Built in 1660 with revenues from Egypt — hence the name Misir Carsisi, Egyptian Bazaar — this L-shaped covered market is smaller, more focused, and more sensory than the Grand Bazaar. Spices, dried fruits, Turkish delight in jewel colors, pistachios and walnuts piled in pyramids, loose-leaf teas, and the intoxicating smell of a building that has been soaked in cinnamon, sumac, saffron, and dried rose petals for over three and a half centuries. The vaulted ceilings and tiled interiors are handsome but secondary to the olfactory experience. More manageable for browsing and buying than the Grand Bazaar's 61 streets. The courtyard restaurants outside are overpriced and mediocre; the bazaar itself is the point.
Location
Fatih, Istanbul
Map
Insider Intel
Walk the full L-shaped corridor first to survey the stalls before buying. The spice shops are concentrated near the main entrance — sumac, pul biber (Aleppo pepper), dried mint, and saffron are the essential purchases. Turkish delight varies enormously in quality; taste before buying and look for shops that make their own. The dried fruit and nut stalls deeper in the bazaar offer better prices. Buy cay (tea) in bulk — the apple tea is tourist-grade; ask for real Turkish black tea instead.
Weekday mornings when the bazaar is active but not yet overwhelmed by tour groups. Saturday is busy. Closed Sundays. The Eminonu waterfront outside is lively throughout the day — combine with a fish sandwich from the boats at Galata Bridge and a ferry departure from the adjacent terminal.
Located at the Eminonu end of Galata Bridge, adjacent to the ferry terminals. T1 tram to Eminonu. Free entry. Cash in Turkish lira gives better bargaining leverage, though cards are widely accepted. Prices are negotiable but less aggressively than the Grand Bazaar — the margins on spices are thinner. The stalls immediately outside the bazaar (in the surrounding streets) often have better prices than those inside. The New Mosque (Yeni Cami) is directly adjacent and worth a quick visit. Allow 30-60 minutes for the bazaar itself.