Secrets of two Istanbul bazaars: the Grand bazaar and the Egyptian market
If Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque are the heart of Istanbul, then the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Market are its soul. Vibrant, noisy, loud, a bit touchy, smelling of tart coffee and oriental spices. Istanbul's bazaars are not just about trading souvenirs and replicas of famous brands - they are the real atmosphere of the city, its rhythm, local color and secrets. I suggest turning your souvenir shopping into a real adventure! If you look around, you'll find hidden corners, ancient courtyards, cafes with delicious pastries, authentic hookah lounges.
Please note that both markets are closed on Sundays and often during religious holidays.
In this article, I'll tell you what to see at Istanbul's two main bazaars to leave you with a pleasant aftertaste.
Please note that both markets are closed on Sundays and often during religious holidays.
In this article, I'll tell you what to see at Istanbul's two main bazaars to leave you with a pleasant aftertaste.
Grand bazaar
The Grand Bazaar, or Kapalıçarşı, translates as "covered market." No surprise there, since most of it is under a roof. This is not only Istanbul's largest bazaar, but also one of the world's biggest covered markets. Its area is 30,700 square meters! It consists of 66 trading streets. Historically, each represented some craft: silver street, carpets, and so on. Now, of course, there's still division by goods, but it's more conditional. But the street names have remained. There are about 4,500 shops and stores here.
The Grand Bazaar was founded in the 15th century, right after the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II. In 1460, by his order, two covered trading pavilions - bedestans - were built in the central part of Istanbul. Initially, only jewelry and fabrics were sold there. Over time, an entire trading world grew up around them. There are restaurants, mosques, fountains, schools, residential houses, a police station and even a cemetery here. A real city within a city! Today, the Grand Bazaar is one of Istanbul's best places to exchange currency at favorable rates. I recommend changing money where the jewelry shops are concentrated.
The Grand Bazaar was founded in the 15th century, right after the conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmed II. In 1460, by his order, two covered trading pavilions - bedestans - were built in the central part of Istanbul. Initially, only jewelry and fabrics were sold there. Over time, an entire trading world grew up around them. There are restaurants, mosques, fountains, schools, residential houses, a police station and even a cemetery here. A real city within a city! Today, the Grand Bazaar is one of Istanbul's best places to exchange currency at favorable rates. I recommend changing money where the jewelry shops are concentrated.
Don't be afraid to get lost - that's exactly where the charm of the Grand Bazaar lies. It lives its own life, at its own pace. If this whirlwind sweeps you up, I guarantee you'll be charmed. As "preparation," watch a couple of episodes of the series "The Protector." Kapalıçarşı is shown very atmospherically there. Don't worry, you won't have to watch 2-hour episodes. The series was made by Netflix, so it turned out bright and dynamic.
The market is located in the European part of the city, in the very center of Istanbul. Getting to the Grand Bazaar is easy on the T1 high-speed tram. Get off at Beyazıt station. From Sultanahmet Square you can walk there in 10-15 minutes. Kapalıçarşı has many entrances - enter through any one. Here you'll find both wide trading streets with luxurious goods and narrow alleys where brand copies are sold. They say even Italians come here for quality replicas.
The market is located in the European part of the city, in the very center of Istanbul. Getting to the Grand Bazaar is easy on the T1 high-speed tram. Get off at Beyazıt station. From Sultanahmet Square you can walk there in 10-15 minutes. Kapalıçarşı has many entrances - enter through any one. Here you'll find both wide trading streets with luxurious goods and narrow alleys where brand copies are sold. They say even Italians come here for quality replicas.
Tip: choose shops in specialized rows, for example, only carpets or only gold. This way there's a higher chance of finding reliable sellers. And, of course, always bargain. Prices here are ephemeral - they change as quickly as the weather in a city on two continents.
Beyazit tower: weather forecast by lighting
Beyazit Tower, built in 1828, is a former fire watchtower. Now it shows the weather using lighting:
▪︎ blue — clear,
▪︎ green — rain,
▪︎ yellow — fog,
▪︎ red — snow/
The tower is illuminated in the evening and can be seen from different points in the city. Unfortunately, you can't approach its base. It's located on the territory of Istanbul University. Entry there is allowed only to students and teachers.
▪︎ blue — clear,
▪︎ green — rain,
▪︎ yellow — fog,
▪︎ red — snow/
The tower is illuminated in the evening and can be seen from different points in the city. Unfortunately, you can't approach its base. It's located on the territory of Istanbul University. Entry there is allowed only to students and teachers.
Book courtyard Sahaflar Bazaar
Near Kapalıçarşı there's a book courtyard. Cats rule here. They lie with an important air right on the book stalls. At the book bazaar you can buy not only books, but also souvenirs at good prices.
Old Bazaar
The oldest part of the bazaar, where silver and rare jewelry have been sold since Ottoman times. Maybe you'd like to order a custom piece of jewelry with the right stone and design? They'll make it in a couple of days.
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Ottoman hans
Hans are inns. Merchants from all over the world have come to the bazaar since ancient times. Of course, they needed somewhere to sleep, dine, drink Turkish coffee and discuss the latest news. That's exactly what the hans were built for. There are 28 of them in total. Now the hans house galleries, traders' shops, and cafes. Each han has its own atmosphere. I recommend looking into at least the two most famous ones:
▪︎ Zincirli Han — represents a green oasis in the middle of the noisy market. A quiet place with an old-time atmosphere. In summer they bring out a cage with an African grey parrot to the center of the han. Go up to the second floor via the ancient staircase and walk along the gallery;
▪︎ Çuhacı Han. From the second floor of the han, there's a stunning view of Nuruosmaniye Mosque.
▪︎ Zincirli Han — represents a green oasis in the middle of the noisy market. A quiet place with an old-time atmosphere. In summer they bring out a cage with an African grey parrot to the center of the han. Go up to the second floor via the ancient staircase and walk along the gallery;
▪︎ Çuhacı Han. From the second floor of the han, there's a stunning view of Nuruosmaniye Mosque.
Pastries and hookah courtyard
Look into the Day Day Pastanesi bakery. This place is quite unremarkable, but it's worth visiting for sweet tooths. It's easy to find by the queue of locals. Don't be scared, the queue moves quite quickly. The pastries are snatched up hot from the oven, the bakers barely keep up with baking them. I definitely recommend trying the apple croissant. After you buy pastries, go to the authentic hookah courtyard Anadolu Nargile Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi nearby, order coffee and enjoy the local atmosphere.
Nusr-Et Steakhouse Kapalıçarşı restaurant
If you want to dine on delicious steaks, welcome to Nusr-Et Steakhouse Kapalıçarşı. This is the restaurant of the famous chef nicknamed Salt Bae. The atmosphere is special because the restaurant is located in the thick of things, right in the bazaar.
Egyptian market
The Egyptian Market (Mısır çarşısı) was built in the 17th century and got its name because many spices brought from Egypt were sold there. The market is located practically on the shore of the Golden Horn bay. You can easily get here by yacht - Courage-Voyage will help you do it beautifully.
If at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul you can buy anything your heart desires, the Egyptian one is more about food: nuts, oriental sweets, tea, coffee, spices. Everything else is also there, but in smaller quantities. Don't hesitate to try the Turkish delight that the sellers will treat you to. This doesn't oblige you to anything.
If at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul you can buy anything your heart desires, the Egyptian one is more about food: nuts, oriental sweets, tea, coffee, spices. Everything else is also there, but in smaller quantities. Don't hesitate to try the Turkish delight that the sellers will treat you to. This doesn't oblige you to anything.
Mehmet Efendi
Famous Turkish coffee from the Mehmet Efendi brand is sold here. There's always a queue at their shop, but it moves quickly because the sellers work at lightning speed.
Hazer Baba
If you're planning to take Turkish delight home from Turkey, buy it at Hazer Baba. The products here are expensive, but high quality. My favorites are Turkish delight with barberry and with almonds.
Beta Yeni Han
A place dedicated to Turkish coffee. It's pleasant to drink a cup here, hiding from the noisy bazaar atmosphere. Especially since serving the drink at Beta Yeni Han is a real ritual. When you order coffee, you'll get a mini-tray with sherbet and a piece of sweet Turkish delight.
Hatay Asi Künefeleri
Here you should try one of the most delicious künefe in Istanbul. I told you more about it in the article about Turkish sweets.
Namlı Gurme
A shop of Turkish products: cheeses, pastırma, meze, jams. Here you'll find products that are usually served for breakfast. You can buy something to take with you, or have breakfast on the second floor of the establishment.
Place for craftswomen
For lovers of jewelry and handicrafts, I recommend visiting Marpuççular İş Merkezi - a multi-story center where you'll find everything: from beads to finished products, for any taste. In some shops they sell goods only wholesale, but if you talk to the sellers, they'll definitely tell you where you can buy retail.
Bird market
If you sail to the Egyptian Market by yacht as part of a sea excursion and approach the main entrance, to your left you'll see the Bird Market. This market fully justifies its name because most of the pets sold there are feathered. Canaries, parrots and even pigeons. Children will definitely be happy to walk through these trading rows. You can also see leeches here. Don't be surprised by such unusual and not very attractive "pets." The thing is that hirudotherapy is very popular in Turkey.
Pandeli Restaurant
The restaurant has been operating since 1901. It's marked with a Michelin star. At Pandeli they serve dishes that were ordered by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Queen Elizabeth II, Audrey Hepburn, Sean Connery and Robert De Niro. It's considered that Pandeli was the favorite lunch spot of the father of the Turkish nation. The cuisine is Turkish and traditional Ottoman. Prices are no higher than in a standard Istanbul establishment. Be sure to check the opening hours, because the restaurant closes together with the Egyptian Market at 7:00 PM and doesn't work on Sundays.
The Egyptian and Grand Bazaars are those Istanbul attractions that cannot be missed. Here you'll find oriental sweets, painted handmade carpets, exquisite jewelry, bright scarves and much more. You'll dive headfirst into the atmosphere of the East. These markets are an integral part of the city's cultural heritage: here the aromas of spices, sounds of trade and history that comes alive before your eyes mix together. The Egyptian Bazaar enchants with its richness of flavors and smells, while Kapalıçarşı amazes with its scale and variety of goods. Together they offer a unique opportunity to feel the spirit of Istanbul, get acquainted with traditions and take home not only souvenirs, but also vivid memories.
Ekaterina Kosova
- author of the article
I moved to Istanbul before it became mainstream. I love exploring the eternal city and discovering interesting and delicious places. I write texts, professionally stroll and travel, and freeze moments through photos and videos.
