Istanbul is one of the most important cultural crossroads of the world as it is built in the most nodal point between Europe and Asia. The magical pictures, the fragrances and the flavours that can lure you are some of those things that someone can experience while visiting this city. The arcades, the flea markets, small or big ones are spreaded to every corner where someone can find everything that is looking for, drive a bargain and get to know the oriental culture.
The Grand Bazaar (covered market – Kapalıçarşı)
It is one of the biggest and most visitable markets of all times. Its name means “covered market” and its construction began in the 15th century and today it has more than 3.000 shops. In this market, which deservedly competes with all the other malls in the city, someone can find a variety of products for every taste, however many of those are also known as “counterfeit” . It is worth visiting and walking the endless, small roads of the market so as to get to know the majesty of the oriental culture, as its art and architecture are magically combined. Attention! Do not hesitate or embarass to drive a bargain. Do not be fooled by the prices of the products. You can lower the price even by 50%.
Arasta Bazaar
It is a smaller and less bustling market contrary to the Grand Bazaar, thus it is more appropriate for a visitor that looks for a variety of products, without having to walk a lot in order to find them. It is located close to the Hagia Sophia and is mainly known for the handmade carpets. It also has pottery shops, spices, clothes and accessories for every preference. As you finish shopping you can rest at the market’s restaurant which provides you with moments of relaxation and recreation accompanied with live music. The shopkeepers speak Turkish, but do not be surprised if you hear them speak in your language as they can communicate in many languages.
Egyptian Bazaar (Spice bazaar)
The Egyptian Market, by its second name, it’s the representative of spices in the city. It was built in the 17th century next to the New Mosque (‘Yeni Cami’) and is the place where someone can find any kind of spices, dried fruits, herbs, sweets and traditional presents. Only by having a look, you can be overwhelmed by the thousands of colours, scents and flavours, as you notice the pyramids made of spices and the hanged dried products in every showcase. You must be very careful as there are many traders that may try to sell you spices that you are not aware of and probably you don’t need to possess .
Book Bazaar (Sahaflar çarşısı)
The Book Bazaar couldn’t be more perfect for the bookworms and the literature enthusiasts. It is located between the Bayezid Square and the Grand Bazaar and it is the epitome of its kind as it has hundreds of used or authentic books and manuscripts. This bazaar dates from the 15th century and it is worth mentioning that it sustains its content from the first day of its operation in Byzantium. The books are mainly written in Turkish as they are addressed to the students of the university that is located nearby, however it also has foreign literature. Unfortunately, the prices are stable and you cannot drive any bargain in this market.
