Worthy Travelers

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a great place to find souvenirs for your friends and family back home. But it’s also a great place to get lost in for a few hours!

Best-known for its hundreds of shops flogging everything from spices to jewelry, the Grand Bazaar is one of the biggest and oldest covered markets in the world.

Located centrally in Istanbul, the market is one of Turkey’s most well-known landmarks. It has been around for centuries and continues to be a busy hub of activity, with stalls selling an array of wares including spices to jewelry. Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is safe and easy enough to navigate.

Good to know about Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Grand Bazaar opening hours

The Grand Bazaar is open every day from 8:30 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. However, during religious holidays, the stores are closed.

How much time should you spend in the Grand Bazaar?

You need to spend at least 3 hours to visit the Grand Bazaar, including coffee and a lunch break. If you want to skip lunch, you can probably cover the market is about 1.5 hours – but we recommend tasting some of the local delicacies in the market.

Is there an entrance fee to the Grand Bazaar?

No, you do not pay an entrance fee when you visit the Grand Bazaar.

Where can you meet when you are lost?

There are 22 gates in the Grand Bazaar. The most common ones are Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye, because Kalpakçılar Street, the main street of the bazaar, stretches between them. However, the other big gates are Çarşıkapı, Çuhacıhan, Jewelers, Mahmutpaşa, Örücüler, Sepetçihan, Takkeciler, Tavukpazarı and Zenneciler.

Each gate also has a number. So I recommend choosing one of the major…

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