 | Istanbul Grand Bazaar Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 103 |  |
 | |  |  | Grand Bazaar: Grand Bazaar | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
The Grand Bazaar was built in 1464 by order of Mehmed II and has served the needs of the city ever since. Today it is one of the biggest covered markets in the entire world. With literally thousands of shops selling everything from t-shirts and leather jackets to expensive jewelry and antiques, the Grand Bazaar has more things for sale than you can imagine, including what has to be the biggest concentration of Turkish rugs in the universe. In addition to providing a great shopping area for tourists, it also provides a vital source of goods for locals. You can easily spend half a day in the Grand Bazaar, and even if you go in without any particular items in mind, chances are that you'll come across something you just have to take home with you. In our case we came out with several big bags of things we just had to take home with us, and could easily have bought a whole lot more than that if we had room for it all. Remember that ALL the prices quoted by the merchants are negotiable. I spent a lot of time haggling for the things I bought. In some cases I got great deals and in others I overpaid, but it was always fun to barter nonetheless. And it's not over when you leave the confines of the bazaar, because the entire surrounding area serves as a sprawling outdoor market as well. However, we found that the things for sale outside were not nearly as nice and that the outdoor market seemed to serve mostly the needs of locals, who came shopping for batteries, cooking utensils, underwear, and just about anything else you can imagine. You'll just have to decide for yourself whether the Grand Bazaar is a tourist trap, but personally I think it would be a real shame to miss it. Leave a Comment Directions: The easiest way to get from Sultanahmet to the Grand Bazaar is via the Zeytinburnu tram uphill from Sultanahmet. Get off at the Carsikapi stop.
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| | | | Grand Bazaar: Kapali Carsi (I&V) | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Probably the best way to describe the Grand Bazaar is to quote Mark Twain – "We went to the grand Bazaar in Stamboul, of course, and I shall not describe it further than to say it is a monstrous hive of little shops – thousands, I should say – all under one roof, and cut up into innumerable little blocks by narrow streets which are arched overhead." Although his visit to the Grand Bazaar was more than century ago, almost nothing has changed. It would have been great if one had been able to compare the Grand Bazaar of today with the Grand Bazaar at the time of its establishment, in mid 15th century. We had doubts about putting the Grand Bazaar tip into Shopping tips section or Things to Do section. Finally we have decided that the other is better and more useful as the Grand Bazaar is more the tourist attraction than a shopping place. We could also noticed that the Grand Bazaar is often described as the Tourist Trap here, on VT. It is not the tourist trap as long as one knows what to expect of it, at least a bit, cause nothing can prepare you for the Grand Bazaar. Leave a Comment Address: Carsikapi Caddesi, BeyazitDirections: The Grand Bazaar can be reached by walking via Divanyolu Caddesi – it is about 10 minute walk far from the Hagia Sophia, on the right side of the street. The Grand Bazaar is huge and has many entrances so it is quite impossible to miss it.
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| | | | Grand Bazaar: A shopping madness | Tip Rating: | | | | |
It feels like it never will end, that there are more shopping possibilities around every corner - and that you never will be able to find the best price... 4000 shops under one roof. Remember some things: - Always negotiate about the prize. And be sure that whatever price you in the end will pay - the salesmen still is pleased with the price he got you to pay... Not said that you can't have done a good affair. - Keep you belongings close to you. The Grand Bazar is mostly really crowded, and if you lose concentration for even only one second - you risk losing your wallet, bag or anything else. - If you have the time, go around in the bazar first. Even if you don't want to buy something it's still really fun to just go around and look. If you aren't afraid for crowded places that is... Then after a while, when you have seen enough, decide what you want to buy, and then buy it. My impression is that the prices doesn't change much from one place to another, but it probably will help you to get a lower price if you go around and bargain with more salesmen. - If you aren't interested in buying something from a shop, don't look interested, and don't stop in front of it. In just seconds you'll be dragged into the shop, and then it can be hard to get out again without being rude or buying something... Here you will find everything you ever have wanted to buy in Turkey. Gold, silver, clothes in all kinds of ways, tea, coffe, spicies, glasses, sculptures, souvenirs and more and more and more. Just remember to look around a bit too. The tunnels where you're going are really beautiful! The Grand Bazar was first started some 500 years ago. And it's actually quite easy to find what you're looking for, specially if you as I had, have a turkish friend with you. The streets are named after what you'll find on them, and even even if you don't understand turkish you'll soon understand how it works. One area with only leather clothes, one only with gold, another with only with spicies, and so on. Leave a Comment Directions: European side, not far from the harbour where you get off the Bosporen-boat.
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| | | | Grand Bazaar: The Grand Bazaar | Tip Rating: | | | | |
You really can't go to Istanbul without getting lost in the Grand Bazaar at least once - it is such a colourful, busy (and at first slightly overwhelming) place - I loved it!:o) The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world - an amazing labyrinth with almost 4000 small shops, selling pretty much everything you can imagine - and then some. You'll find a huge selection of carpets and leather goods, sweets, dried fruit and spices, jewelry, glassware, pottery, fabrics, belly dancing costumes, t-shirts and all sorts of souvenirs. It is not *quite* as chaotic as it sounds, most of the shops are (sort of) grouped by the type of goods they sell: there's one area for carpets, one for gold & silver, and so on. The locals *do* shop here too, it's not all just for tourists - but of course, as a tourist you're the prime target for most of the somewhat aggressive salesmen here... :o) (A tip: I quite like to visit shops where there already are other customers, that way I get a chance to look around while the shopkeeper is busy with the others;o) And of course: always, *always* bargain. The Grand Bazaar is almost a small town in itself, in addition to all the shops you'll find a few restaurants - as well as workshops, mosques, money changing booths - and a police station. The bazaar can be very crowded, and you should of course keep an eye on your belongings. Oh, and don't forget to look up when you're wandering around the bazaar - the architecture here is really interesting. The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Leave a Comment Directions: From Sultanahmet, walk up Divan Yolu Cad - it is a 15-20 minute walk from the Blue Mosque. The Grand Bazaar has *many* entrances and is quite impossible to miss.
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| | | | Grand Bazaar: Bargain for shopping! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
You will loose yourself at the Grand Bazaar and will spend a lot, if you like to shop. It's very tempting! The Grand Bazaar is a huge covered complex of shops, very colourful and funny. You will find here carpets ( good and bad quality), cushions, bowls, pipes, all crafts, pottery, leather jackets, teas, anything you want. The vendors will call you to enter their establishments and try to sell you their goods. If you aren't really interested in buying just smile, say thank you and go on. If you show interest in any item they won't leave you alone. So, be sure you really want the item before asking them any questions. Also, don't ever show much interest on something if you really want it. Just ask about other things without letting them notice that it's THAT item you really want. That way you might get it for much less than you expect. Always bargain the price , that's a custom and the vendors love it. At the end you should pay 1/3 of what was the initial price he asked. Bargaining is a funny thing if we can develop your skills in it and by the time you leave Istanbul, you will be a master doing it. I was! Leave a Comment
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| | | | Grand Bazaar: Kapaliçarsi | Tip Rating: | | | | |
The Grand Bazaar, or Kapaliçarsi "Covered Bazaar", as it is called in Turkish, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Istanbul, yet it is also quite popular among locals as well. And why not, with thousands of shops selling everything from Turkish rugs & belly dancing costumes to jewelry & watches, along with countless restaurants & cafes, you could spend a whole day here! If you are looking for that special souvenir to take home, this is where you will want to go. If you are looking for a fake Gucci purse, this is where you will want to go. And if you are a good bargainer, this is DEFINATELY where you want to go! Price is always negotiable here! The Bazaar traces it's origins back to the earliest days of Turkish presence in Istanbul, when Sultan Mehmet II commissioned it in 1464. Over the centuries, it has grown dramatically in size, and has gone through many restorations and rennovations. Today it is one of the biggest covered markets in the world, and hundreds of thousands of people walk through it everyday. The shopkeepers are quite aware of this, many of them try endlessly to get you to come look at whatever it is they are selling. When we visited, even right after I purchased a small necklace, this guy from another shop followed me around for a couple of minutes trying to get me to look at the necklaces he was selling! But it is all part of the experience here, fending off one shopkeeper while haggling with the next is half of the fun. Don't miss one of Istanbul's most recognized treasure's, even if you just come to do a little browsing and have a glass of tea. Not to be missed! Directions: From Sultanahmet, walk along the Divan Yolu street and railine until you get to the Beyazit stop for the train. Take a right on Çadircilar caddesi, and the Bazaar will be on your rightWebsite: http://www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/
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