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The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. It’s located between Beyazıt Square and Çemberlitaş in Istanbul, Turkey.
Introduction to the Grand Bazaar
In Turkish, the Grand Bazaar is called the Covered Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı). It contains over 4,000 shops with about 26,000 employees. There are 61 streets and it covers an area of 30,700 square meters. Between 250,000 and 400,000 people visit every day.
Visiting the Grand Bazaar
The bazaar is open daily except Sundays and bank holidays from 9am to 7pm. It can be reached via the T1 tram line at the Beyazıt/Grand Bazaar and Çemberlitaş stops.
History of the Bazaar
Construction on the bazaar started in 1455 and it was finished by the winter of 1461. Its purpose was to provide funds for Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The Grand Bazaar took its present shape at the beginning of the 17th century. It contained 18 gates, seven fountains, and five mosques. Several hans (caravanserais) popped up around it, making it the hub of trading in the Mediterranean. There was no market anywhere in Europe that could provide the same variety and quality of goods as the Grand Bazaar until the early 19th century.
Fires and earthquakes damaged the market several times over the years. Fires occurred in 1515, 1548, 1588, 1618, 1645, 1652, 1658, 1660, 1687, 1688, 1695, 1701, 1750, and 1791. Major earthquakes damaged it in 1766 and 1894. The fires prompted authorities to cover several sections of the Grand Bazaar with vaults in 1696.
The market began to decline in the early 19th century thanks to mass production in western Europe. By 1850, rents were 10 times lower than just a few decades earlier and the market was seen as antiquated. Minority merchants, such as Greeks, Jews, and Armenians, began to move out and open modern shops catering to Europeans in Galata and other parts of Beyoğlu.
Experiencing the Bazaar: Past vs Present
Visiting the Grand Bazaar was a much different experience in the past. Businesses of the same trade were clustered together along both sides of the roads like they are today, but sellers sat on wooden divans and there were no stalls. Members of every class of Ottoman society could run into each other there, from ordinary citizens to members of the Imperial Harem.
Shoppers could sit and chat with sellers over a glass of tea or cup of Turkish coffee, much like in many shops today. There were no restaurants during the Ottoman age, but nowadays there are plenty of places to grab a decent bite to eat.
In any case, a visit to the bazaar can be a worthwhile experience. For those who love shopping, you can find just about anything you’re looking for including leather, jewelry, carpets, clothing, and countless types of souvenirs. Just don’t forget to bargain! For those who don’t shop, it’s worth at the very least taking a walk through the market to get a feel for a bygone era.
Çadırcılar Street
If you want to get an authentic Istanbul shopping experience, take a walk down Çadırcılar Street. It runs north from the Beyazıt Gate (Beyazıt Kapısı). While tourists are inside haggling, locals are on this crowded street searching for bargain deals, mostly on knockoffs of major brands. It’s a great way to observe local life.
