The Spice Bazaar Istanbul visitors head for is the covered market at Eminönü, known in Turkish as the Mısır Çarşısı, or Egyptian Bazaar. It is smaller and easier to get around than the Grand Bazaar, and it smells better too: stalls are piled with spices, dried fruit, nuts, tea, Turkish delight and dried herbs. Entry is free, it sits right on the Golden Horn waterfront, and it is a natural first stop on a day spent around the old city.
What the Spice Bazaar is and why go
The bazaar was built in the 17th century as part of the New Mosque complex (Yeni Cami), whose rents helped pay for the mosque's upkeep. The name Egyptian Bazaar is usually explained by the goods that once arrived from Egypt, especially spices that came through the Ottoman trade routes. The building is an L-shaped vaulted hall with gates at each end, and today it holds dozens of shops.
It is a good place to try things before you buy. Many sellers will offer a cube of lokum (Turkish delight) or a pinch of a spice blend, and you can compare quality between shops in a few minutes. Even if you buy nothing, walking through the hall and the streets around it gives a clear sense of how trade has shaped this part of Istanbul for centuries.
Getting to the Spice Bazaar Istanbul by public transport
The most direct rail stop is Eminönü on the T1 tram line, which runs from Kabataş across the Galata Bridge, past the bazaar and up to Sultanahmet. The tram stop is just a short walk from the bazaar's main gate beside the New Mosque.
If you are coming on the metro, the nearest M2 station is Haliç, which sits on the metro bridge over the Golden Horn. From there you walk off the bridge on the Eminönü side and along the waterfront, which takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes. The Marmaray line also stops at Sirkeci, a short walk east of the bazaar.
- An Istanbulkart works on the tram, metro, Marmaray and city ferries, and is usually the easiest way to pay.
- Ferries from Kadıköy, Üsküdar and other piers arrive at Eminönü, a few minutes' walk from the bazaar, which makes a pleasant way to arrive from the Asian side.
- The waterfront here is busy with traffic and crowds, so allow extra time and watch your bags.
Entry, opening hours and how to shop
There is no ticket to enter the Spice Bazaar. Opening hours are generally daytime, but they can change on public and religious holidays, so check a current source before you plan an early or late visit. Do not assume it keeps the same days as the Grand Bazaar.
A few tips for buying:
- Prices are often per kilo or per 100 grams. Ask for a small amount first, and check the price before the seller starts weighing.
- Vacuum packing is widely offered and helps if you are flying home. Check your own country's customs rules on food items before you buy in bulk.
- Saffron is a common trap. Cheap "saffron" is often safflower, so buy real saffron only from a shop you trust, and expect it to cost a lot.
- Bargaining is normal for larger purchases, but keep it friendly. Prices in the side streets outside the hall are sometimes lower.
Best time to visit and how long to spend
Mornings, soon after the shops open, are the calmest time. By midday and on Saturdays the hall and the surrounding streets become very crowded, especially when cruise ships are in port. Thirty minutes is enough to walk through the main hall; an hour or more lets you browse properly and explore the lanes outside.
In summer the covered hall offers some shade, but the streets around it get hot. In winter, a bag of roasted chestnuts from a street cart on the square outside is a good reason to linger.
Highlights in and around the bazaar
The side streets of Tahtakale
The streets to the west of the hall are where many locals shop. You will find cheese and cured meat shops, kitchenware sellers and a well-known coffee roaster where queues form for freshly ground Turkish coffee.
The New Mosque
The large mosque at the bazaar's gate belongs to the same complex. Visitors can usually enter outside prayer times, with covered shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf for their hair.
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
A few minutes' walk away, this small mosque by the architect Sinan is raised above street level on a row of shops. Its interior walls are covered in İznik tiles and it is one of the finest tiled interiors in the city.
Nearby around Eminönü
- Galata Bridge: walk across for views of the old city skyline and the fishermen lining the rails.
- Süleymaniye Mosque: a steady uphill walk of around 15 minutes through market streets.
- Grand Bazaar: reachable on foot through the shopping streets of Mahmutpaşa, or by tram to Beyazıt.
- Ferry piers: cheap public ferries cross to Kadıköy and Üsküdar, a simple way to see the Bosphorus.
For more ideas around this stop, see the Spice Bazaar on Around the Metro, or explore every station on the Istanbul metro map.