Grand Bazaar





The Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world housing over 3000 shops, is more than just a sightseeing spot. Ever since the 15th century, it has been bustling with activity. Every day locals and visitors are haggling to get the best bang for their buck. Here are some valuable bargaining tips for the Grand Bazaar and other shops around Istanbul.

Picture inside the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey.
Grand Bazaar



Notice How Similar Shops Stand Side by Side in Istanbul

After you spent a few days walking around in Istanbul, you’ll notice streets (or even areas) where all shops seem to sell similar items. At Taksim Square you find a string of döner shops, in Galata a street full of musical instrument shops, in Karaköy nothing but DIY tools, etc.
For Westerners this defies all commercial logic. Why would you want to drive competition to the max? But in Turkey they look at it from a different angle. If someone is in the market for let’s say a musical instrument, they know what area or street to go to. As a shop owner or sales person, it’s your job to lure in the customer.
The Grand Bazaar follows the same logic, on an even bigger scale. As we’ll see later, this gives you as a potential buyer a nice advantage.

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