Grand Bazaar
The world's oldest and largest covered market — 4,000+ shops, 61 streets.
From Meşale Restaurant & Cafe to Grand Bazaar
Why visit?
The world's oldest shopping centre — a covered bazaar 560 years old. Even if you buy nothing, getting lost in its labyrinth of streets and seeing the historic hans and mosques is an experience in itself.
Short History
The bazaar's foundations were laid in 1455, two years after the conquest of Istanbul. Over the centuries it grew into one of the world's great trading centres. It was restored after the earthquake and fires of 1894. On 2014 figures, with more than 91 million visitors a year, it has been listed as the most visited tourist attraction in the world.
About
Opened in 1461 by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest covered market in the world. With 61 streets and more than 4,000 shops, it is a city within a city. Carpets, jewellery, spices, leather, ceramics, antiques and Turkish handicrafts are all sold here. With its historic hans, mosques and tea gardens, it offers far more than shopping.
Haggling is a must — the first price is usually 30–50% too high. Go early in the morning: there are fewer people and traders are more flexible for their first sale of the day. Closed on Sundays.
What to know before visiting
Photo spots
Kalpakçılar Caddesi entrance
The most famous gate — lined with gold and jewellery
Han courtyards
A quiet shot in the courtyards of the historic hans
Colourful lanterns
Turkish lanterns in the souvenir shops
How to get here from Meşale
From Meşale 1.0 km (17 minutes)
T1 tram — Beyazıt/Çemberlitaş stop
Parking in the area is very limited. Public transport is essential.
Your map app calculates the time from live traffic, so we don't print a fixed figure here.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and public holidays. It is open on Saturdays, but that is the busiest day.
Yes, absolutely. A 20–40% discount off the first price is usually possible.
Take the T1 tram to Beyazıt or Çemberlitaş, then walk 5 min.
Visit Information
- From Meşale
- 17 min (1.0 km)
- Visit duration
- 1–3 hours
- Hours
- Monday–Saturday 09:00–19:00 (closed Sunday)
- Ticket
- Free (shopping extra)
- Best time
- Morning 09:00–11:00 (fewer crowds, easier haggling)
- Busy
- High
- Accessible
- Yes
- Family Friendly
- Yes
Highlights
- 4,000+ shops
- 61 streets
- Five centuries of history
- Carpets and jewellery
Tags
Source & Freshness
- Last checked:
- September 4, 2026
Hours and prices are for guidance only. Please confirm with an official source before your visit.