Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

DON’T MISS

A İç (Inner) Bedesten A Halıcılar Çarşısı Sokak A Kuyumcular Caddesi A Takkeciler Sokak A Sahaflar Çarşısı

PRACTICALITIES

A Kapalı Çarşı, Covered Market A MAP , D5 A h 8.30am-7pm Mon-Sat, final entry 6pm A j Beyazıt-Kapalı Çarşı

Exploring the Bazaar When here, be sure to peep through doorways to discover hidden hans , veer down narrow lanes to watch artisans at work and wander the main thoroughfares to differentiate treasures from tourist tat. It’s obligatory to drink lots of tea, compare price after price and try your hand at the art of bargaining. Allow at least three hours for your visit; some travellers spend three days!

MAHMUTPAŞA YOKUŞU

This busy thoroughfare links the Grand Bazaar with the Spice Bazaar at Eminönü. From the Grand Bazaar, leave the Mahmutpaşa Kapısı (Mahmutpaşa Gate; Gate 18) and walk downhill. Along the way you will pass one of the oldest hamams in the city: the Mahmutpaşa Hamamı ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; Mahmutpaşa Yokuşu; j Çemberlitaş) , now a run-down shopping centre. If you veer left onto Tarakçılar Caddesi before the hamam and walk to Çakmakçılar Yokuşu, you will see the historic Büyük Valide Han ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; j Beyazıt-Kapalı Çarşı) , a huge and sadly dilapidated caravanserai built by order of Murat IV’s mother in 1651.

DID YOU KNOW?

Over the bazaar’s history, most silversmiths who have worked here have been of Armenian descent and most goldsmiths have been of Arabic or Aramaic descent – this is still true today.