Neighbourhood guide · Istanbul, Türkiye
Eminönü & the bazaars
Between the Golden Horn and the Grand Bazaar, the old commercial city: bazaars, the Süleymaniye on its hill, hammams and the busy ferry piers of Eminönü.
About Eminönü & the bazaars
Walk uphill from the Spice Bazaar through the market streets to the Grand Bazaar and the Süleymaniye, then down to Eminönü for balık ekmek and a ferry.
Where Eminönü & the bazaars is
Our 27 places in Eminönü & the bazaars
Restaurants in Eminönü & the bazaars
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Kebabs above Eminönü
Hamdi
A big, busy kebab restaurant by the Spice Bazaar, with a top-floor terrace over the Golden Horn.
Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
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In an 18th-century hammam
Lokanta 1741
A restaurant inside the 1741 Cağaloğlu Hamamı, a few minutes from Hagia Sophia; listed by the MICHELIN Guide.
Alemdar Mahallesi, Profesör Kazım İsmail Gürkan Caddesi No:34, Cağaloğlu Hamamı, FatihExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand (2026)
Pandeli
A historic restaurant upstairs in the Spice Bazaar gate, in blue-tiled rooms; a Bib Gourmand.
Rüstempaşa Mahallesi, Balık Pazarı Kapısı Sokağı No:1/2, Mısır Çarşısı, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
Cafés in Eminönü & the bazaars
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Tea in a medrese courtyard
Erenler Nargile & Tea Garden
Tea and nargile in the courtyard of the Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi, steps from the Grand Bazaar.
Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi, Yeniçeriler Caddesi, Beyazıt, FatihExplore View on map
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Sweets since 1864
Hafız Mustafa 1864
A historic sweet shop founded in 1864: baklava, lokum, puddings and tea, with branches around the old city.
Sirkeci and Divan Yolu Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map
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Coffee since the 19th century
Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi
The historic coffee roaster behind the Spice Bazaar, where the queue for freshly ground Turkish coffee never ends.
Tahmis Sokağı, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
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Boza since 1876
Vefa Bozacısı
The historic boza shop near the Süleymaniye, serving the thick fermented millet drink since 1876.
Vefa Caddesi No:66, Vefa, FatihExplore View on map
Hotels in Eminönü & the bazaars
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By Gülhane Park
Sirkeci Mansion
A friendly, well-run hotel by Gülhane Park, with an indoor pool and hammam.
Taya Hatun Caddesi No:5, Sirkeci, FatihExplore View on map
See the full list: Where to Stay in Istanbul: The Best Luxury, Palace & Boutique Hotels
Sights in Eminönü & the bazaars
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Constantine’s porphyry column
Column of Constantine (Çemberlitaş)
The porphyry column Constantine raised in 330 in his forum, bound with iron hoops, on Divan Yolu.
Divan Yolu Caddesi, Çemberlitaş, FatihExplore View on map
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Fishermen, ferries and the Golden Horn
Galata Bridge
The bridge across the Golden Horn between Eminönü and Karaköy, lined with fishermen above and fish restaurants below.
Galata Köprüsü, EminönüExplore View on map
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The landmark of Eminönü
New Mosque (Yeni Cami)
The great mosque at the end of the Galata Bridge, completed in 1665, beside the Spice Bazaar.
Rüstem Paşa, Yeni Cami Caddesi, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
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The most beautiful tiles in Istanbul
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
A small mosque by Sinan above the shops of Eminönü, its interior covered in the finest İznik tiles.
Hasırcılar Caddesi No:62, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
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Sinan’s masterpiece in Istanbul
Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan’s great mosque for Süleyman the Magnificent, completed in 1557 on the third hill, with views over the Golden Horn.
Süleymaniye, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map
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The back story
The Ottoman capital: the back story
For nearly five centuries Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire: a city of sultans, mosques and bazaars, of Sinan’s domes and the palaces of the Bosphorus.
Arts & Culture in Eminönü & the bazaars
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Whirling dervishes in an old hammam
Hodjapasha Culture Center
A performance venue in a restored 15th-century hammam near Sirkeci, with whirling dervish ceremonies and Turkish dance shows.
Hocapaşa Hamamı Sokak No:3B, Sirkeci, FatihExplore View on map
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The most beautiful tiles in Istanbul
Rüstem Pasha Mosque
A small mosque by Sinan above the shops of Eminönü, its interior covered in the finest İznik tiles.
Hasırcılar Caddesi No:62, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
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Sinan’s masterpiece in Istanbul
Süleymaniye Mosque
Sinan’s great mosque for Süleyman the Magnificent, completed in 1557 on the third hill, with views over the Golden Horn.
Süleymaniye, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map
Hammams & spas in Eminönü & the bazaars
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The bathhouse of 1741
Cağaloğlu Hamamı
One of the most famous hammams in Istanbul, built in 1741 near Hagia Sophia, with separate sections for men and women.
Prof. Kazım İsmail Gürkan Caddesi, Cağaloğlu, FatihExplore View on map
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Sinan’s hammam on Divan Yolu
Çemberlitaş Hamamı
A hammam designed by Sinan in 1584, on Divan Yolu by the Column of Constantine.
Vezirhanı Caddesi No:8, Çemberlitaş, FatihExplore View on map
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Part of the Süleymaniye complex
Süleymaniye Hamamı
The hammam of the Süleymaniye complex, by Sinan, beside the great mosque.
Mimar Sinan Caddesi, Süleymaniye, FatihExplore View on map
Shopping in Eminönü & the bazaars
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Lokum since 1777
Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir
The historic confectioner that has made lokum, Turkish delight, since 1777; shops in Eminönü, Beyoğlu and Kadıköy.
Hamidiye Caddesi, Eminönü; İstiklal Caddesi No:83; KadıköyExplore View on map
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The back story
Bazaars and bargaining: what to take home, the back story
Carpets and kilims, İznik-style ceramics, copper, gold, Turkish coffee, lokum and spices: Istanbul has been the world’s market for centuries, and shopping here is an art.
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A city under one roof
Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with more than 60 streets of shops. Closed on Sundays.
Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Caddesi, FatihExplore View on map
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Books in a shady courtyard
Sahaflar Çarşısı (Book Bazaar)
The old book bazaar in a shady courtyard between the Grand Bazaar and the Beyazıt Mosque.
Beyazıt, FatihExplore View on map
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Spices, tea and lokum
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
The L-shaped bazaar of the 1660s next to the New Mosque at Eminönü, fragrant with spices, teas and sweets.
Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sokak, Eminönü, FatihExplore View on map
Getting around in Eminönü & the bazaars
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The best ride in Istanbul
City ferries (Şehir Hatları)
The city ferries that cross between Europe and Asia and run up the Bosphorus and out to the Princes’ Islands; pay with İstanbulkart.
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Where the Orient Express arrived
Historic stations: Sirkeci & Haydarpaşa
The Orient Express terminus at Sirkeci (1890) and the grand Haydarpaşa station on the Asian shore (1908).
