The ultimate shopping guide to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey is a spectacular shopping experience. It’s shopping on steroids!

If you’re a shopaholic or a savvy bargain hunter and visiting Istanbul, this is your place. Here is your ultimate shopping guide to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, is one of the largest and oldest markets in the world. The market extends over 65 streets and has over 4000 shops covering an area of 30,700 metres. That’s about 30 kilometres or 18.5 miles. If you are looking to increase your daily step count, you’ll definitely achieve it here.

You’ll be in good company too. Being one of the major attractions in Istanbul, about 400,000 people visit daily.

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The market dates back to around 1455. The Ottomans created it to stimulate economic activity in Istanbul, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the years, fires and earthquakes damaged parts of the market, which was rebuilt multiple times. It’s an eclectic mix of the old and the new.

The Grand Bazaar is a glorious place to explore and buy local goods, and trinkets like the Aladdin lamps, evil eye pendants and bracelets, souvenirs, food and more.

These are just some things you can find in the Grand Bazaar:

*Rugs and carpets

*Lamps

*Ceramics

*Leather – handbags, belts, wallets, shoes and other accessories

*Silver and gold jewellery

*Clothing

*Smoking pipes

*Spices

*Coffee

*Turkish Delights

*Food

And so much more!

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This popular marketplace offers a glimpse of Turkish culture and Istanbul’s vibrant street life.

When I entered the market, people drinking from a small tulip-shaped glass, similar to shot glasses, intrigued me. I found out they were drinking traditional Turkish tea from an incebelli bardak, a thin-waisted glass. It’s a delicate tea that is rich in antioxidants, boosts metabolism and supports digestion.

The market itself is a mixture of indoor and outdoor areas and has many alleyways to explore. If you turn a corner and expect to arrive back where you started, good luck.

But getting lost is part of the fun. I needed Google Maps to get me back to my hotel, but I had a great time bargaining and came away with many wonderful items.

You’ll need a solid two to three hours minimum in the market, but you could definitely spend a whole day there. The crowds are quite thick at any time of the day, and if you don’t mind being shoulder to shoulder with others, you’ll have a great time.

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Bargaining is the name of the game. You’ll notice a lot of sellers selling the same items, so do your research if you have your eye on something. Ask for prices and then work out what you’re willing to pay and negotiate like your life depends on it.

Read this blog post for more bargaining tips:

Mastering the art of bargaining to get the best price

The market is located inside the walled city of Istanbul in the Fatih district and is open daily from 9am to 7pm except for Sundays when it is closed.

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