Grand Bazaar: The oldest and largest shopping centre of the world

The Grand Bazaar is situated in Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkey, and its history goes back to mid-15th century, the era of Sultan Mehmet II, the Conqueror. It is renowned as the oldest and largest shopping centre of the world, and it houses 3,600 shops over a 45 thousand square metres (11.2 acres) of covered space. During its peak in the Ottoman era, the extent of covered area and the number of shops were far greater than today's numbers. The Grand Bazaar was the hub of Ottoman economy and today it is the first choice for shopping for those visiting Istanbul. Some days the number of visitors reaches half a million. It is possible to shop for everything, carpets, handbags, textiles, gold and silver jewellery, antiques, and glazed chinaware, and many other handcraft souvenirs that would remind you, the pleasant memories of your visit to Turkey. You would find out that some of the shops you visit have been selling the same goods centuries ago with the same trading culture. Who knows, maybe one of your ancestors has visited Istanbul, probably the most prominent city for the visitors of the old world then, and shopped in the same shops you are visiting. Even if you spare a whole day to visit the Grand Bazaar, where traditional meets modern as happens everywhere in Istanbul, its sheer size makes it almost impossible to see everything in one day. While you can find traditional wares inspired from the Ottoman era in the Grand Bazaar, you would find many contemporary goods too. There are also many other shopping options around the Grand Bazaar. The road stretching between the Grand Bazaar and the Nur-u Osmaniye Mosque is where you would find the sellers of finest carpets as well as other oriental goods. There are also other shopping venues around the Sultanahmet area where handcrafted souvenirs as well as other diverse products. The enthusiasts of old books visiting the Sahaflar Market located between the Grand Bazaar and Beyazıt Mosque is a must. The Grand Bazaar is open for business except Sundays and religious holidays between 08.30 am and 07.00 pm.