lavishly decorated lamps to craftily designed leather handbags, jewelry rich in ornaments, carpets, spices, souvenirs, and antiquities, you can find everything you’re looking for in one of the various shopping quarters. The stalls in the Grand Bazaar Istanbul are grouped together by type of goods. If you come prepared with a handy map, navigating the shopping maze becomes so much easier. Make sure to not miss the shopping area where everything is gold, the leather products area, the jewelry area or the spice area.
You can buy everything from large furniture items to icons, copperware, and inlaid weapons just in one quick stroll. However, if you’re aiming to bring the outcome of your shopping hunt home, make sure to check customs regulations in advance.
This is a layout of the main attraction points in the Grand Bazaar Istanbul. A Grand Bazaar Istanbul map is a must-have. Make sure to purchase one before entering the maze.
- The two original bedestens of the trading center are still standing. Cevahir Bedesten is the center of valuable items as well as antiques. The myriad of antique shops are home to a unique choice of valuable items that will certainly make their way to your heart.
- Sandal Bedesten hosts the textile merchants. Here you can buy carpets, traditional clothing from different eras and regions of Turkey. Modern clothing isn’t sparse either in the stalls of Sandal Bedesten. Stroll in this area and find your favorite thing to buy.
- The Istanbul Grand Bazaar also hosts two mosques in addition to two hammams and four fountains. Moreover, the largest covered market in Istanbul and one of the largest in the world is served by five access points. Make your way through one of the five imposing gates and embrace a true shopping experience for all the senses.
The opening hours of the Grand Bazaar Istanbul are between 9 a.m and 7 p.m. each day. The only days when the market is closed are Sundays as well as religious and bank holidays. The Istanbul Grand Bazaar is certainly worth your time. Scheduling a realistic plan to visit it should include at least one full day. As the Grand Bazaar Istanbul opening times provide a generous timeframe, be sure to take them into account.
Spare time spent in the Grand Bazaar Istanbul
Amidst all the shopping, one needs a break. Set aside the hustle and bustle and you’ll find the hidden gems of the labyrinth. The streets of the Istanbul Grand Bazaar are peppered with Turkish cafes and restaurants. You can enjoy a Turkish coffee while captivated by the passing crowd. Eat your exhaustion away with delicious meals and sweets, all representative for Turkey.
Accommodation near the Grand Bazaar Istanbul
Accommodation near the Grand Bazaar Istanbul is plentiful. There are a number of accommodating hotels near Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Check any booking website a good while in advance to make sure you get a room and the best price offer. After all, it’s all about haggling.
Grand Bazaar Hotel Istanbul is among the top choices of many travelers who have ventured to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul Turkey. Many other locations have received good reviews. It all boils down to your budget and preferences. As a last piece of advice, make sure that your travel pack includes a map of Grand Bazaar Istanbul and a guide of Grand Bazaar Istanbul.
The Istanbul Grand Bazaar is a maze of shopping stalls, a historic landmark, and a captivating world. Book a hotel room next to the oldest covered market in the city, pack a guide of the Grand Bazaar Istanbul and take advantage of the Grand Bazaar Istanbul opening times and the bustling atmosphere.
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