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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.
Good communication from Mine , where to meet. We had a fabulous morning shopping with Mine around the grand Bazaar/ spice market . Lots of hidden gems lots of history and knowledge. Was relaxed and we throughly enjoyed shopping experience. Highly recommend.
We had a fun afternoon with Mine in the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. She explained the history of the Bazaars and took us into ancient back laneways and producer’s workshops we would never have found on our own. It is so enjoyable being led to the right places by someone who knows their way through the maze! Mine is acquainted with the owners of some of the best quality outlets. We particularly enjoyed buying lovely Turkish Delight, baklava, saffron and other spices at her favourite shop in the Spice Market. With hindsight we should have brought along a longer list of things to buy, especially jewellery where there is a huge choice of both gold and silver.
So lovely, knowledgeable. The time flew by. The highlight of my trip! I only wish i had been able to book a full day with Mine! I could have spent all days inIstanbul learning history and culture. Well worth it!
So incredibly grateful for Mine. She was a treasure to shop with. The bazaars can be overwhelming and she made the experience consumable and fun for our entire family. We had three kiddos with us and she found a way to help the men, women and children find the perfect things to view and shop for. She sprinkled history with shopping and created a wonderful experience for our entire family. We ate and drank at some local stops that were highlights of food for us during our trip. Thank you Mine!