Description

Essentials about the Spice Bazaar in brief

This market is a single sea of scents and colors. Those who like to buy spices, dried fruits, nuts, teas, oils and essences of all kinds will find happiness at the Misir Çarşisi. The range of goods on offer at the market dwarfs anything commonly found in a European supermarket or delicatessen. Translated, Misir Çarşisi means “Egyptian Bazaar”; however, the market is also known as “Spice Bazaar”. The bazaar is located in the middle of Istanbul’s historic center, at the end of the Galata Bridge next to the Yeni Cami (the New Mosque).

The Spice Bazaar complex

The layout of the market is L-shaped, inside there are about 100 stores on both sides of the bazaar street, only some of which are still sorted by branch. Besides spices, textiles, electronics and newspapers are sold here. In the courtyard there is a pet market and a flower market. There is also a fish market and a number of cheese and sausage vendors.

The history of the Spice Bazaar

Even before the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the whole surrounding neighborhood was quarters for merchants from the Italian maritime republics in the Byzantine Middle Ages. Nearby was also the Jewish quarter with a large number of Jewish merchants. The construction of the present bazaar was started in the middle of the 17th century under Sultan Mehmet III.

Website

misircarsisi.org.tr

Opening hours

Admission fees

None.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Tram line 1: Stop Eminönü

Bus lines 81, BN1 and BN2: Stop Eminönü Misirçarşisi

Bus lines 92, 92A and 94: Stop Eminönü

By car:

In the immediate vicinity of the Spice Bazaar there are a number of parking lots.