You need to spend at least 3 hours to visit the Grand Bazaar, including coffee and a lunch break. If you want to skip lunch, you can probably cover the market is about 1.5 hours – but we recommend tasting some of the local delicacies in the market.
Recommended Visit Hours: Visit on early hours between 9 AM – 3 PM every day except on Sunday when it is closed. Recommended Span of Visit: 2 – 4 Hours depending on needs and availability. Tips and Things to Know Before You Visit: Grand Bazaar is very big and shops can be very similar in narrow corridors.
Bazaar is open every day except Sundays and national/religious holidays from 08.30 until 18.30. There is no entrance fee or reservation. Guided tour of Grand Bazaar is free with Istanbul E-pass.
Cash is preferred, but many stores accept cards (though not always American Express) and there are cashpoints around. Trying to see the entire Grand Bazaar in one afternoon is an unrealistic task. With this in mind, it is best to experience the Grand Bazaar at a leisurely pace, not by rushing from one shop to the next.
Walk the Middle - It can be very crowded at the Grand Bazaar, so my recommendation is to walk right smack in the middle of it. You won't be hassled as much by shopkeepers if you are hidden between shoppers on either side. 3. Keep a Budget - Come up with a shopping budget in advance of your trip.
Exploring Istanbul's Grand Bazaar! (world's oldest & largest market)
How long do you need in the Grand Bazaar Istanbul?
Don't spend more than 30mins of your time inside there. Grand bazaar or else Kapalicarsi is a well known market place in Istanbul but I really don't recommend to go for shopping or spend lot of hours there. The only thing that worths there is that you can take a photo with the famous Turkish lamps.
Prices may vary depending on location and quality, but you can generally find many goods cheaper than in other European countries. Popular items to buy include textiles, ceramics, and leather goods which are offered at very reasonable prices, particularly when purchasing handmade goods from local markets and bazaars.
Istanbul has always been known for its silk and leather products. There is also a traditional felt-making tradition, which today produces many highly contemporary fashion items, particularly slippers and hats.
Handmade carpets, beautiful ceramics, soft leather… these are only some of the crafts on offer. Then there is the food, from delicious baklava, to organic honeys. Beyond these well-known gifts for yourself or others, there is a deep reserve of well-crafted designer goods.
The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning 'Covered Market'; also Büyük Çarşı, meaning 'Grand Market') in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops on a total area of 30,700 m2, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.
Do you need a guide for the Grand Bazaar Istanbul?
A guide will unfailingly guide you to his brothers carpet shop and get angry when you question the value. Be careful about the pickpockets especially in and around the Spice Bazaar because it can be very very crowded sometimes. as others have said, you do not need a guide.
Grand Bazaar is actually the first MALL that was ever built. It has 61 streets totally covered and 4000 shops. It is big. Since Istanbul was a trades center, the Grand Bazaar serves as a trade center since 1460 ( Almost since Istanbul was conquered by Turks ).
What is the best time to visit Grand Bazaar Istanbul?
The Grand Bazaar remains open from 9 AM to 7 PM and is closed on Sundays. The best time to visit the covered market is in the morning or any time before 5 PM. This is the time when it is less crowded and visitors can indulge in shopping, exploring the market with ease.
Do you tip in Turkey? It's normal to tip for good service in restaurants, bars and cafes in Turkey - especially in touristy or business areas. Tips are also appreciated in hotels and serviced apartments - and other places where staff may not be so well rewarded, like spas or salons.
- Your first offer should be around 50–60% of the initial asking price. The shopkeeper will laugh, look offended or profess to be puzzled – this is all part of the ritual. - The shopkeeper will then make a counter offer of 80–90%.
TL 100 can only get you 1 bottle of milk, a bag of chips, and medium-size bags of Nescafe and Coffee-Mate if you like this waker-upper combo like many do. If you earn your money in Dollars, you're one of the lucky few. Average salaries in Turkey for mid-level jobs are at 7k to 8k per month. That's around $500.
Is Istanbul Spice market better than Grand Bazaar?
No visit to Istanbul is complete without stopping by the atmospheric Spice Bazaar. While the Grand Bazaar may be the largest and most famous of Istanbul's covered bazaars, this spice market wins the prize for being the most colorful, fragrant, and often the most fun – as visitors can taste the goods on offer.
Now is a great time to go; although each year the country attracts more and more tourists, prices remain cheap and economically interesting compared to other countries. Competitive prices are most noticeable in Istanbul and other top tourist spots. As far as accommodation goes, it depends on what you're after.
For a holidaymaker coming from the UK, Turkey is much cheaper than home. This applies to everything from hotels to cafes and restaurants and even clothes, shoes and souvenirs. Combined with the current rate of exchange, your pounds will go a long way!
It's usually best to have both cash and a card when travelling in Turkey. You will need cash for small shops and markets, taxis and buses, while it's often easier to pay in hotels and restaurants with a card.
Start low. After browsing the shops, you should know that prices might still be inflated by up to 50%. So when you start haggling, make sure you offer half or even one third of the price. Even if you don't expect to agree on that price and you're willing to pay more, you need to leave a lot of room for negotiation.
There are many places that sell fake designer handbags at the Grand Bazaar. You will immediately spot them once you walk through the bazaar. However at the backstreets of the bazaar, at an area called Tahtakale, Mahmutpasa and Mercan, again many stores sell such handbags.
You can go to the local bazaar and buy your weekly fresh produce for 100 liras (18 dollars) and depending on your choices that may include your cheese and olives. (Seasonal vegetables are cheaper.) Whereas, you would have to spend not 18 dollars, but 100 dollars for the same amount of fresh produce in the US.
