Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is the oldest and one of the most fabulous covered (indoor) shopping centers in the world. This fascinating bazaar or traditional shopping center is one of the most popular attractions of Istanbul city in Turkey. This bazaar has 30,700 square meters of land area that takes 60 streets and more than 4000 shops and units. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul was inaugurated in the year 1461 and it has expanded over centuries. In this article, we are going to talk about the spectacular Grand Bazaar of Istanbul city and take a tour with you in the maze of hallways in this magnificent shopping center.
Take a tour of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul city with us
The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is a place for shopping for souvenirs, knowing more about the culture and heritage of Turkey, and exploring different areas of it as you are exploring an attraction in the city. The salesman of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul has special ways of selling. They will call you and ask you if you want their product. They will block your way and ask you to take a look at their products and their shop. Bargaining is a tradition in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul so bear that in mind when you are purchasing a product.
As you are walking in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul the first thing that catches your attention is the hundreds of thousands of colorful lanterns that are hanging from the walls and ceilings and on shelves. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is like an exhibition where you will see all the traditional handicrafts from Turkish culture in various shapes and colors that you can purchase as a souvenir.
Accessibility, location and timings of Grand Bazaar / Istanbul
- Location: Beyazit, Kalpakçılar Cd No: 22, 34126 Fatih / Istanbul, Turkey.
- Timings: Every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
There are several ways that you can take to get to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Continuing, we will tell you some of the ways that you can use for getting to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.
- Tram: this is the first option for you to get to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. If you take a tram from Taksim you will get to the Bazaar in less than 15 minutes.
- Taxi: you can take a cab from wherever in Istanbul city and get to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.
- Metro: you can take the M1A and the M1B line and get off the train at Vezneciler station. You have to walk a little bit to get to the entrance of the Bazaar.
- Bus: several bus lines will take you to the entrance of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. There’s a bus station next to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul.
Distinct zones of Istanbul Grand Bazaar
Different areas of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul are known by the guilds that are mostly located in that zone. Every guild is situated on a specific part of the Bazaar and all the shops that are located in that area are selling the same product in various shapes and prices. This helps find you the products that you are looking for very easier and with a much more reasonable price. You can find anything that you need daily in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Also, there are numerous dining places and cafés in this shopping center where you can enjoy a pleasant Turkish meal in the middle of your shopping.
Attractions that are located next to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul
The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is located in the central part of the city and it is one of the oldest areas in Istanbul city. A lot of attractions that are mostly historic places are located next to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. We will name some of these places in the following section. You can plan to visit one of these places on the same day that you are visiting the Grand Bazaar.
1- Suleymaniye Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque is a place that has remained from the Ottoman empire’s time. this mosque was inaugurated in the year 1557. There are some amenities including a traditional hospital and bathhouse (Hammam), some charities, a library, etc. in the Suleymaniye Mosque that are managed traditionally.
2- Istanbul University
Istanbul University is one of the nearby places to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul located on the same street. This university is the oldest and first university in Turkey. Tourists and outsiders of the university are allowed to visit this place on working days of the week at specified hours.
3- Column of Constantine
Another one of the nearby attractions to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is the Column of Constantine. If you are eager to learn more about the history of Turkey and its greatness you should visit this magnificent column. This column has 35 meters in height and is the oldest monument from Constantine that has survived and you can visit it in Istanbul city.
4- The Aqueduct of Valens
The Aqueduct of Valens is another one of Istanbul’s attractions that are located near the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. this aqueduct dates back to the 4th century and it is one of the oldest places in Istanbul. Ataturk Blvd is built under the arches of this place and you can see it as you are driving under it.
Final words about the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul
In this article, we tried to tell you all about the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul and the reason that this traditional shopping center is so important and popular among the local people and tourists that visit this city. The memory of strolling through the mazes of covered streets of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul will always stay with you and make you fall in love with the culture of Turkey. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is a shopping center just like all the traditional shopping centers that you will see in the Middle East and one of the greatest ones.
