Istanbul Grand Bazaar or Istanbul Grand Bazaar It is considered one of the best shopping centers in Istanbul for buying souvenirs and handicrafts. What has made this market famous as a miniature city is the presence of 64 streets and alleys, 4000 shops and amenities such as banks, post offices, restaurants and cafes, etc. Istanbul Grand Bazaar with an area of about 30,000 square meters is known as one of the largest indoor markets in the world. With Flytoday tourism magazine Follow along and read the shopping guide in Istanbul Grand Bazaar.
Where is Istanbul Grand Bazaar?
To travel to the Ottoman era and walk through history, we invite you to visit this old Istanbul market. The history of Istanbul Grand Bazaar dates back to the 15th century. This old market is located in Fatih or Fatih district of Istanbul, next to the historical wall of the citadel. The exact address of Istanbul Grand Bazaar In the neighborhood of Kapali, there is a square between Bayazid Mosque and Norosmaniyeh Mosque.
History of Istanbul Grand Bazaar
Sultan Mohammad II established this market in 1455-56. The architecture of Istanbul Grand Bazaar is very eye-catching. This market was made of brick and wood with large arches and plastered on its walls. In this bazaar, only cloth was traded and it is called Jawahar bazaar.
After a few years, another bazaar named Sandal Bazaar was established near Jawahar Bazaar, and gradually in the early 17th century, this bazaar took on a more complete form. Over time, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar became the hub of Mediterranean trade; According to many travelers, until the 19th century, no market could compete with this big market in terms of variety and quality of products. Over the years, this market was damaged by fire, earthquake, etc., but it still kept its old texture until it was reconstructed at the end of the 21st century.
Facts and wonders of Istanbul Grand Bazaar
There are some interesting things to know about the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, which we will mention below:
- No artificial light is used to illuminate the market, and the light of the market is provided through the windows on the roof.
- In the past, all the streets and market accesses were parallel, but now, due to the renovations that have been done, this market has turned into a labyrinth of different streets.
- In the past, there were various guilds in the bazaar, and every person who wanted to work in a guild, either had to be a descendant of a deceased person who worked in one of the guilds in the bazaar, or had to pay a fee to be employed. In order to create new guilds, it was necessary to have several sellers ready to work in that guild.
- If you are interested in learning more about Istanbul Grand Bazaar, you can read the works of authors such as Edmundo De Amicis and Théophile Gautier.
Access ways to Istanbul Grand Bazaar
Depending on the location of your hotel, you have different routes to go to Istanbul Grand Bazaar. You can easily go to Istanbul Grand Bazaar by tram from Taksim Square and metro from Atatürk Blvd.
- Access to Istanbul Grand Bazaar by tram
Take the F1 line of the funicular to Catabash station. Then take T1 tram line from Katabash and get off at Bayazid station.
- Access to Istanbul Grand Bazaar by metro
To go to Istanbul market, you can go to Ankara ski boulevard. Take the H112 line to the Lunet station, then take the M2 subway and get off at the Wenzkeiler station.
Istanbul Grand Bazaar address on Google map
What should we buy from Grand Bazaar in Istanbul? | Parts of the Grand Bazaar
This old bazaar, like the Tehran bazaar, has different lines such as clothes, bags and traditional shoes, carpets, rugs, etc. In Istanbul bazaar, you can find anything you want, from chicken to chicken. If you intend to buy a specific product, you can refer to the relevant order. Stay with us to learn more about how to shop in Istanbul Grand Bazaar. Shopping guide in Istanbul Read on to learn more about what and where to buy in this city.
Buying carpets and rugs from Istanbul Grand Bazaar
One of the most famous handicrafts of Turkey is its hand-woven carpets and rugs. The best place to buy these beautiful carpets and rugs is Istanbul Grand Bazaar. Carpet weaving is a precious heritage of Turkey and it is among the leading countries in this respect. Every city and village in Turkey has a special and unique style in carpet weaving designs and motifs.
Be sure to visit Istanbul’s carpet sellers’ market and enjoy the designs and patterns of these carpets. The price of Turkish carpets varies according to the age of the carpet, the art of the weaver, the quality of the wool, its color, and its rarity. For a good shopping experience, you can start from Takkeciler Sokak and Zincirli Han.

Lamps and lanterns in the Grand Bazaar
One of the most beautiful souvenirs of a trip to Istanbul can be mentioned its handmade lamps and lanterns. In this old market, you can see and buy modern and traditional styles of lamps and lanterns, with a combination of art and color.

Don’t miss Istanbul bazaar ceramics!
Its ceramic industry is considered to be one of Turkey’s most famous works. Nowadays, modern designs have also been created by combining traditional Ottoman designs, tulips and other flowers. If you want to buy ceramics at reasonable prices, you can find them in the main line of Istanbul Grand Bazaar.

antiques
Sofa Art & Antiques is located outside the bazaar and is one of the best antique shops in Istanbul, and its accessories include ceramics, miniatures, paintings, calligraphy, carpets, etc. Eski Fine Arts and Antiques is a real treasure trove of antiques and a collection of works of art from the Ottoman Empire. These antiques include paintings, jewelry, coin and money collection, calligraphy, hookah, pipe, backgammon, etc.
Buy hookah or pot in Istanbul Grand Bazaar!
Turkish hookahs are part of the culture left over from the Ottoman era. The body of these hookahs, which are usually made of glass or ceramic, are decorated with beautiful designs. It is possible that you can get the body of these hookahs separately and use it for the vase.

Istanbul goldsmiths market
We reached the most attractive part of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the goldsmiths section. In this big bazaar, which is full of gold shops, you can find all kinds of gold and jewelry from fine to the combination of gold with precious stones.

Turkish leather and textiles
Turkey’s textile industry has been receiving attention since the time of the Ottomans due to the availability of production infrastructure, especially the production and rapid growth of cotton and its proximity to European markets. Turkish textiles are welcomed by tourists and travelers due to their quality and beautiful designs. They are also a good option for buying souvenirs due to their convenient and small packaging. Another section of this big market is the section of leather sellers. Turkey has been noted for its leather products since ancient times.
spice
Welcome to the most delicious and fragrant part of the Istanbul Grand Bazaar shopping guide. In this part of the market, you can buy all kinds of spices with the best quality. For seasoning, go for sweet and sour pomegranate molasses and pakmer, which is a concentrated fruit syrup and is usually made from grapes or berries.

Pay attention to these few points when visiting and shopping in Istanbul Grand Bazaar:
- Istanbul Grand Bazaar is active every day except Sundays and national and public holidays from 8:30 am to 7 pm.
- Grand Bazaar may not be a good option for buying clothes in Istanbul. It is better to go to other shopping centers in Istanbul to buy clothes.
- To fully visit this big market, be sure to dedicate a whole morning or afternoon to it.
- This big and beautiful market will amaze you so much that you will go from one line to another. So don’t worry if you lose your way.
- One of the pleasant experiences of visiting the Istanbul Grand Bazaar is drinking tea and chatting with the market vendors.
- Be sure to get prices from several shops before making the final purchase, then buy. The price of goods varies greatly depending on your nationality and dialect. So don’t neglect the power of bargaining.
- You can find small souvenirs such as key chains, bunchok (eyes) that easily fit in a suitcase, in most of the stalls on the main line of Istanbul Grand Bazaar.
- If you want to buy gold, go to Kalpakçılarbaşı street. You can find metalware on Cebeci Han and Iç Bedesten streets, and head to Halıçılar Caddesi for carpets.
Sights near Istanbul Grand Bazaar
Sightseeing places around Istanbul Bazaar There you can visit them too. Including Sights of Istanbul You can mention the historical Istanbul Citadel, Rostam Pasha Mosque, Aminonu neighborhood, Suleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace Museum, Hagia Sophia Mosque, Basilica Cistern, etc.
Istanbul hotel reservation in Fatih area
that In which area of Istanbul should we get a hotel?, it can help our easy access to the attractions and shopping centers of this city. Due to its location and proximity to Sultan Ahmed neighborhood, Fatih or Fatih area of Istanbul has many tourist attractions and all kinds of markets in Istanbul. For easy access to the sights of Istanbul, you can easily book your hotel in Fatih area. Continue with some of the best Istanbul hotels You will get to know more in Fatih area.
If you are planning a luxury trip to Istanbul, we recommend Ajava Sultan Ahmed Hotel and DoubleTree by Hilton Old Town Istanbul. Also, if you are thinking of cheap hotels in Fatih region, go to Misa Hotel and Hotel 1453. But for those who are looking for the cheapest accommodation options by staying in Istanbul hostels, our suggestion is Antique Hostel & Guesthouse.

A trip to Istanbul is not complete without shopping!
Shopping in Istanbul is always attractive; It doesn’t matter whether you go to the luxury shopping centers of this city or visit its traditional markets. Many shopping festivals are held in this city throughout the year; So maybe the best time to buy Cheap plane tickets during these festivals. When traveling to Istanbul, be sure to visit the old market of this city. Even if you don’t buy from it, the old atmosphere of this market will be an attractive experience for you.
If you have had the experience of visiting the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, share it with the readers of our magazine.
Frequently asked questions about Istanbul Grand Bazaar
How to go to Istanbul Grand Bazaar?
Take tram T1 (blue line) to Bayazid – Kapalicharsi station (Istanbul Grand Bazaar metro station). This station is a 15-minute walk from Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
What are the working hours of the Grand Bazaar?
Istanbul Grand Bazaar is open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:00.
What should we buy in the big market?
Ceramics, Turkish lamps, decorations, Turkish tea, carpets and rugs, spices, silver ornaments and
Turkish sweets
RCO NEWS