Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

On the waterfront of Eminönü, beside the New Mosque and the Galata Bridge, the Spice Bazaar fills the air with the scent of cumin, cinnamon, saffron and fresh coffee. Known in Turkish as Mısır Çarşısı, the "Egyptian Bazaar", it is smaller and more focused than the Grand Bazaar, and for many visitors it is the most atmospheric market in Istanbul.

History

The bazaar was built as part of the külliye, the charitable complex, of the New Mosque (Yeni Cami), and was completed in the 1660s under the patronage of Turhan Hatice Sultan, mother of Sultan Mehmed IV. Its rents helped pay for the upkeep of the mosque. The name "Egyptian Bazaar" is usually explained by the goods that arrived from Cairo and the wider Ottoman world, and by revenues from Egypt linked to its construction. Spices, medicinal herbs, dyes and coffee were sold here for centuries, and the market became the centre of the city's herbalist trade.

What to See

The bazaar is an L-shaped building with high vaulted halls and gates opening onto Eminönü square and the surrounding streets. Inside, shops display pyramids of spices, jars of honey and colourful mounds of dried fruit.

• Spices and herbs – sumac, pul biber (Aleppo pepper), saffron, mixed spice blends and herbal teas.
• Turkish delight – lokum in dozens of flavours, often sold by weight and happily sampled.
• Dried fruit and nuts – figs, apricots, Antep pistachios and hazelnuts.
• Cheese and charcuterie – the streets outside the western gate are famous for pastırma, sucuk and Anatolian cheeses.
• Coffee – the historic Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi shop nearby still roasts and grinds Turkish coffee daily.
• Rüstem Pasha Mosque – a short walk away in the market streets, famous for its İznik tiles.

Visitor Tips

Entry is free. Prices in the main hall can be higher than in the side streets, so compare before you buy and ask for vacuum-packed spices if you are taking them home. Most shops let you taste before buying. The bazaar is busiest at midday and on weekends; early morning is the most relaxed time. Opening hours vary seasonally and on Sundays, so check locally on the day of your visit.

Look up as you walk: the high brick vaults and the arched gateways are part of the original seventeenth-century fabric, and the building still follows the plan laid out when it served the New Mosque complex. Outside the gates, the surrounding streets of Tahtakale are packed with wholesale shops selling kitchenware, olives, dried beans and coffee, offering a glimpse of everyday trade in Istanbul that most visitors never see. Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowds, and carry some cash for small purchases.

The Spice Bazaar sits at a crossroads of Istanbul sightseeing: the ferry piers of Eminönü, the Galata Bridge, the New Mosque and the Golden Horn are all on its doorstep. On an Inca Tour Istanbul tour or Bosphorus cruise day, it is the perfect place to taste the flavours of Turkish cuisine and pick up edible souvenirs.