Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

The word "bazaar" is a transliteration of the English word "bazaar," meaning a marketplace. It first appeared in the Middle Persian word "baha-char (بهاچار)," meaning "place of price," which later evolved to mean "a place where goods are sold." The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, officially opened to the public in 1461. It features 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops, making it one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world.

The Grand Bazaar was initially commissioned by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror II and construction began in 1455, completed in 1461. It consists of 12 main buildings and 22 gates, including two domed brick structures called "bedestens," used for storing and safeguarding goods. During the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, the bazaar was greatly expanded and later rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1894. Inside the bazaar, a dazzling array of goods is available, with shops renowned for jewelry, ceramics, spices, and carpets. There are also numerous stalls categorized by product type, such as leather goods and gold jewelry. It's truly a shopper's paradise, attracting approximately 250,000 to 500,000 domestic and international visitors daily.

Grand Bazaar

Must-visit reason: One of the world’s largest and oldest grand markets

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Turkey[turkey]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Istanbul Province [Istanbul Province]

City where the attraction is located: Istanbul [Istanbul]