Grand Bazaar, Istanbul. Courtesy of Turkish Culture and Tourism Office
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Grand Bazaar
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When:
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Daily; not Sun
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Where:
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Grand Bazaar
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| Costs: |
Free entry
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| Opening Hours: |
Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
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The Grand Bazaar, or Kapali Çarsisi has been an important trading centre in Beyazit since 1461. Its labyrinthine vaults contain over 4,000 shops, along with cafés around the Old Bedesten. Prepare to haggle for carpets, ceramics, antique silver and leather.
Mehmet II, the first Sultan of the Ottoman empire, was responsible for the construction of Istanbul's covered bazaar, the largest the world had ever known. This maze of crowded and winding alleys, each one the province of a particular trade, has been a trading centre for more than 500 years.
There are touts, of course, and because of its tourist status a good bargain requires some hard talking, but the range of goods is staggering.
Hundreds of Turkish carpets, many of them antique (though beware because you can't take antique carpets out of the country) flood the alleyways, as well as copperware, jewellery, leather goods, furniture, hand-painted ceramics, brassware and much more. No visit to Istanbul is complete without experiencing this fantastic shoppers' emporium.
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