Grand Bazaar, Istanbul Market

Address: Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı), Beyazıt, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

Website: http://www.kapalicarsi.com.tr

Admission: Free to enter the Bazaar (stall purchases separate)

The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) in Istanbul is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, located in the historic peninsula of the city and historically a commercial hub since the Ottoman period. It remains a major shopping and tourist destination.

A dense network of covered streets and passageways contains thousands of small shops and stalls selling jewellery, textiles, ceramics, carpets, leather goods and souvenirs, with many vendors practising bargaining. Architectural features include vaulted roofs, arched entrances and several historic gateways that mark the main access points into the market.

The market atmosphere is busy and commercial, and several adjacent streets and specialised hans (caravanserais) extend the shopping area beyond the covered complex.

Established in the Ottoman period, the complex developed over centuries as a central trading quarter and was periodically rebuilt and expanded following fires and urban changes. It has been a continuous commercial centre in Istanbul since the late medieval and early modern periods.

Situated in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet-Beyazit area, the bazaar sits on the European side of the city within easy walking distance of major landmarks such as the Suleymaniye Mosque and the Hippodrome.

• Shopping Style: The complex contains dozens of covered streets and passageways with a very high density of small shops, and haggling over prices is common practice in many stalls.
• Goods and Timing: Many visitors focus on textiles, jewellery, ceramics and spices; the busiest periods are midday and early afternoon, so mornings are often quieter for browsing.

The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) is in the Fatih district of Istanbul near Beyazıt Square. The easiest public transit is the T1 tram (Kabataş-Bağcılar) to the Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı stop, which is essentially at the bazaar entrance (a 1-3 minute walk). The T1 line also links Sultanahmet, Eminönü and Kabataş, so you can reach the bazaar directly from those tourist hubs; taxis and local buses also serve the area.

• Arrive right when the bazaar opens to explore the covered alleys before large coach groups swell the crowds and to see some workshops at work.
• Enter from the Beyazıt / Kapalıçarşı tram stop to step straight into the western gates and avoid longer foot traffic flows coming from the Eminönü ferry area.
• Don't limit yourself to the main thoroughfares-walk the quieter inner corridors where small antique and craft stalls are clustered and fewer tourists stop.