Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) Reviews (Istanbul, Turkey)

Shop Til You Drop

London, England, United Kingdom

April 9, 2013

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Best of IgoUgo The Grand Bazaar is one of the famous attractions in Istanbul. It is a cast complex, much undercover, but also market stalls surround the covered area. It is also easy to disorientate yourself here as there are many exits and entrances. The ...Read more The Grand Bazaar is one of the famous attractions in Istanbul. It is a cast complex, much undercover, but also market stalls surround the covered area. It is also easy to disorientate yourself here as there are many exits and entrances. The original market was founded in the 15th century and has grown as Istanbul became an increasingly important trading gateway between the east and west.

The Bazaar is located in the old part of the city just two stops on tram T1 from Sultanahmet where most of the main attractions are. The nearest stop is Beyazit-Kapali Carsi (Kapali Carsi meaning covered market) but you could use Cemberlitas if more convenient. We entered 'somewhere' over the other side as we were coming from the Spice Market. We got lucky with our exit as we had noticed a big Burger King by the tram stop (which was 5 mins from our hotel) and saw that as we passed, and decided to quit whilst we were ahead.

I can't say I experienced the market in its entirety, just a part of it. I visited late on a Saturday afternoon and it was quite quiet. There are certainly a vast amount of items available. There were a number of stalls selling some pretty glass lamps (not the easiest thing to get home), or brightly coloured ceramics if you are looking for gifts. Other gift or home ware items include things like water pipes and candlesticks.

I was quite keen to look for some accessories like bags and belts but didn't think the price was that competitive. A lot of bags were brands such as Mulberry or Michael Kors but I am not familiar enough with the brands to know if they were genuine articles (seconds for example), knock offs or just random bags with a fake label. You are, of course, expected to haggle, but personally if the starting price they offer is way to high then it isn't worth bothering. Ask for 40% of the asking price, but settle for 60%, but it is up to you to decide if you are prepared to pay this amount or more/less. Most bags were not significantly cheaper (anticipating a fair price) than any quality leather bags at home, and as I wasn't in love with any, I didn't start negotiations. You could buy leather jackets also, but they weren't my taste.

Clothing consisted of traditional Turkish style (mainly children's wear) or T-shirts. They were mainly the shapeless slogan style T-shirts, nothing that was outstanding or special. You could also purchase accessory items like scarves or pashminas. There were of a similar price to those back home (inexpensive) and were mass-produced ones.

There are a number of jewellers and a friend and I checked out the silver bangles, which she then purchased for £35 or similar equivalent. The array of styles is quite varied, so you may have to look hard for something in particular.

Outside the bazaar is the place to go for textiles – bedding, curtains etc although the designs are probably not to the taste of many Western Europeans being a bit lary and flouncy or with twee prints. There was also a haberdashery row with a staggering away of the glitziest trimmings such as lurex ribbons and a lot of bling not out of place on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

You may see some rugs and carpet shops, but I think that many are elsewhere, and the ons I saw in the bazaar were cheap and poor quality. I imagine there may be a separate or specialist area that I did not come across. There are cafés inside the Bazaar complex, but if you are spending time haggling with any shopkeepers they are likely to offer you some tea whilst you wait.

The length of time you spend here is dependant on your own level of interest in shopping or purchasing gifts for home or souvenirs. At times it can be quite busy, I visited late afternoon on Saturday and it was quite pleasant and not to crowded. If you do spot something you like try and memorise where it is in relation to an exit (the bazaar does have internal street names) or find it on the map, so you can return, otherwise it could be very difficult to find it again as the 'streets' all look very similar with the same sorts of wares. It is easy to lose track of time here, as you are in a covered area with little natural light.

The bazaar is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 7pm. It is not open at all on Sunday. Some of the shops outside on busy thoroughfares maybe open later. Close

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by garymarsh6

Gravesend, United Kingdom

July 8, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo The Grand Bazaar known as the Kapali Carsi (Covered market).The grand Bazaar is another must see place to visit when in Istanbul. It is quite unique in the way that it is set out. It is absolutely vast covering an area of at least 37.1 hectares and ...Read more

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by Jctravel1983

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

December 6, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo LocationIn Sulthanamet district in Istanbul, is the grand bazaar. I remember from the past that there was a shop Grand Bazaar, where you could literally buy anything. It was with this idea that we visited the Grand Bazaar. They had told us when you ...Read more

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by Bluesky718

St. Cloud, Minnesota

September 21, 2010

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When I went to Kathy's website and signed up for the shopping trip, I expected to be led through the Grand Bazaar and taken to the vendors who would give me the best deals on various items.What I didn't expect was to be taken both behind the scenes ...Read more

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by catsholiday

ashbourne, United Kingdom

March 23, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo YENI CAMII:the name means New Mosque but as it was built in the 1600s it is really no longer that new. It is a very attractive mosque right by the side of the Bosporus by the Galata Bridge.This mosque is similar in style to other mosques in Istanbul ...Read more YENI CAMII:

the name means New Mosque but as it was built in the 1600s it is really no longer that new. It is a very attractive mosque right by the side of the Bosporus by the Galata Bridge.

This mosque is similar in style to other mosques in Istanbul with a number of rounded domes and then two tall minarets sticking up into the air, the number of minarets varies but this is the style of mosque seen in Istanbul it seemed to me. Building began beside the Bosporus on the sight of a former slum area in 1597. There were many problems during the building, water seepage, the death of the Sultan and money problems but after 40 years it was finally completed. It is not as well known as the Blue Mosque or the Suleymaniye Mosque but it is part of the water front skyline and is right near the Galata Bridge so someone arriving by boat would see this Mosque’s silhouette most clearly.

The Mosque was part of a larger project which included a hospital, school and public bath as well as the Spice market. We arrived unfortunately,just before prayer time so we did not spend too long inside.

Outside on the steps were several street vendors selling bird food and Mary Poppin’s song kept on coming into my head no matter how hard I tried to think of other things. Also on the steps was a man with a bucket of water and brush cleaning off the pigeon poos – obviously the street vendors were keeping him in work too.

As you entered the mosque courtyard there was the usual water feature for washing prior to prayer which looked like a small building or summer house and then you went in towards the door where you collected a bag for your shoes (re-cycled supermarket bags) and put on your head covering or borrowed a wrap if your shoulders or legs were uncovered and entered the mosque. It was very similar to other mosques in Istanbul with highly decorated inner domes and carpeted floor with a slight odour of feet pervading.

I always feel slightly awkward in mosques prayer time and always do my best to cover up and not walk where I’m not welcome etc. However this feeling of discomfort does take away slightly from the beauty of these buildings. I am not religious but I do find there is an aura in churches and mosques, you speak quietly and look around in wonder because that is how they make you feel – in awe.

This is a very attractive mosque both inside and outside and well worth a visit if only to pop your head in to have a look. It is a landmark that you cannot miss if you walk along the river front in Istanbul and it is a integral part of the area around it with stalls in the adjoining tunnel that leads under the road between the mosque and the Galata Bridge as well as the Spice market behind it. Close

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by fizzytom

Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

April 11, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Along with the Aghia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, no trip to Istanbul is regarded as being complete unless it includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar. It's fame is almost legendary but I have always found the response of tourists to be mixed; put simply ...Read more

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by ruby43

North Charleston, South Carolina

June 28, 2007

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The Grand Bazaar is a flurry of activity. Locals selling food, hand made crafts, jewelry, clothing, anything you can think of. I am told it actually has about 4,000 little shops altogether, so it really needs to be a couple days well planned to see ...Read more

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Grand Bazaar

by mightywease

Carshalton, United Kingdom

August 1, 2006

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Noisy, busy, easy to get lost in, hard to get out of but always fun and enjoyable sum up my feelings about the Grand Bazaar. If you enjoy shopping and bargaining you'll love it. If you find bargaining or approached by people a little uncomfortable ...Read more

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by Jim Rosenberg

Wausau, Wisconsin

May 23, 2004

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Best of IgoUgo While shopping malls may seem like a relatively recent cultural phenomenon to westerners, a trip to Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar provides a half-millennium-old counterpoint to that point of view. Acres of stalls, which are really small shops, ...Read more

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Grand Bazaar

by billmoy

Chicago, Illinois

March 1, 2004

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Best of IgoUgo The Grand Bazaar (also the Covered Bazaar or Kapali Carsi) is the place for you if you want to powershop and haggle for Turkish trinkets to take home. There are over 4000 shops within the complex, which is still considered the commercial center of ...Read more

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