Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Spice Bazaar
- Grand Bazaar
Select a date
Tour Description
Advantageously positioned at the intersection of two continents and two seas, Istanbul has played a key role in international commerce since antiquity. This 3-hour Grand Bazaar Tour, including the Spice Market and other areas of central Istanbul, provides a look at both modern and historic trade and commerce. Visiting the bazaar provides an understanding of how the past and present intertwine through the theme of making and selling. Along the way, we'll visit a number of local merchants and learn how Istanbul continues to occupy a central role in the production and trade of clothing, carpets, jewelry, and other crafts.
Grand Bazaar Tour
We will begin with the booksellers who occupy a small market near the university and look at how their presence through the ages has defined and been defined by, the role of Istanbul University. Winding through the maze of streets in this part of town, we'll arrive at the Grand Bazaar, arguably one of the more vibrant markets in the Middle East. As we trace this course, our expert will discuss how Istanbul's strategic position on the Bosphorus and along the Silk Road connects Europe with the East and has placed the city at the center of trade and commerce for the last 1500 years. This is still very much the case, with most Middle Eastern businesses setting up shop here in order to trade with the West. Of course, in the background, there is the Bosphorus, which continues to see several million tons of cargo pass through each year.
Take Aways
In the Grand Bazar, our expert will discuss the creation of this space by the first Ottomans, as well as its current life. Our walk concludes with a stroll downhill to the Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar), which was constructed in the 17th century and became an important market for international traders and the Ottoman rulers. By the end of the walk, our expert will have drawn a vivid portrait of Istanbul as a crossroads of global trade and exchange, both past and present.
FAQ
Is there a dress code for your tours in Istanbul?
The general Istanbul dress code for tourists, and especially women, is to cover legs at least past the knees, and cover the chest and stomach, but there is no requirement for anyone to be fully covered. Plan on bringing a tunic with you to cover your shorts if necessary.
We are traveling with our kids. Is this tour the right choice for us?
Yes, we can make this tour work for families with children.
Is this tour accessible for people in a wheelchair?
Yes, this tour is accessible for clients with mobility issues or that are in a wheelchair. There is an alternative itinerary that allows them to still see both bazaars.
Should we bring cash to the tour?
Please have local currency on hand, there might be some extra personal expenses at the market.
We arrive from a cruise ship, can we start the tour from the port?
The tour starts at the Bazaar. The distance from the Cruise Terminal isn't big, but it is not within walking distance. You can easily take a cab to the meeting point.
We are in Istanbul for a whole day, what can we add to this tour?
For a full-day experience, we recommend looking into our Topkapi Tour or our Hagia Sophia Tour in addition to the Grand Bazaar Tour.
I have food allergies, do I have to take any precautions for this tour?
During the course of this walk, you might taste some little samples of various foods. If you have a food allergy or other dietary requirements, please let us know in advance so that we can take this into account.
Can we shop on our own during the tour?
Preferably, no. This walk doesn't include shop stops, carpet shopping, etc., and focuses on the historical side. Along the way, you'll visit a number of local merchants but this is not a shopping tour per se. After the end of the tour, you will be able to shop on your own at your pace.
The general Istanbul dress code for tourists, and especially women, is to cover legs at least past the knees, and cover the chest and stomach, but there is no requirement for anyone to be fully covered. Plan on bringing a tunic with you to cover your shorts if necessary.
We are traveling with our kids. Is this tour the right choice for us?
Yes, we can make this tour work for families with children.
Is this tour accessible for people in a wheelchair?
Yes, this tour is accessible for clients with mobility issues or that are in a wheelchair. There is an alternative itinerary that allows them to still see both bazaars.
Should we bring cash to the tour?
Please have local currency on hand, there might be some extra personal expenses at the market.
We arrive from a cruise ship, can we start the tour from the port?
The tour starts at the Bazaar. The distance from the Cruise Terminal isn't big, but it is not within walking distance. You can easily take a cab to the meeting point.
We are in Istanbul for a whole day, what can we add to this tour?
For a full-day experience, we recommend looking into our Topkapi Tour or our Hagia Sophia Tour in addition to the Grand Bazaar Tour.
I have food allergies, do I have to take any precautions for this tour?
During the course of this walk, you might taste some little samples of various foods. If you have a food allergy or other dietary requirements, please let us know in advance so that we can take this into account.
Can we shop on our own during the tour?
Preferably, no. This walk doesn't include shop stops, carpet shopping, etc., and focuses on the historical side. Along the way, you'll visit a number of local merchants but this is not a shopping tour per se. After the end of the tour, you will be able to shop on your own at your pace.
Experts
Where You'll Start
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55 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
We were not expecting to be taken into a shop in the first 10 minutes and feel pressured to buy spices while our guide talked on the phone. We then found it hard to get our guides attention to ask a question about produce because she was on the phone. Not what we expected from a Context tour.
We did not enjoy walking through rows of cheap copy fashion shops and would have much preferred to have started at the Grand Bazaar as described in the promotional material. By the time we got to the Grand Bazaar we were tired and two hours into the tour and had to ask if we could stop for a drink. Our guide had stopped and bought herself a bottle of water but not asked if we wanted one. Nur told us some of the history along the way which was interesting but we had expected more depth and a more carefully curated tour of the Grand Bazaar.
Our guide was very pleasant but I would not recommend the tour.
Julia
Oct. 2, 2024
Nur is amazing!
Mabell
Sep. 14, 2024
Great morning and very knowledgeable
Andrew
Sep. 4, 2024