Shopping · 18 of the best in Istanbul
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
Spices, tea and lokum
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Dudva · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
The Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Bazaar because it was built with the revenues of Egypt, was completed in the 1660s as part of the New Mosque complex. Its vaulted halls are piled with spices, teas, dried fruit, nuts and lokum. The lanes outside are where locals shop for coffee, cheese and cured meats.
Why it's on our list
- Built in the 1660s
- Spices and lokum
- Next to the ferries
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro & tram stops
- EminönüT1T5200 m3 min walk
- SirkeciT1450 m5 min walk
- KaraköyT1700 m9 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Maliye Caddesi950 m12 min walk
- Taxi rank, Şehzadebaşı Caddesi1.1 km14 min walk
Key sights
- Galata Bridge450 mWalk 5 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Grand Bazaar550 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Süleymaniye Mosque600 mWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Galata Tower1.1 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Basilica Cistern1.1 kmWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Hagia Sophia1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Topkapı Palace1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Blue Mosque1.3 kmWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 7 min
- İstiklal Avenue2.0 kmWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Taksim Square2.6 kmWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 11 min
Getting around
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)31 kmCar or taxi 97 min
- Istanbul Airport (IST)34 kmCar or taxi 105 min