The Bazaars With Its Secrets (Walking Tour)

Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is where the economic heart of Istanbul beat in the Ottoman era. With modernism and the enormous expansion of Istanbul it has lost some of its importance but it still remains a hub for commerce and tourism in the old city.

Built partly of wood at first under the order of Sultan Mehmet II in 1455 on the site of an ancient market. It was expanded and became the largest covered market in the world in the 16th century, at the time of Suleiman the Magnificent. Over the centuries it was burned and damaged by earthquakes, but renovated each time most recently in 1954.

Currently it is with all its majesty, located Located along 65 inner streets which are accessed by 21 gates, it is occupied by 3,600 shops. It is located in the very center of the city between the Nuruosmaniye and Bayezid II mosques.

Like all bazaars, it is organized by districts, each grouping a certain type of craft: jewelry, carpets, textiles, mosaics, silverware. In the center, there is a large vaulted room, the İç Bedesten, a sort of flea market where countless old things are piled up: old weapons, jewelry, finery, dishes, silverware, coins, etc. Then Sandal Bedesten where they sold a special fabric mixed with cotton and silk woven in Bursa, the green city. This core of the Grand Bazaar has existed for 15th century. The famous Nusr’et chain has opened a very nice restaurant.

In the movie “Skyfall” James Bond had a motorcycle chase across the rooftops of the Grand Bazaar. Today part of the roof is open to tourists.

Our excursion consists of spending a day in this exceptional world to know the artisans who are in unobtainable alleys, the hidden workshops, the hans, the cafes, the charming restaurants then continuing through the shopping districts of Mahmut Paşa to arrive at the Spice Market a very popular market and the second Great Covered Market of Istanbul in the alleys we can stroll with the smell of all kinds of spices like thyme, saffron, cinnamon and others and dried fruits. The excursion ends at the spice market.