Istanbul's exotic giant bazaar 🛍️

The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı; Grand Bazaar) covers an area of about 30,000 square meters and has 22 main entrances. It is one of the oldest and largest indoor markets in the world. The history of the Grand Bazaar can be traced back to 1455, when Mehmed II conquered Constantinople and ordered the construction of an indoor market in the capital to replace the open-air market in the Byzantine period as the commercial center of the Ottoman Empire. The building of the Grand Bazaar is covered with arched stone corridors and domes, and there are shops, cafes, fountains and small mosques inside. The Grand Bazaar is covered with a dome supported by 12 main columns, the walls are made of stone and brick, and the vaults are decorated with simple geometric patterns. The Grand Bazaar was originally built to revitalize the economy of the Ottoman Empire, and then gradually became an important hub for Silk Road trade, attracting merchants from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. There are more than 4,000 shops in the market, with a total of 61 streets, selling a variety of goods, including handmade carpets, jewelry, ceramics, leather products, spices, snacks, clothing and souvenirs. The Grand Bazaar is not only a market, but also the cultural center of Istanbul. Visitors can experience traditional Turkish crafts here, such as carpet weaving, copperware making and calligraphy art. Bargaining is a tradition of the Grand Bazaar. It is recommended that you bargain when shopping, so that you can experience the local trading culture and save money. Having said that, the goods sold here are not cheap, but fortunately there are many choices. If you don’t want to spend effort bargaining, it is recommended to patronize some shops with clear price tags. 💡 Although there are many people in the Grand Bazaar, the security is good, but you still need to pay attention to your belongings during the visit to avoid being taken advantage of by pickpockets.