In Istanbul, there are lots of modern shopping malls. However, those who come to Istanbul should first see these historical bazaars. These two covered markets offers variety of products from food to souveniers. We are talking about Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Market or Spice Market).

Would you like to get some information before visiting? Would you like to get some information before visiting?

Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)

 The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), founded early in the Turkish regime but often subject to fire and earthquake, had 4,000 shops around two central distributing houses. The district is laid out on a grid plan. It still bustles with life and the pursuit of piastres.

This massive covered market is basically the world’s first shopping mall, taking up a whole city quarter, surrounded by thick walls, between the Nure Osmaniye Mosque and Beyazit Mosque.

Entrance to the bazaar is through one of 11 gates from where a maze of vaulted-ceiling laneways, lined by shops and stalls selling every Turkish souvenir and handicraft you could imagine, cover the area. The various trades are still mostly segregated into particular sections, which makes browsing easier. A walk through the Bazaar is a journey amidst enchanting scents of spices, dazzling colours, hypnotizing sounds, beautiful handicrafts, and of course the tempting smell of Turkish coffee.

Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)

 The L-shaped Egyptian Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)—so called because it is adjacent to the New Mosque complex, the construction of which was financed by taxes from Cairo—was once a dedicated spice market. In later times the shops expanded their wares to include dried fruit, jewelry, linens, and other goods.

Today, it is a colourful and authentic bazaar famous for its herbalists and many interesting souvenirs, also the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.

Spice Bazaar is much smaller than Grand Bazaar, so less time is enough.

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