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Inside the Grand Bazaar

April 14, 2020 | Michael Turtle | 41 Comments

LOCAL MARKET

The Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

The lamps hang from the ceiling of the stall, glowing like a constellation. Different shapes, varied sizes, a range of colours.

Each on their own is a work of art – together they become a gallery of light.

Such is the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. At the centre of the old city, undercover and along ancient alleyways, it was once the heart of the city’s trade.

In fact, it was at the heart of much of the world’s economy for decades – the bridge between Europe and Asia culturally and commercially.

These days it’s more about tourism than trade… but more on that in a second.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

A carpet store hangs its designs at the entrance while the owner drinks his tea on a stool…

A few metres away a man is trying to call visitors into his clothes store where shirts are stacked in coloured towers…

From another stall, the smell of spices waft between the passing crowds – no need to shout out, its presence is unavoidable.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

There are more than three thousands shops in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Over the centuries, it has grown in size and evolved with the changes of society.

The first form of the market was built in the fifteenth century and was originally used for textiles. It has been the centre for books, jewellery, furniture, food – even slaves.

Now it is a mixture of everything… except the slaves, of course.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

It’s sometimes claimed that the bazaar is the most-visited monument in the history of the world, in terms of total visitors.

Every day there are between 250,000 and 400,000 people who walk under one of the small stone arches into the labyrinth complex. A lot of them are tourists – but not many are there to actually buy something.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

And that’s the problem for many of the vendors. Yes, they will make a living, but they have to balance their business with the feeling they are simply animals in a zoo.

About 26,000 people work here but thousands of them will spend their days drinking their tea, smoking their cigarettes, waiting for customers.

How many serious carpet-buyers would actually head to the Grand Bazaar to get the best quality at the best price? Photogenic, not affordable, is the word of the day.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

Still, this is about as iconic as the city can get. It’s a place where history has morphed into the present, where local culture has intertwined with tourism, and where there’s a rare vibrancy for a landmark so old.

The cheaper shops – the ones the locals go to – have spread out into the streets around the Grand Bazaar.

If you’re looking for a bargain, try to find what you’re looking for in the roads down towards the port.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

But for the lamps, the soaps, the spices, the dresses, the carpets, the necklaces, the trinkets, and everything else that glitters and inspires, there’s nothing quite like Istanbul’s undercover metropolis.

A guided tour through Istanbul is a good way to learn about the Grand Bazaar from the locals’ perspective. There are a few tours I would recommend here:

 

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN ISTANBUL

Istanbul has some wonderful accommodation and you’ll be able to find whatever style you’re looking for.

BACKPACKER

For a backpacker option, I think Stay Inn Taksim is the perfect mix of comfort and atmosphere.

BUDGET

A good cheap and comfortable option is Meretto Hotel LALELİ.

BOUTIQUE

For something a bit special, I would suggest the modern Hammamhane.

LUXURY

And if you’re looking for 5-star luxury, my ultimate favourite is Raffles Istanbul.

Turkey Travel Guide

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT TURKEY?

To help you plan your trip to Turkey:

  • What you need to know about the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
  • Visiting the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
  • Why this is an important part of Istanbul’s World Heritage Site
  • The beautiful travertines that are worth the visit
  • The City of Love: Is this Turkey’s best ruins site?
  • The museum at Bodrum that takes you under the water
  • Why the Lycians were such an important part of Turkey’s history
  • See the Lycian tombs from the centre of Fethiye
  • Saklikent Gorge offers the perfect natural adventure
  • How to make (and eat) Turkish Gozleme

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a tour of Turkey, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours of Turkey.

You could consider:

  • The best of Turkey (8 days)
  • Turkey Multisport (10 days)
  • Absolute Turkey (15 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you should use World Nomads for your trip.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. D.J. - The World of Deej |

    September 27, 2012 at 2:58 am

    Reply

    Certainly a contrast for the vendors. Sure, you’ve got the traffic any retailer desires, but if no one’s a buyer what difference does it make?

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:24 am

      Reply

      I think they’re earning enough of an income to make it worth their while – otherwise why would they bother, right? But the traffic walking past certainly doesn’t reflect the amount of sales they’re getting.

  2. thetravelfool |

    September 27, 2012 at 3:00 am

    Reply

    Looks like a fun place to explore. Recently spent 5 hours at the airport in Istanbul not one of my best experiences but I hear the country is great.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:25 am

      Reply

      What a pity you couldn’t have popped out to the bazaar. It would have been a much more enjoyable way to pass those hours!

  3. JoAnna |

    September 27, 2012 at 4:14 am

    Reply

    Great photos! I’d love to visit Morocco someday, and the photos I’ve seen of those markets look a lot like these from Turkey.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:26 am

      Reply

      I think there are a lot of similarities but I haven’t been to Morocco myself so can’t say for sure.

  4. Adela @ FourJandals |

    September 27, 2012 at 6:28 am

    Reply

    I loved the Istanbul Markets – all the colours and smells, fantastic! The spice markets were awesome to, especially if you are a fan of Turkish delight. Loved the photos, especially the one with the necklaces.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:27 am

      Reply

      The smells around the spices and the foods are incredible. But it’s the sights that really got me. There is so much to look at and so much to see down every little corridor!

  5. Vera |

    September 27, 2012 at 6:48 am

    Reply

    Oooh, many colours! A market! SHOPPING!! …Sadly, I am REALLY bad at bargaining, so I would probably be walking aroung with my mouth open and the camera ready to go instead of thinking about making purchases (I mean, so there’s not even slaves. Seriously?? …I kid, I kid.). Whereas your picture of the tea caught me off-guard. I LOVE tea. I would probably buy tea. I’d like some tea right now, in fact. Dear Michael, I’d love to stay, but I gotta go boil the kettle. Mmh. Tea.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:28 am

      Reply

      Ha ha ha… I love your train of thought! I’m so glad we got to meet the other day – it makes these rambling comments so much easier to understand!! 🙂

  6. Chris |

    September 27, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    Reply

    The colors and textures here are so beautiful! I’d love to go and experience this for myself. Thanks for sharing!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:34 am

      Reply

      The colours are amazing as you wander through the market. There’s so much going on you hardly know where to look!!

  7. A Montrealer Abroad (@amontrealer) |

    September 27, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    Reply

    I couldn’t but notice the “natural viagra” tea, haha! But gorgeous photo set, as always 😉

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:35 am

      Reply

      Ha ha, yeah… I didn’t notice that at the time, only afterwards. Otherwise I might have stopped to buy some… 🙂

  8. Kate |

    September 28, 2012 at 1:34 am

    Reply

    Those lamps are so beautiful. I love all the colors in these photos, so pretty!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:36 am

      Reply

      I feel like I should have run around and rubbed all the lamps, trying to find a genie!! 🙂

  9. Angela |

    September 28, 2012 at 4:53 am

    Reply

    Wonderful, should I go back to Istanbul I would dive headfirst into the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, I loved them. Those soaps look enticing!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:39 am

      Reply

      There is so much to see. And it’s easy to pick up some little things like soaps at the market. I don’t think I’d want to be lugging around a huge carpet, though!!

  10. Elmer Cruz |

    September 28, 2012 at 9:24 am

    Reply

    The market looks like the ones in Sydney. So colorful and alive.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:39 am

      Reply

      Which ones in Sydney are you talking about? I’ve never found anything quite this colourful and fun…

  11. Bret @ Green Global Travel |

    September 28, 2012 at 11:03 am

    Reply

    I don’t know which caught my eye more– the fact that it has 3000+ shops, the colors of the lamps, or the fact that they sell “Natural Viagra Tea”! We’re dying to go to Turkey, and had a press trip to the Black Sea region that fell through earlier this year. Maybe in 2013…

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:40 am

      Reply

      You’ve got to go, Bret. You’ll absolutely love the place! There is so much to see and do in Turkey… this is just scratching the surface!

  12. Leigh |

    September 28, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    Reply

    I remember drinking a lot of mint tea in that place. That’s a great selection of colourful photos.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:42 am

      Reply

      Gosh, you just can’t get enough of the mint tea in Turkey!!

  13. Jackie D |

    September 29, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Reply

    Amazing photos. I agree that these types of market places always seem more like spectacles than actual places to buy things. Not sure I’d be able to resist those soaps though!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:43 am

      Reply

      The good thing is that you don’t have to resist the soaps – and the people working there will love you for it! The spectacle thing is probably unavoidable, but it’s ok as long as enough people buy some things while they’re there.

  14. Lillie - @WorldLillie |

    September 29, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Reply

    These photos are positively luscious. Turkey, I will see you someday!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 2, 2012 at 12:44 am

      Reply

      Make it sooner rather than later, Lillie! You will never regret a trip there…

  15. Stephanie - The Travel Chica |

    October 4, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    Reply

    I wish I had not been so intimidated when I visited here just after college.

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 7, 2012 at 11:07 am

      Reply

      I imagine it could be a bit of a scary place if you’re not used to travel in countries like Turkey. All the shouting from the shopkeepers can be quite overwhelming.

  16. Kay Rodriguez |

    December 27, 2012 at 12:39 am

    Reply

    Wow, this place looks magical! Definitely need to go there someday, markets are some of my favorite places ever!

    • Michael Turtle |

      January 1, 2013 at 2:29 pm

      Reply

      This is the king of all markets! I don’t think you’ll ever find anything quite like it!

  17. Christina |

    April 3, 2013 at 4:51 am

    Reply

    I will be landing in Istanbul at 4pm on a Tuesday for a overnight layover. In your opinion, would I be able to make it out to the grand bazaar? What time does it close? And if so, what is the best way to get there?

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 16, 2013 at 9:15 pm

      Reply

      It’s normally open only until about 7pm so it might be a bit of a rush for you. It’s right near all the other historic parts of Istanbul so even if you missed the bazaar, you could still see the main mosques from the outside. If you’ve got time, I would recommend trying to head into the city. It’s a really unique and beautiful place. With time constraints, a taxi might be best.

  18. Jodi Whitfield |

    September 28, 2013 at 3:57 am

    Reply

    I’m looking forward to going there soon. Are there any shipping providers that I may use to ship larger, heavier items back to America in the bazaar? What about near the bazaar? Did you find people walking around and shopping with suitcases in tow? I’m a big shopper!

    • Michael Turtle |

      October 4, 2013 at 9:47 pm

      Reply

      I didn’t really notice anyone with suitcases, as such. but I’m sure there would be no problem doing that. There are so many shops that people seem to check out lots of different shops and then buy things gradually.
      As far as shipping goes, I can’t give you a specific answer, I’m afraid. I’m sure you would be able to find something nearby, though. If you just ask, you shouldn’t have any trouble.

  19. Chicago restraunt |

    October 31, 2014 at 10:56 am

    Reply

    An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been doing a little research on this.
    And he actually ordered me breakfast because I
    found it for him… lol. So let me reword this….
    Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this topic here on your blog.

  20. Elliot |

    September 12, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    Reply

    If you are interested in topic: earn online money by typing
    quiz keyboard – you should read about Bucksflooder first

  21. Simge TurkishTaste |

    June 18, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    Reply

    Thanks for your post! I’m really fan of Turkish delight and love to visit Grand Bazaar. really historical and colorful place. 🙂

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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