Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

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You will either love the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi) or not. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to visit the Grand Bazaar. However, by the end of my trip to Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar would not even rank in my top ten Istanbul favorites. Of course, it is still a must see. Everyone knows the stats: one of the world's largest and oldest covered markets, 60+ maze-like streets with thousands of booth-like stalls selling everything from carpets to jeans.

Mehmet II established the Grand Bazaar in 1453. Over the years, it has been expanded, and restored after fires and earthquakes. Inside, the tiled arches were my favorite feature.

Although there are many entrance gates, the four main gates are: Oruculer Gate, Mahmut Pasa Gate, Nuruosmaniye Gate (by Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Cemberlitas tram stop), and Beyazit Gate (Beyazit tram stop). Inside you will find fountains, mosques, and many cafes if you need a break from shopping.

Haggling is the norm and for those of you(us) who don't enjoy it, I recommend shopping outside the bazaar. Prices quoted were at least 2 times, sometimes 3 times more than for the same item outside the bazaar. Although the bazaar is sectioned by type of merchandise you will be able to find trashy trinkets/souvenirs all over.

It is estimated that between 250,000 and 400,000 people jam the bazaar each day so get an early start. We were fortunate in that each time we stopped in at the Bazaar it was almost empty (unlike the very crowded Spice Bazaar).

My opinion might be in the minority, but I honestly thought the Grand Bazaar was uninspiring. It certainly was nothing like shopping at the Souks in Marrakesh, but more like shopping in a mall. But still, when you visit Istanbul, you HAVE to go to the Grand Bazaar!

Open Monday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Closed on Sundays

Be sure to pick up a map of the bazaar before exploring.

**Watch for pickpockets and bagslashers.

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.

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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!

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Kapalicarsi means covered market in Turkish and also known in English as Grand Bazaar. It was built in the 15th century. It is the largest covered market in Turkey and possibly of its kind in the world.

The bazaar almost sells everything, from Turkish pipe to Turkish carpet, from leather to wool, from imitation goods to souvenir, from postcards to belly dancer outfits. There are restaurants and tea houses at the bazaar.

The bazaar is a colourful and exciting place with full of activities. Maze of shops, the sound customers bargaining and the shop owner trying to grab your attention. You can practise your bargaining skill at Kapalicarsi.

I was told in the crowd beware of pickpockets and bag snatcher.

Kapalicarsi open daily except Sunday from 7am to 7pm.

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!

It,s a big covered old shopping center with about 4000 shops inside it , they sell
many things like jewellry , gold , carpets ,hand made dishes , leather , sweets .
you will like it so much , for me we have in Syria same thing so i feel inside it
like my city , same feeling . note it,s close all in sunday

THE GRAND BAZAAR, I had heard so much, I had seen it on Television a few times, and at last, I was here, having a look around the shops, about 4000 of them!!!

There probably is everything here that you could want to look at and buy!

I don't know why, but I wasn't that impressed, perhaps expecting more from the build up I had been given. I also had been to the Egyptian Bazaar first, and been around narrow streets with lots of stalls, perhaps that was it?

OR.....................

Maybe it was because I wanted to buy some Ceramics and had priced them in a normal shop before visiting, so I had an idea of what to pay.
They were 6t/l at the shop, at the Bazaar, I asked the price, and was told 12 t/l, so even with bargaining.
I would have been paying more than buying from a shop and not doing any bargaining.

BEWARE!!!!!!

It probably was this, disappointing.
I was looking forward to getting some lovely gifts at bargain prices, and I soon realized.......
THIS WAS NOT THE PLACE FOR CHEAP BARGAINS.

I'm glad I came for a look, I think I enjoyed outside, in amongst the hundreds of people in the side streets better!

OPEN DAILY MONDAY TO SATURDAY 8.30 - 7PM ........ CLOSED SUNDAYS
The surrounding street markets usually stay open longer.

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Kapalicarsi, the Grand Bazaar, is one of the largest covered markets in the world, 330000 sq ft, with upwards of 3500 stores, 55 streets, 25000 workers, and 250000-400000 visitors per day. Mehmet the Conquerer opened a market at this site as early as 1450, enlarged significantly by Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16th C, with extensive renovations following a major earthquake in 1894.
The broad classes of merchandise available from multiple vendors include most famously jewellry, watches, leather good, clothing, carpets and kilims, all varieties of antiques, ceramics, and precious metals and stones. The floor plan is confusing with some oblique and curved streets, but schematic maps are available from multiple sources including hotels. These are color coded as certain areas of the bazaar contain predominantly once class of shop. The most expensive and upscale section is at the center (Cevahir Bedesten - Old Bazaar)( Image 5 ) where the aisles are narrower, the storefronts far more refined, and the dome the highest. Here the streets are quiet and peaceful without the hustle and bustle of the remainder in fitting with the more refined offerings. This is the area for antique jewellry coins and furniture, copperware and amber, fine ceramics, and religious objects.
Multiple entrances to the bazaar allow access to different areas but for most visitors following the crowds from the Beyazit or Cemberlitas tram stop ( just west of the Sultanahmet stop) will be the best route. Immediately on entrance there is a leather clothing district and the first main street running perpendicularly is the main street for jewellry sales, with small side streets.