Markets Istanbul

In Byzantine times, it was a market where Venetians and Genoese sold spices, hence its name "spice market". Every day spices, honeys, cheeses, from the Turkish provinces, aphrodisiac mixtures, dried meats and even domestic animals are negotiated. Much more authentic than the Grand Bazaar, which has become the centre of jewellers and carpet merchants. That being said, jewellers are gaining a little more ground each year.

A very nice food market, right next to the Egyptian bazaar, with which it contrasts well. Less tourism, it keeps its commodities for local customers. It buys cheese, honey, pastırma (meat from local Grisons), sucuk (spicy sausage), coffee, tea or olives: the choice is important and of good quality.

Generally unloved, the neighbourhood of Tarlabaʂı, in the midst of "forced gentrification", has a bad reputation: crimes, drugs, prostitution. However, every Sunday, its market attracts: locals (mainly Kurdish, Roma and African minorities) to Erasmus students and other "expats". The market is a true cultural melting pot with a village spirit in the heart of downtown Istanbul. All in length, the market exposes an enormous quantity of fruit and vegetable stalls, fish, cheese, textiles... at unbeatable prices!

Unlike the Pera market, only fish can be found in it. It can be interesting to see the different varieties that are sold at the auction. Nearby, inside the ramparts, a series of restaurants is set around a few pedestrian streets. Original practice: Addresses such as Küçük Liman, Havuzbaşı or Beyaz agree to prepare the fish you just bought. You pay only cooking and salad.

This huge open-pit bazaar covers several neighbourhoods and it really contains everything except food. On the side of Eminönü, they are well-established merchants with stands, while on the side of Beyazıt, the merchandise is scattered through the ground or on small mobile carts. Traders are as mixed as the articles they propose. Bulgarians, Romanians, Kurds, Russians or Caucasian give Attractive Colours to this Market.

This market is one of the largest and most popular in the city: it is held in the Fatih district on Wednesdays. Fatih is a very conservative part of Istanbul, so you will see very few tourists going to this market. More than 4,000 stalls spread over several avenues and about twenty streets, not to mention street vendors. Given the size, the traders are very varied: food, clothing, kitchen utensils...

Tired of tourist markets where you are alpaca every three meters? You will have to cross the Bosporus and go to the Kadıköy district, on the Asian side. This huge market, with some 2,000 stalls, is more frequented by Istanbul residents than the Grand Bazaar or the Egyptian Bazaar. Here, only locals can find everything from clothing to household appliances, food and hardware, all at truly unbeatable prices.