Arasta Bazaar
The small, quiet bazaar behind the Blue Mosque — handicrafts and mosaics.
From Meşale Restaurant & Cafe to Arasta Bazaar
Why visit?
If you want to avoid the crush of the Grand Bazaar, the Arasta Bazaar is ideal. Its Turkish handicraft and carpet shops make for a calmer shopping experience. Visit the mosaic museum underneath while you are here.
Short History
The bazaar was built in the 17th century as a source of income for the Blue Mosque complex. It was restored in the 1980s and revived as a bazaar for visitors. The Byzantine mosaics beneath it were discovered in the 1930s.
About
The Arasta Bazaar, just south of the Blue Mosque, was built in the 17th century as part of the mosque complex. Far smaller and quieter than the Grand Bazaar, it is an ideal place for visitors to shop, with stalls selling Turkish handicrafts, carpets, ceramics and jewellery. Beneath the bazaar lies the Great Palace Mosaics Museum.
Meşale Cafe is in the Arasta Bazaar — stop by before or after your shopping. The Mosaic Museum is underneath the bazaar, with its own separate entrance.
What to know before visiting
Photos
Images: Meşale archive
Photo spots
Bazaar entrance
The stone-arched entrance — full of atmosphere
Carpet shops
Colourful Turkish carpets in the shop windows
How to get here from Meşale
From Meşale 120 m (2 minutes)
T1 tram — Sultanahmet stop
No parking. Reached on foot.
Your map app calculates the time from live traffic, so we don't print a fixed figure here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — unlike the Grand Bazaar, the Arasta Bazaar is open every day.
Yes, Meşale Restaurant & Cafe is located in the Arasta Bazaar.
Visit Information
- From Meşale
- 2 min (120 m)
- Visit duration
- 30–60 min
- Hours
- Daily 09:00–19:00
- Ticket
- Free (shopping extra)
- Best time
- Morning or afternoon
- Busy
- Moderate
- Accessible
- Yes
- Family Friendly
- Yes
Highlights
- Turkish handicrafts
- Above the Great Palace mosaics
- Relaxed shopping
- 17th-century building
Tags
Nearby places
Source & Freshness
- Source:
- Arasta Bazaar
- Last checked:
- September 4, 2026
Hours and prices are for guidance only. Please confirm with an official source before your visit.