Tell Me About Turkey

Are you interested in different tastes ? Would you prefer improving your cooking experience with spices ? If your answer is Yes , welcome to Turkey’s the largest spice bazaar. The Spice Bazaar, in Istanbul is one of the oldest bazaars in the city. Located in Fatih, in the neighborhood of Eminönü, it is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.

In Turkish the market is named Mısır Çarşısı’, or Egyptian Bazaar because it was built with money paid as duty on Egyptian imports. In English it’s usually known as The Spice Bazaar.

The construction of the bazaar began in 1597 by order of Safiye Sultan, the wife of the Ottoman Sultan Murat the 3rd and the Mother of Sultan Mehmet the 3rd. 67 years later, it was completed by order of Hatice Turhan Sultan, The Mother of Sultan Mehmet the 4th by the famous architect Mustafa Agha, as a part of the New Mosque complex.

In this bazaar you can find many spices, dried fruits, different kind of teas, Turkish delight, herbs, exotic aphrodisiacs,  honey, nuts, pistachio, sweet meats, pastırma ( cured beef ), many special gifts etc in this bazaar.

The square between the to arms of the bazaar is full of commercial activity with cafes and stalls , selling plants and pets.

These products can be bought with a nice price from the market which is usually is so crowded in any time during day.If prices seem to be high you can bargan with the salesman or you can choose another mall. You can feel relax to speak in your native language because these salesmen can speak in many different languaes.
When you exit a bit out of Spice Bazaar  you can see the Kuru Kahveci Mehmet Efendi’s store in where the Turkish coffee is sold which has been produced since 1871. You should buy some coffee from this store and you should give it as a gift to your family,or friends.  Turkish coffee has different taste from you tasted coffee ever before.

How can we get there? On  which days it is open? On which days on which hours it is open? What is the entrance fee?

From Taksim: First you need to take the finikular from the metro station on Taksim Square to go to Kabataş. When you get Kabataş, you need to get the tram to Eminönü.

From Beşiktaş: You need to get the bus from Beşiktaş to Eminönü.

From Eminönü: You are almost there. Look at the next to New Mosque.

From Kadıköy: Get the Kadıköy – Eminönü boat and walk to through Yeni Mosque, it is next to it.

From Üsküdar: Get the Üsküdar – Eminönü boat to pass the Bosphorus, and walk to through Yeni Mosque, it is next to it.

Days and Opening Hours: Opens every day. On Sundays from 09.30 to 19.00, the other days from 08.00 – 19.30.

Entrance Fee: It is for free.