Explore the multiple aisles of the Grand Bazaar, and discover countless flavors in the world's largest covered bazaar!
This labyrinthine and chaotic bazaar is the heart of the old town and has been for centuries. No visit to Istanbul would be complete without a stop here.
Started as a small bedesten (covered market) built in the time of Mehmet II the Conqueror, the bazaar(also called Kapali Çarsi) has grown to cover today more than 200,000 square meters of covered space, allowing its visit at any time of the year, regardless of the weather. A system of locked doors has been provided so that the entire mini-city can be locked at the end of each day. Today, the bazaar has 18 doors, some 60 streets (or alleys), mosques, banks, a police station, restaurants, workshops and nearly 5000 shopkeepers, making it a world unto itself.
The Grand Bazaar consists of 16 caravanserais, the main one being the initial (the bedesten), a vaulted room resembling a flea market.
If some travellers spend 3 days (!) there, you should plan an average of 3 or 4 hours to visit the whole Grand Bazaar by "flying over" your visit... There is no real time limit, it's up to your appreciation of the place...
When to visit the Grand Bazaar?
First of all, you should know that the Grand Bazaar is open from 9am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday. However, the truth about "when to visit the Grand Bazaar" is that, regardless of the day of the week (or year), sellers want to reach a certain sales quota. Some argue that the morning is ideal for getting a good deal, because the salespeople then have the rest of the day to meet their quota. Others recommend going in close to closing time in the evening, since sales have probably already been achieved and the salespeople are more pleasant to deal with. However, there is no evidence on "a better option". In the end, it all comes down to your patience, negotiating skills and a little luck.
Be patient: allow yourself some time to explore the Grand Bazaar, especially if you're planning to buy something. You need to see several stalls to check the prices and quality of the merchandise, you need to see the prices announced by the different merchants, etc. Don't go if you're sure you don't have enough time.
Be in a good mood: this is an important piece of advice. With more than 250,000 buyers/visitors a day, you obviously won't be alone. What's more, the Grand Bazaar is not a shopping mall. It's not window-shopping. Be prepared to interact with hundreds of shop owners who will be coaxing you and asking you lots of questions. It can be very tiring, so go ahead knowing that.
Map of the Grand Bazaar and its location in Istanbul
Below you will find a detailed map of the Grand Bazaar, click on it to enlarge it.
What to buy at the Grand Bazaar? It would be easier to list what you can't find. If you want to know what to find and buy at the Grand Bazaar, use the colors with the following list :
- Leather (brown on the map)
- Gold jewellery (yellow on the map)
- Silver (yellow on the map)
- Antiques (orange-brown on the map)
- Brass (İç Bedesten)
- Carpet (orange-brown on the map)
- Handbags, briefcases and luggage (pink on the map)
- (cheap) Clothing (Sandal Bedesten)
- Fabric (purple on the map)
- Belly dance costumes (pink on the map)
- Ceramics & Souvenirs (pink and green on the map)
And this is the exact location of the Great Bazaar in Istanbul:
Find a hotel near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
As the Grand Bazaar is located right in the centre of Istanbul, you might be interested in staying in a hotel close to the Grand Bazaar. Moreover, it would be easier to bring your purchases directly to your room instead of lugging them around the city. You can find hotels near the Grand Bazaar by searching this hotel comparator.
To take a guided tour of the Grand Bazaar, you can book online by clicking on the button :
