Istanbul Arasta Bazaar | Location + Opening Hours
As you know, Istanbul has many markets, and if you want to visit them all, you need a lot of time. I researched for you and found out with a lot of inquiries that the Istanbul Arasta Bazaar in Sultanahmet is one of the best traditional markets in Istanbul that everyone should visit on their trip.
I had doubts before going to this market whether I made the right choice or not. But when I reached the entrance of this market, I realized that all the praises about this market were not nonsense and this market is really one of the best.
If you are hesitant to go to this market, read this article from Travelling Topic to the end so that you can use your time in the best way and get to know this market completely.
Among the main items that are sold in the Arasta Bazaar are:
- All kinds of women’s and men’s clothes
- Bags and shoes
- Rhinestones and jewelry
- Children’s clothes
- Handicrafts and souvenirs of Istanbul
- Carpet
Where is Istanbul Arasta Bazaar located?
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Before I introduce Istanbul Arasta Bazaar, it is better to know where this market is located. In the Sultan Ahmed area, behind the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Hippodrome square, exactly where the Arasta Bazaar is located. On both sides of this market, there are mostly handicraft and souvenir shops, and almost all of its visitors are tourists.
To reach this market, take the T1 tram, get off at Sultanahmet station, and walk to this market for 10 minutes.
History of Istanbul Arasta Bazaar
When I first entered this Bazaar, I went to traditional shops whose owners were old because I really wanted to know about the history of this Bazaar.
After a little inquiry, I found out that this market was originally a place to keep horses. But later, it was used for different purposes, and today, it has become an attractive and spectacular market. This market is also known as Sipahi carsisi. So, most of the natives of the city call it by the same name.
Due to the popularity of this market among the people of Istanbul as well as tourists, many people go there every day to visit and shop. So, if you decide to go to this market, prepare yourself for the crowd. At first glance, this market may seem small, but you can see a wide variety of goods and experience a pleasant shopping experience.
Shopping in Istanbul’s Arasta Bazaar
Now that you are familiar with this Bazaar, let’s see what you can find and buy from this Bazaar. Istanbul Arasta Bazaar is not a very big market, but it has a wide variety of goods.
This market has about 70 stalls. Each of these stalls is related to a different product, and for this reason, people can buy whatever they like at a reasonable price from this market.
Since I was very interested in knowing about this Bazaar, I asked several people about the prices of this Bazaar, whether the prices of this Bazaar are lower or higher than other places.
The most common answer I got was that the prices are lower than the big shopping centers in Istanbul, but the prices in this Bazaar are higher than the other traditional shopping centers in Istanbul. The reason is that most of the people who come to this Bazaar are tourists.
Another important point that you should know is that there are many restaurants and cafes around this Bazaar and it is a good option to relax after walking around the market. There are also good hotels and accommodations in this area.
If you want to try the real taste of Turkish food, visit the restaurants in this market that I have introduced below:
Visiting hours to Arasta Bazaar shopping center
Like all shopping centers in Turkey, this market is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It may be written on the internet that this market closes at 7 pm, but according to my experience, most of the shops are open until 9 pm.
Visiting the shops in this market is free, but remember to bargain with the vendors before paying and get a discount because some vendors sell goods to tourists at a higher price than the original price.
Sights of Istanbul around Arasta Bazaar
The location of the bazaar is such that visiting it can make other attractions of Istanbul available to you. With a short walk, you will arrive at other attractions such as the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Hagia Sophia Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Maiden’s Tower.
Arasta bazaar photos
In order for you to have a better understanding of this article, I tried to take pictures from different parts of this market. The photos of the Arasta market that I put below do not include the whole market, but they can be very effective in your choice.
Upon consideration
If you go to this market, because of the old architecture, you will think you have gone back 100 years. Visiting this market can help you understand Turkish culture and give you different views of Istanbul.
Istanbul is not just a modern city; you can find authentic Turkish culture in its back alleys and traditional markets and learn about the customs of the people of this city.
So, if you are looking for a place to shop or a place to get to know the culture of Istanbul, this market is the right destination for you.
please share your thoughts and pictures in the comments with other users.
Before I went to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, I had no information about this market and I didn’t even know that there was such a market in Istanbul. After leaving the mosque, I was walking in the street around it when I accidentally entered this market. I walked in this market until around 9 pm and visited different stores and talked with the sellers.
The sellers were moral and polite people, but they all tried to sell me their products, and I also bought several souvenirs by getting discounts.