Enter the maze of shop-lined streets in one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world to browse hundreds of thousands of hand-crafted objects.

The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) lies between the Bayezid and Nuruosmaniye mosques, and covers an enormous area. Once you enter one of its 21 gates and start exploring, it’s clear that this is one of the largest bazaars in the world. Under its seemingly endless roofs you can find glazed tiles, spices, pottery, brassware, leather accessories, belly-dancing costumes, pipes and ashtrays, among other curiosa and crafts.

The Grand Bazaar dates back to the mid 1400s, when Sultan Mehmet II ordered the construction of a special site dedicated to the trading of textiles. Today you can still see classic Ottoman architecture in the bazaar’s oldest building, the Cevavir. Originally every street represented a particular type of craft, which is still reflected in their names but no longer strictly the case.

Visit some of the more than 3,000 shops divided over 60 covered streets in this exotic retail paradise. The vast complex is a colorful maze that you’d happily get lost in. Allow yourself plenty of time to explore, because it is interesting... and extremely crowded.

Shop for a Persian rug or just witness carpet-weaving demonstrations. Serious haggling is expected, so don’t be shy to offer a much lower price if you suspect that an item is overpriced. Vendors can be very persuasive, so it takes a fair bit of determination to walk out empty-handed.

Even if you don’t have spare room in your suitcase, it’s worth coming here for the lively atmosphere of a typical Turkish marketplace. Admire the old mosque and fountain, or visit a café or restaurant in one of the hans (three-story buildings). Smell the spices and other exotic blends, take pictures of the attractive displays of Turkish slippers and taste sweet Turkish delights.

The Grand Bazaar is located in the Old City, in the Fatih district. It’s best to walk there or take the tram to the Beyazıt stop. The bazaar is open daily, except Sundays. As in any crowded space, pickpockets and bag-snatchers operate in the market.

Plan a trip to see Grand Bazaar

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Armada Istanbul Old City Hotel

Sultanahmet

per person

Sep 25 - Sep 29

found 10 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (HND) to Istanbul (IST)

9/10 Wonderful! (1,001 reviews)

Very clean and near attractions

Reviewed on Jul 18, 2025

Hotel The Pera Hill

Taksim

per person

Oct 4 - Oct 10

found 23 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Osaka (KIX) to Istanbul (IST)

8/10 Very Good! (311 reviews)

Staff were great. All the ladies working in the kitchen and dining room area were amazingly nice and welcoming, especially Rasha and Betul. There are plenty of choices in the breakfast section. The location was fantastic, it was 2 minutes walk to Istiklal Cadesi, where you find numerous restaurants and shops. If you’re not a fan of crowds and busy locations, this hotel might not be suitable for you. Our window was right above a busy street with many bars and restaurants which would stay open until throughout the night and playing music. However, for us this was a plus since we enjoyed the vibe even when inside our room. The negative point was that during our 8 days stay, the room was never vaccumed although we would leave it for cleaning. Only the towels were changed and beds were made. The last day of our stay, the room was super dirty and needed a good cleaning, but we couldn’t imagine staying there for another night! It would be great if the hotel consider doing a deep cleaning for guests who stay more than 3-4 days.

Reviewed on Jul 9, 2025