Kapali bazaar or Grand Bazaar - Istanbul is a city of commerce and a meeting place for shoppingaholics, and the place where everyone meets is the Kapali bazaar or Grand Bazaar, which covers an area of 47,600m2. The large covered market is located in the historical part of the city and, apart from being a place for good shopping, it is also a must-see tourist attraction while staying in this city. Old stone and cobbled streets lead to this unique shopping center.
Be prepared to set aside a full day to see everything the Grand Bazaar has to offer. The offer is diverse, with over 3,000 stores, and the largest selection of leather jackets, fur coats, shoes, carpets, rugs, jewelry, gold, as well as traditional sweets, teas, and souvenirs at this largest market in Turkey.
Kapali bazaar was built by Mehmet II the Conqueror in 1455. Trade in textiles was current at that time. A few years after its construction, it received the name Grand Bazaar and became the main place of trade in the Ottoman Empire. Kapali bazaar contained mosques, shops, here merchants brought silk to sell and took breaks from the road. The Grand Bazaar could not be destroyed by bad weather or fires, it always overcame all accidents and became, with renovations and reconstructions, bigger and more significant without losing its historical appearance.
Within the Grand Bazaar there are traditional places where you can drink coffee or tea with sweet lokum, with colorful carpets and wooden tables and chairs. You must also try baklava in one of the cafes. All the shopkeepers are very friendly and as you go around their shops they will be happy to offer you tea or coffee and make you stay where you are until you buy something.
Be sure, if you go to the Bazaar, do not hesitate to haggle for what you buy because these are shops where there is no price and everything is an agreement between the seller and the buyer. A lot of brands have been copied and you can really find a quality copy of sneakers, jackets, t-shirts of world famous brands. Arm yourself with patience until you find the right quality for a good price.
The energy that circulates through this market is special and inspiring. Colorful colors from the stands that surround you will inspire you. Refined materials, the shine of jewelry, beautiful shades of wood will make shopping interesting and unforgettable. The Grand Bazaar is among the top 10 recommendations for what to visit in Istanbul.
• It is located near Hagia Sophia, the center of the historical part of the city
• In 2004, this was the most visited tourist spot in the world
• The working hours of the bazaar are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and it is closed on Sundays
• The prices are not high, be sure to haggle
• Traditional sweets and delights are a bit more expensive, but each one is worth trying
Author of the text:
Maja Glavaš, Bachelor with Honours in Communicology. Works in Tourism.
Contact: [email protected]; instagram: travel_europe1
Photo by Omar Tursić on Unsplash
