Touring Grand Bazaar
- My Istanbul Guide
- Nov 13
- 2 min read
Being one of the main attractions of the city, Grand Bazaar is rarely discovered beyond the main street!
Understanding the Layout of Grand Bazaar
On your first visit to Grand Bazaar, you will mostly enter the marketplace (or will be taken by a group) through the main gate (Nuruosmaniye, Gate No.1). It being the most popular gate for Grand Bazaar, you will find yourself at the most crowded street of the Grand Bazaar (Kalpakçılar, i.e. Street of the Hatmakers).
Despite being the most momentous gate, this gate could be a little bit overwhelming, especially if you are unhappy with walking along thousands of people. Fortunately, we have twenty more gates to choose from 😊
What to expect?
Grand Bazaar has many layers. On the top layer, you have the touristic part, where you experience the danger of parting with your money for the objects you can buy cheaper somewhere else.
When you peel that layer and go beyond the mainstreet; you will find a little less crowded streets, where you can find a bit more interesting things like the carpets or jewelry.
If you are lucky and in a more venturing mood, you can discover a few hidden inns and various backstreets.
If you still have the power to go on, now it is time to discover a bit of the real market. Like the notorious underground world of the internet, we may call this the Deep Grand Bazaar 🕵️.
What is at the core of Grand Bazaar?
To start with, the core here is not a geographical or locational term, but the understanding of the workings of the Grand Bazaar.
In addition to supplying a livelihood for the thousands of people working in the bazaar, it is also a very important marketplace for foreign currencies, gold, silver, and other assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Beyond that, it is the center of gold jewelry production and the wholesale market for gold producers.
It is the place you come to buy fabrics for your 15th century costumes, as well as the place you come to sell your silk carpet from your royal family (or to buy such a piece).
It is the place where you will find a 6th century Roman capital, hidden behind the modern neon signs. It is also the place where you discover the early Ottoman will to power and their aspiration for Romans.
Be ready to discover a Roman marble slab, carved inside to serve as a wash basin, in the garden at the very back of an inn — as well as the latest designer luxury bag displayed in a shop window on the main street.
Join us on our top-rated Grand Bazaar tour and discover what lies beyond the main sights!
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