In Istanbul, there are lots of fun and interesting things to do, such as visiting the places of interest in this city. Some of the places of interest may include options such as the bazaars in Istanbul, which can be awesome spots to go to, especially if you like to shop.
Along with numerous modern shopping malls, there are also lots of historical bazaars in Istanbul. In case you are considering going to a nice bazaar in Istanbul, to look for various items to buy, you may want to take a look at the wonderful options that we will discuss on this blog post…
Here are Some of the Bazaars in Istanbul…
Shopping can be an awesome activity choice when visiting a foreign city. If you are visiting Istanbul and looking for a fun thing to do, checking out the souvenirs and other types of items to buy in the bazaars of Istanbul can be a nice choice to consider.
There are many different bazaars in Istanbul that we can talk about. On this post we will mention some of these places. For example, we will discuss popular choices such as the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, as well as some of the not so well-known choices, like Arasta Bazaar. If you are ready to learn about these places, let’s begin our list with the Grand Bazaar.
Table of Contents
1. The Grand Bazaar
If you are looking for bazaars in Istanbul, one of the options that we should definitely mention is the Grand Bazaar. Because this bazaar is one of the most popular ones in Istanbul, if not the most popular one. It is located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, and this bazaar is open between 8.30 AM and 7 PM from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the Grand Bazaar is closed.
Visited by thousands of people every day, it is a very popular spot and many tourists visit this place. The construction of this popular tourist attraction started in the 15th century and it was completed after 1730. Every year, millions of people visit this bazaar and if you are looking for a historical bazaar in Istanbul, you may consider checking out this place, as well.
2. The Spice Bazaar
Aside from the Grand Bazaar, another well-known historical bazaar in Istanbul is the Spice Bazaar, which is also known as the Egyptian Bazaar by some. Like the Grand Bazaar, this bazaar is located in the Fatih district and it is another one of the popular bazaars in Istanbul.
In this historical bazaar in Istanbul, various types of products are sold, from spices to herbal remedies, plant products, foods and so on… This bazaar is open from 8.30 AM to 7 PM on every day of the week. The construction of this bazaar began in 1660 and was completed at a later date.
3. Arasta Bazaar
While the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar are fairly well-known places in Istanbul, there are also some lesser known historical bazaars in this city. One of these places is the Arasta Bazaar. This place is located in the Fatih district and it is open from 9 AM to 7 PM on every day of the week.
From souvenirs to spices and many other types of items, various things are sold in this bazaar. The construction of this bazaar was ordered by Murat II and its architect was Mimar Davut Aga. It was built in the 16th century and it is one of the historical bazaars in Istanbu that can be worth checking out.
4. Balat Bazaar
Another one of the bazaars in Istanbul is the Balat Bazaar, which is also known as the Balat “Çıfıt” Bazaar. The term çıfıt is a term that was used for Jewish people during the Ottoman times. At some point, many Jewish people came to live in Istanbul and Balat became a popular place to live for Jews in this city.
With many Jews offering their goods and services in this bazaar, it became known as Balat Çıfıt Bazaar. There are many different types of products sold in this bazaar, such as shoes, snacks and so on… Also, there are numerous antique shops around the area. Balat Bazaar is open from 10 AM to 8 PM on every day of the week.
5. Tahtakale Bazaar
If you are looking for bazaars in Istanbul, another nice option to mention can be Tahtakale Bazaar, which is located in Eminönü. There are various types of products sold in this shopping area, such as souvenirs, toys, watches, crafting tools and many others…
Like the other bazaars that we have discussed on this blog post, Tahtakale Bazaar is a historical bazaar, too. Whether you are looking for some souvenir choice to remind you of your Istanbul trip in the future, or various practical items or accessories, Tahtakale Bazaar may have some options to offer.
6. Sahaflar (Second Hand Book Sellers) Bazaar
There are many second hand and old book shops in Istanbul, which are called sahafs. Some of the books sold in sahafs can be rare items, while some are just cheap second hand books. Sahaflar Çarşısı, or the Second Hand Books Sellers Bazaar, is an area where there are many sahaf shops. If you are interested in checking out some old books, this bazaar can be an awesome place to visit. This bazaar is located in Fatih and it is open from 8 AM to 7 PM on every day of the week.
7. Historical Coppersmiths Bazaar
There are numerous bazaars in Istanbul and as you may have noticed, there can be various types of products sold in these places. However, in the Historical Coppersmiths Bazaar, which is Tarihi Bakırcılar Çarşısı, there is a theme when it comes to the products that are sold: copper.
This bazaar is located in Beyazıt and many different copper products can be found here. In case you have been trying to find a nice historical bazaar to visit in Istanbul, this place can surely be an amazing choice.
Why are Bazaars in Istanbul Famous?
There are numerous bazaars in Istanbul and some of these places are quite famous. The Grand Bazaar is a great example for this, with millions of people visiting it every year. So, why are Istanbul bazaars so popular? Firstly, not all of the bazaars of Istanbul are very well-known, only some are.
We may consider the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar among the most popular ones in Istanbul. The reasons behind the popularity of these places can be factors such as their long histories, the wide variety of product choices sold in them and the authentic atmosphere that they have.
Do You Bargain at Bazaars in Istanbul?
One of the things that you may wonder when visiting and shopping at a bazaar in a foreign city can be whether you should bargain for prices in those places or not. So, when buying things at bazaars in Istanbul, do you bargain? Bargaining when shopping at Istanbul bazaars can be a great idea. Because when buying things at these places, the seller may give a “tourist’s price”.
By bargaining, you may be able to get a better price than the first offer. However, whether you should bargain or not may depend on which bazaar or shop you are in. When shopping at the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar, you may want to haggle.
Are Bazaars in Istanbul Worth Visiting?
We have talked about many of the bazaars in Istanbul. If you are planning to visit this city, there can be many activities you may be considering doing during your Istanbul trip. One of these activities can be visiting the historical bazaars of Istanbul and you may be wondering if this can be a good activity choice or not.
Especially if you like shopping and checking out different items to buy, visiting Istanbul’s bazaars can be a fun thing to do. Also, another reason to visit an old bazaar in Istanbul can be to feel the authentic and historical atmosphere firsthand and to enjoy a cultural experience. Some of the bazaars in Istanbul can be considered among the best bazaars in the world. And during an Istanbul trip, visiting some of the historical bazaars in this city can surely be an exciting activity option.
Bazaars in Istanbul Final Words
When visiting Istanbul, there can be many fun activity options to consider. One of these activity choices can be shopping. In case you like shopping and are looking for souvenirs or various other items to buy, you may be looking for bazaars in Istanbul that can be worth checking out.
On this blog post, we have mentioned a variety of historical bazaars in this city. For buying second hand books, you may visit the Sahaflar Bazaar. If you are around Balat area and trying to find a bazaar to check out, a good option can be the Balat Bazaar. In case you are looking for a popular bazaar option in Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar can be awesome choices. Simply put, there are lots of awesome bazaars in Istanbul and if you are thinking about visiting one, don’t forget to consider the ones that we discussed on our list.
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