Turkish shopkeepers stand in their Aladdin’s cave of mystery in one of the oldest covered markets in the world, which is so popular in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar hosts over 3,000 stores and more than 250,000 people visit every day, and has 91 million visitors every year.
These days, in spite of the increase in new modern shopping malls, the beauty and tradition of the Grand Bazaar continue to be a big enticement. This market is extremely famous among travelers, and in 2014 it was listed as the world’s most visited tourist attraction, beating the 91.25m visitors who traipsed the colorful stores the previous year.
Therefore, the 15th-century Bazaar (Market) is famous for its hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, and Byzantine-style jewelry and heaves with Turkish things, kilims, jewelry, backgammon boards, trinkets, leather goods, and mother of pearl inlaid boxes.
Thus, there’s a labyrinth of arcades and passageways, where it is easy to lose your sense of direction. It is easily described as ‘one of the world’s most exciting shopping experiences. Moreover, several of the stalls in the market are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewelry, and the like.
This market “bazaar” has been a significant trading center since 1461, and its labyrinthine vaults feature two bedestens “domed buildings”, the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
Moreover, the beautiful complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. Furthermore, in the center, it is a high domed hall of the “Cevahir Bedesten”, where the most valued items and antiques were to be found in the past, and still are nowadays, with furniture, copperware, amber prayer beads, inlaid weapons, icons, mother-of-pearl mirrors, water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewelry set with coral and turquoise.
The Bazaar is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am until 7 pm and is closed Sundays and Bank Holidays. If you’re a shopping lover, then it is must place to visit for you. Though, be careful, because prices are a bit high for foreigners. But you can bargain the price with your skills.
