Istanbul is the perfect travel destination with its rich history, multicultural society, and numerous attractions. Here, you can experience all kinds of recreation and activities, from traditional to modern. One of the most popular attractions and activities in Istanbul is shopping. Many people believe that Istanbul is the heaven of a shop lover.
Istanbul’s many shopping centers offer the opportunity to take your shopping experience to the next level! Some of these centers are traditional shopping centers or bazaars.
One of the most well-known bazaars in Istanbul is Istanbul Spice Bazaar. As you probably figured out from the name, this shopping center is only for spices and other ingredients for cooking or making a drink. In this article, we will talk about the Spice Bazaar of Istanbul and tell you all about it.
A History and Introduction of Istanbul Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
Istanbul Spice Bazaar is a traditional shopping center that dates back to 1660, during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. It was built next to the Eminonu area, a primarily commercial waterfront area where most of Turkey’s and Istanbul’s export and import businesses occurred.
Now that you know about the importance of the Eminonu waterfront in the economics of the Ottoman Empire at that time, add that to the fact that Istanbul Spice Bazaar is close to it. Istanbul Spice Bazaar was one of the most strategic shopping centers in this city, and nowadays, it is considered a historical attraction of Istanbul.
Istanbul spice bazaar is also known as Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian bazaar) because it was built with the wealth brought to Istanbul from the Ottoman areas of Egypt.
What to buy from Istanbul Spice Bazaar?
Istanbul Spice Bazaar is the perfect place for those who fell in love with Turkish cuisine on their trip to this country and want to bring a piece back or see the ingredients without being mixed in a food or drink.
You can purchase herbs, spices, traditional Turkish snacks, desserts, nuts, etc. from Istanbul Spice Bazaar. A big part of Istanbul’s souvenirs are edible and organic ingredients, and the Istanbul Spice Bazaar is the best place to look for them.
Some popular products to look for in the Istanbul spice bazaar are Sumac, Baklava, Turkish delight, Turkish coffee, and olive oil.
How to get to Istanbul Spice Bazaar?
Istanbul Spice Bazaar’s address: Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey.
Fortunately, Istanbul Spice Bazaar is accessible by tram, one of Istanbul’s most popular public transportation. Take the Tram 1 line and go to Eminonu station. It’s a short walk from the station to Istanbul Spice Bazaar. This is the easiest and cheapest way to get to Istanbul Spice Bazaar.
Istanbul Spice Bazaar is located in Fatih, a historic district on the European side of the city. This area is very crowded most of the day, so it is recommended that you take public transportation to get there so that the hubbub can’t bother you.
Nearby attractions to Istanbul Spice Bazaar?
Due to Istanbul Spice Bazaar’s perfect location and its closeness to some of Istanbul’s most famous attractions, you can easily save a fortune and time by planning to visit several attractions on the same day that you are planning to visit Istanbul Spice Bazaar.
Some of Istanbul’s attractions close to the Spice Bazaar are the Grand Bazaar, Galata Bridge, and Topkapi Palace.
Facts you didn’t know about Istanbul Spice Bazaar
- Istanbul Spice Bazaar’s opening hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturdays, it is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; on Sundays, it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- The architectural style of the Istanbul Spice Bazaar is Ottoman architecture.
- Do not forget to bargain! Bargaining is an integral part of shopping in traditional shopping centers in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Spice Bazaar is a covered market with more than 85 shops.
Final Words about Istanbul Spice Bazaar
Istanbul’s spice bazaar is full of tourists every day of the year. Most people believe this traditional shopping center is more like an exhibition of Turkish cuisine’s ingredients and an Ottoman-style shopping center.
Istanbul Spice Bazaar is one of those attractions that you can hardly find a similar place to in any other country or city. Make sure you visit this charming shopping center on your trip to Istanbul to get a closer look at Turkish cuisine and its ingredients.
