The Grand Bazaar is a world of mayhem. It is a labyrinth of stalls with people yelling at you “Come in! I like your money!” and “Let me sell you something you don't need”. A chaotic world of bright color fabrics, the sound of people bargaining, and the smell of food stalls.
Anything you need to buy you can find it in the Grand Bazaar.
With over 4,000 shops and several kilometers of lanes the Grand Bazaar is the oldest in Istanbul. It was split up in different areas. There were copperware, leatherwear, carpet, gold, clothing, and fabric areas.
When we went, we had to prepare ourselves properly. All valuables had to be put away and we went in a good mood and energized. We went ready to swap friendly banter with the sometimes pushy shopkeepers.
For serious bargaining there was a protocol. You sit with the shopkeeper and start with some small talk, all the while drinking tea. During your chat you bargain back and forth until you find an acceptable price for both parties.
Anything you need to buy you can find it in the Grand Bazaar.
With over 4,000 shops and several kilometers of lanes the Grand Bazaar is the oldest in Istanbul. It was split up in different areas. There were copperware, leatherwear, carpet, gold, clothing, and fabric areas.
When we went, we had to prepare ourselves properly. All valuables had to be put away and we went in a good mood and energized. We went ready to swap friendly banter with the sometimes pushy shopkeepers.
For serious bargaining there was a protocol. You sit with the shopkeeper and start with some small talk, all the while drinking tea. During your chat you bargain back and forth until you find an acceptable price for both parties.
We found the bazaar to be a tourist trap and cheesy but the building is beautiful and the overall experience was very interesting.
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