Egyptian Bazaar
Found in
Eminonu,near the
Galata Bridge, which passes over the waters of the
Golden Horn, and practically in the shadow of the
New Mosque (really four hundred years-old, and called Yeni Cami in Turkish) is the famous Egyptian Spice Bazaar (Misir Carisisi). Much smaller than the
Grand Bazaar, and less touristic too, the Spice Bazaar was built in 1660 to help support the upkeep of the
New Mosque. The
Grand Bazaar is known for its colors and noises,but the Spice Bazaar is a lesson in smells and tastes. Here is where you can find all manner of Turkish Delight candy (lokum), baklava, teas and Turkish coffee, and dried fruits. The array of containers overflowing with colorful spices is really something to see, as well as smell. This is also the best place in
Istanbul to buy toiletries like the big cakes of olive oil soap displayed at many shops. Like the
Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar is surrounded by vendors of clothing, school supplies, and most everything else. In fact, you could easily make your way from one bazaar to the other, and not stray from the outdoor markets.
The Egyptian Spice Bazaar is open Mondays to Saturdays, 8 am to 6 pm. NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETS Apart from the biggies, there are many others of the covered varieties, and also several open-air markets all over the city of
Istanbul on any given day of the week. The former are generally shopping plazas in a fairly Western style, and the latter are usually the ones for buying fresh fruit, kitchen implements, and clothing in a setting more reminiscent of a flea market or farmers' market.
How to go: It is in the center of
EminonuSource ://www.istanbullife.org
