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The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops. It is a turquoise-and-white maze of tiny streets, shops, and cafés, and is located in the heart of the city between the historic Sultanahmet district and Beyazit. The bazaar is centuries old and was once a stopping point for caravans travelling between Europe and Asia. The Grand Bazaar is open every day except Sunday, and is always bustling with shoppers and vendors. The market is divided into two sections: the Bedesten, which is the old section and is reserved for jewellery, antiques, and other precious items; and the Cevahir, which is the newer section and sells everything from carpets to spices. There are also several mosques, madrassas, and a bathhouse in the Grand Bazaar complex. The market is a great place to bargain for souvenirs and gifts, and is also a great place to people watch and soak up the atmosphere of this historic city.
Mine was a fountain of knowledge about the bazaar - both its history and the shops themselves. We had an excellent 2.5 hour that took in the hidden nooks and crannies of the bazaar, some of its landmark shops, the hidden back streets and the spice bazaar. A good blend of insight, knowledge and fun that kept our two children (12 and 10) entertained. All-in-all, a very good tour.
Mine was an incredible guide. Actually, an incredible host. She asked in advance if we wanted to focus on a particular area and then adjusted seamlessly as we saw shops that jumped out. She has a deep knowledge of the city and the bazaars, introducing us to shop owners making remarkable products. Will do again next time I visit.
Before the trip I had talked with her about what we would like to focus on and so she catered to this. Everything was with a smile and not once did she mention purchasing anything, only introduced us to places. All in all a good time and can highly recommend having a guide for a trip to the bazaar
Mine was our tour guide for the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. After asking about our needs, Mine crafted a wonderful tour ensuring we visited trusted sellers. Every stop was both a lovely visit with each vendor and a safe shopping experience for us. Without her guidance we would have been totally overwhelmed. Mine ensured the best use of our time and even got us on the right tram at the end of our tour. Mine was so considerate and knowledgeable, she’s simply the best! If you need a guide in Istanbul highly recommend Mine!