Step into the chaos of the Grand Bazaar with a local guide who will help you make sense of its nearly 4,000 shops and stalls. Enjoy a workshop on gold melting before stepping out onto a terrace with a great view of Istanbul.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 4 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English
Pickup included: Pickup is available from centrally-located Istanbul hotels within Taksim Square, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Sultanahmet, and Fatih neighborhoods. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby.
Small group: Limited to 6 participants

Highlights

Visit the Grand Bazaar with a local guide
Enjoy expert commentary on the shops and the keepers who work here daily
Visit a Gold Workshop where you can see jewelry made
Learn the tricks of how to barter like a local
Experience the covered bazaar, gold melting, silver carving, and old hans

Full description

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a bustling hive of shopkeepers and consumers bargaining on everything from exotic spices and sweets to fine leather goods and jewelry. Let your guide open your eyes to the hidden treasures of the Grand Bazaar. Your guide will also help you to bargain for the best deal available. This is not so much a shopping tour as a cultural experience that is so much more fulfilling than just visiting the Grand Bazaar on your own. During your half-day walk through the Bazaar, you will be treated to shops selling sweets, leather goods, jewelry, glassware, pottery, fabrics, and belly dancing costumes. You'll even see workshops where they melt down gold in the ancient tradition, and recast it into whatever your heart desires! Your guide will take you through the labyrinth and up to one of the most impressive views in all of Istanbul at one of the Grand Bazaar's gorgeous terraces.

Includes

English-speaking guide
Entrance fees
Transportation to and from the hotel

Lunch
Beverages
Personal expenses

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Important information

Not allowed

Pets
Luggage or large bags

Customer reviews

Overall rating

5 /5

based on 1 reviews

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Great tour with a very good guide! Great overview of the Bazaar!

The tour provided an excellent insight into the goings-on at the bazaar and also led us to spots that we would never have found otherwise. It's be very preferable to be able to take this tour in additional languages (for example in German). Our very friendly and very good guide spoke English very well in a way that was easy to understand. She honored individual requests and also answered all of our questions. The tour presents the bazaar and its particularities in-depth and offers a very good opportunity to get to know a lot, and isn't overextended by the breadth of the bazaar alleyways. We (3 tourists from Germany) were thrilled! A very successful afternoon!

May 14, 2012

Half-Day Afternoon: Grand Bazaar Walk

Half-Day Afternoon: Grand Bazaar Walk

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Great tour with a very good guide! Great overview of the Bazaar!