Grand Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Grand Bazaar. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul

• Istanbul Highlights Private Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket Options

• Private Guided Istanbul Day Tour

• Private & Mini Group 7-8 Hours Guided Istanbul Tour / Cruise Port

• Old Town Of Istanbul - Orientation Walking Tour

It’s free to visit the Grand Bazaar on your own. There are also budget-friendly tours to make the most of your experience—between haggling and a maze-like layout, the bazaar can be overwhelming. Guided tours of Istanbul featuring bazaar visits start at US$18, with private tours from US$79.

Yes, the Grand Bazaar is worth visiting. Not only is the sprawling and historic covered market one of the city's best souvenir-shopping destinations, it's a part of daily life for countless Istanbul residents. Just walking through its narrow streets offers great people-watching, with plenty of spots to stop for refreshments.

Per one customer who booked the Private Half-day Tour: Imperial Istanbul - Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar, "This was a great tour. We learned the full history of Hagia Sophia. Our guide, Gülay knew every date and every detail. The Basilica Cistern was much different than I expected and enhanced by the knowledge of our guide. We had the opportunity to go to a private pottery showroom and have a personal demonstration. My favorite was the Grand Bazaar. It is overwhelming, but our guide had a good knowledge of which vendors were reputable and helped us navigate."

You can buy just about anything at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets. But many tourists come excited for the Iznik bowls and other Turkish ceramics, gold jewelry, Turkish rugs (Kilim rugs), traditional crafts and teas, Hammam soaps, and uber-fresh spices by the pound.

Yes, guided tours are available for the Grand Bazaar, and they can be a great way to demystify—and break into doable parts—this massive, ancient market with more than 4,000 shops. Your guide will know the vendors to patronize (or not) and where to find the best souvenirs and deals.

Saying “hello” and “thank you” in Turkish goes a long way. You can start your bargaining and ask, “What if I pay in cash?” which may lower the price. Do comparison shopping and note lower prices at other stalls and, as always, stay good-natured and willing to walk away.

While you can use credit cards at many shops inside Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, many vendors prefer cash. They may charge you a higher price if you’re paying with plastic. If you can, pay with cash—and let them know it, for a lower price—especially for smaller purchases.

Yes, the Grand Bazaar is organized by sections, thankfully—otherwise you’d never make it around the market’s 4,000-plus shops without getting lost. You’ll find sections dedicated to what the bazaar is known for, like gold and silver jewelry, Turkish ceramics and textiles, antiques, as well as spices and soaps.

While the Grand Bazaar is a marketplace with a reputable, 500-year history, always be cautious. Certain goods—especially those geared toward tourists—may seem authentic and precious, when they’re mass-produced. Know that bargaining is an option, as is comparison shopping, and you should never pay more than you’re comfortable with.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Grand Bazaar. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Istanbul:

• Hagia Sophia

• Bosphorus

• Blue Mosque

• Topkapi Palace

• Basilica Cistern

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Istanbul.