Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar: curiosities and tips

No trip to Istanbul is complete without at least one visit to the Grand Bazaar. Under its domes, the world’s only city on two continents reveals its soul. Its narrow streets, steeped in history, lead you through a labyrinth of shops, where flavors and colors weave in a hypnotic dance.

The hand-woven carpets with their vibrant colors are like windows to the past. They hold echoes of travels and negotiations from bygone times. Here, a rug is not just a piece of furniture; it’s a story laid under your feet, a journey through time and space. The jewels, glittering in the showcases, remind you of times long gone, and every precious stone has a story to tell.

Because Istanbul is not far from our country, and the 400 miles to Istanbul can be covered by car in just nine hours, we’ve put together a guide to the Grand Bazaar, along with the information you need for a successful shopping trip.

A brief history of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

Kapalıçarșı (‘covered market’) or Büyüük Çarșı (‘big market’), as Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is known in Turkish, was created by order of Sultan Mehmet II in the winter of 1455, shortly after the Ottomans conquered Istanbul. At first, only textiles were traded in the market, which is why it was called Cevahir Bedesten or Bedesten of Gems, the word ‘bedesten’ in Persian meaning ‘bazaar of cloth sellers’. Structurally, the market was built of brick and wood, with large, vaulted arches, and the walls were, as today, ornamented with painted plaster.

A few years later, Sultan Mehmet II ordered the construction of another covered market called Sandal Bedesten, named after a kind of textile thread woven in Bursa, which is the color of sandalwood. After a while, all textile goods were moved to Sandal Bedesten, and Cevahir Bedesten was reserved for the luxury goods trade.

The physico-geographical position of the Ottoman Empire made the Bazaar an extremely important point in Mediterranean trade. According to a number of European travelers, from the Middle Ages until the first half of the 19th century, the market was unparalleled in Europe in terms of abundance, variety and quality of products.

Istanbul Grand Bazaar – curiosities

Considered to be one of the world’s first shopping malls, the Grand Bazaar covers an impressive 30,700 square meters, with 61 covered streets and more than 4,000 shops, attracting between 250,000 and 40,000 visitors daily.

The huge market is located within the Old City, in the Fatih neighborhood and is positioned roughly between the Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye mosques. It has 21 entry points, but the most important are the five main gates:

• Beyazıt Kapısı (entrance from Beyazıt Square);
• Çarșșıkapı (near the Beyazıt tram station);
• Nuruosmaniye Kapısı (next to Çemberlitaș tram station);
• Örücüler Kapısı (near the tram stop coming from Eminönu neighborhood);
• Mahmut Pasa Kapısı Kapısı, next to the tram stop coming from Sirkeci neighborhood.

The Grand Bazaar is open from 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, with some small shops starting even earlier at 8.30am. It’s closed on Sundays. The best time to shop is before lunchtime, with the afternoon market extremely busy.

How to get to the Grand Bazaar by car

If you’ve decided to go to Istanbul for a big shopping spree in the Grand Bazaar, it’s advisable to do so by car, not only for the advantages it offers in terms of luggage space, but also because of the possibility to stop off on the way whenever necessary.

In addition to the road and bridge tax you have to pay on Bulgarian territory, you will need to purchase an HGS sticker stamp when entering the Turkish national territory. It can be obtained by paying 35 Turkish Lira (TL) at any post office (PTT) and, after being placed on the windshield, can be read by the marked toll gates.

To navigate Istanbul’s streets, you can use a GPS system, and once you’re in the Old City, you can follow the signs to the Grand Bazaar. Parking in Istanbul’s central area can be difficult, but you can find free parking in private or public parking lots (Palas Otopark, Emin Sinan Otopark, etc.) and in the streets surrounding the covered market.

👉 If you want to travel to Istanbul by car so that you have enough space to shop in the Grand Bazaar, use the flexible services of Enterprise Rent-a-Car Romania and rent one of the wagon-class cars with generous luggage storage.

What to buy in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

Although the comprehensive market seems to have something for everyone, only certain shops are worth visiting and only certain products are worth buying. We’ve put together a few tips on the most sought-after and quality-worthy goods to inspire you on your future purchases.

Jewelry in gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones

In Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, jewelry is more than just objects – it’s a treasure trove of history, culture and beauty. Here, under the market domes, you’ll find a wide range of products, from ornaments inspired by Ottoman, Persian or Arabic art to contemporary creations.

The Grand Bazaar is also a gemstone paradise, whether it’s precious rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds or garnets, tourmalines, topazes and amethysts. Merchants will present a variety of options, from classic to modern jewelry. Alongside these, filigree jewelry is an old tradition in Istanbul. This delicate technique involves braiding thin strands of metal to create different patterns, to which enamels, with their vibrant colors, add a touch of elegance.

Rugs and chilims

The Grand Bazaar is the meeting point for chillim woven all over Turkey, as well as for carpet makers who have the rarest handcrafted products in their collections. Hereke carpets, known as the world’s finest weavings, are sold here, considered the synthesis of traditional Anatolian weaving. The value of the handmade carpets sold in the Grand Bazaar is determined by the amount of handwork, age and colors used.

Copper objects

Among jewelry and textiles, you’ll also discover a fascinating range of brass products. Whether it’s lamps and chandeliers in filigree patterns, cutlery and crockery with geometric or floral motifs, mirrors, frames, vases or stands, we’re sure you’ll find something to suit your taste, to beautify your home and remind you of the world of the Orient.

Bakırcılar Çarșșısı, the copper workers’ market next to the Grand Bazaar, offers thousands of handmade copper objects using techniques hundreds of years old.

Silverware

Turkey has a long tradition of silver working, which began to develop particularly in the 16th century with the production of household goods. To ensure that the handicrafts sold in the Grand Bazaar are authentically crafted and that the knowledge is passed on to future generations, the Turkish state has set up associations to identify and pay special attention to the craftsmen who work in silver.

You can buy from the covered market various decorative items, jewelry adorned with semi-precious stones, candlesticks, amulets, medallions with Islamic and Ottoman symbols, each with a story and a meaning.

Leather products

During the Ottoman period, Turkish leather products, which developed most during this period, began to be sought abroad. During this period, processed Turkish leather became a favorite in European markets and this situation lasted until the early 19th century.

In the Grand Bazaar, leather products attract attention for their quality workmanship and superior raw materials. You can choose from an almost endless range of belts and accessories, shoes and boots, jackets and jackets, handbags, purses and wallets, all crafted with meticulous skill and impeccable taste.

How and how much you negotiate prices

The art of negotiating the price of a product may seem old-fashioned, with some Grand Bazaar shops preferring the Western fashion of fixed prices written on labels. However, many traders still use bargaining successfully today, and visitors should be familiar with how it works and keep a few things in mind:

• The initial price is almost always artificially increased by 20-30% to allow for a margin of negotiation.
• The buying process follows the rule of Ottoman etiquette – you’ll be served tea, exchange polite phrases and try to see how trustworthy the merchant is, who in turn will gauge your gullibility.
• Because Turkey is a very family-oriented society, don’t look surprised if the shop assistant asks about your marital status or children as a conversation starter.
• Tea and polite conversation are free – accepting it doesn’t mean you have to buy anything in return.
• It’s important to visit other shops before you buy anything, to familiarize yourself with the prices and quality of goods.
• Decide in advance how much you like the item you want to buy and how much you’re willing to pay for it – shopkeepers here are professional negotiators and are practiced at persuading customers to buy even what they don’t really want.
• The first offer you make should be around 50-60% of the original asking price, at which point the merchant will either laugh, look offended or confess to being puzzled – all part of the ritual.
• The trader will then make a counteroffer of 80-90% – now you should look disappointed, explain that you know what the real prices are for the product, communicate that you are not prepared to pay that amount, then offer around 70%.
• At this point, the trader will tell you the price at which he is prepared to sell and, if it matches your estimates and calculations, you close the deal. If not, you should smile, shake his hand and walk away. You may find that the trader will lower the price even further.

Customs policy for goods bought in Turkey

According to the MFA’s website, jewelry made of precious metals and stones worth $15,000 or more that have not been purchased for trade can be taken out of Turkey if it can be proved that they were legally purchased.

Turkish law is not very explicit on the term ‘antiques’. Therefore, if you intend to buy an art object, it is advisable to ask for an invoice and a certificate confirming that it can be legally exported.

Romanian citizens who buy goods in Turkey can recover VAT on almost any item purchased worth at least €30. 

👉 Find out more about the benefits of traveling abroad by car in our article Travel abroad with a rental car.

The Grand Bazaar is not just a market, but a window into the soul of the fascinating metropolis that is Istanbul. Here, minarets soar skywards and the Bosphorus opens its arms to the sea. In every street of the market, in every glance of the vendor, you feel the pulse of this magical city that continues to captivate and surprise.