Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

A market built to fund a mosque

The bazaar was part of the New Mosque complex. When Valide Sultan Turhan Hatice finally completed the long-stalled mosque project, the market was finished alongside it between 1660 and 1664, and the rent paid by its shopkeepers went to the mosque's charitable foundation. Behind the smell of cumin and cinnamon, then, lies a very Ottoman idea: commerce paying for religious and social services.

Early records call it the New Bazaar or the Valide Bazaar. The name Egyptian Bazaar is usually explained by the taxes from Ottoman Egypt that helped finance the building, and by the Egyptian goods such as spices, henna and coffee that were sold here. For centuries its main tenants were herbalists, who also sold remedies, pastes and aromatic resins.

A major fire in 1940 led to extensive restoration, but the building you walk through today still follows the original 17th-century plan.

Reading the building: an L-shaped hall

The bazaar is laid out as an L, with two long vaulted arms meeting at a right angle. The longer arm runs from the square in front of the New Mosque toward the Tahtakale backstreets, while the shorter one points toward the Galata Bridge. Several gates open onto the surrounding streets, the grandest being the arched main entrance facing the mosque.

Look up as you walk: brick vaults, high windows and painted details give the interior its character. Tradition holds that a room above the main gate once served as a small court for settling market disputes.

What to look for and what to buy

• Spices: Turkish red pepper flakes, smoky isot pepper, sumac, oregano, saffron and ready-made blends for meatballs or chicken, weighed to order and vacuum-packed.
• Turkish delight: Rose, pistachio, walnut and double-roasted varieties; boxed sets travel well. See our guide to souvenirs from Istanbul for more ideas.
• Nuts and dried fruit: Pistachios from Gaziantep, apricots, figs, mulberries and walnut-stuffed grape molasses sweets.
• Tea and coffee: Herbal blends, apple and pomegranate teas, Turkish coffee and copper pots. Our Turkish coffee and tea guide explains the rituals behind them.
• The streets outside: Seed and plant stalls by the western gate, and lanes toward Tahtakale selling cheese, olives and cured meats, where locals do their everyday shopping.

Shopping without stress

Most shops are happy to let you taste before you buy, and prices are generally displayed. Asking politely for a small discount when you buy several items is perfectly normal. Quality varies from shop to shop, so compare a few before committing, and be wary of saffron that seems unusually cheap.

The halls get very crowded on weekends and in the afternoon. Arrive early, then continue to the tile-covered Rüstem Pasha Mosque a few steps away. Our Eminönü neighbourhood guide covers the other sights around the square.

Getting there from Sareban Hotel

From our hotel in Küçük Ayasofya, walk to the Sultanahmet or Çemberlitaş tram stop and take the T1 line toward Kabataş, getting off at Eminönü. The main gate is a few minutes' walk from the stop. Our T1 tram guide explains how to pay and which stops matter.

If you enjoy walking, you can reach the bazaar on a pleasant downhill walk through Sirkeci. On the way back with heavy bags, the tram is the easier option.