Also known as Kapalıçarşı, Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops. Located in the district of Fatih it can easily be reached from Sultanahmet and Sirkeci by trams (Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı station).
Center of Trade
The Grand Bazaar was constructed in 1455 as a center for local clothing and jewels trading. Due to Istanbul’s location in the heart of the Ottoman Empire, it became a center for trade between three continents and so it’s viewed as one of the most important shopping centers in the world and has a remarkable feature for its variety, quality and amounts of products and goods.
Grand Bazaar as a Tourist Attraction
First of all, it is worth noting that it is precisely high in security for tourists for some reasons like providing high security against political uprisings, natural disasters and fires and theft. The Bazaar is an incredibly unique structure with a huge history and close connection to Turkish culture. Even if your intention is to avoid shopping during your trip to Turkey, Grand Bazaar Shopping is a MUST-DO!
What can you find in the Grand Bazaar?
You will be admired by the distinctive features of Turkish carpets, pillowcases, towels, handmade ceramics and pottery, local spices, nuts and Turkish delight, organic soap, oils, tea, coffee, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, antiques, old books, maps, prints, leather goods such as purses, belts, shoes and wallets, silk scarves, blouses and shawls, jewelry, clothing, souvenirs and trinkets and more. Besides these, you can find lots of options to do in Grand Bazaar. Tasting traditional Turkish food, drinking traditional Turkish tea and coffee, taking photos of the historical place, and buying little souvenirs for your beloved ones are just a few of them.
Interesting Facts About the Grand Bazaar
The history of the Grand Bazaar has witnessed many dramas as well as vibrant commercial activities. The building material of the Grand Bazaar is wood. This has caused it to deal with fires throughout its history. Grand Bazaar fires resulted in the market rising from the ashes each time. The first fire in the covered market broke out in 1546. Following this fire, earthquakes in 1766 and 1894 caused great damage to the bazaar. The biggest fire in the Grand Bazaar took place in 1954. The fire lasted for 28 days and the fire brigade was able to intervene only after 4 days. In the fire, which completely destroyed 1394 shops, the damage was expressed in millions.
