The Egyptian Market (Mısır Çarşısı) in Istanbul, also known as the Spice Market, has become an absolute hit with tourists in the last year.
Located in the heart of the historic Eminonu district, the place attracts thousands of visitors with its oriental charm, the aromas of spices and the wide selection of local delicacies.
Although the place is known as the Spice Market, you can find everything there – from clothes and household items, to all kinds of culinary products, restaurants, souvenirs, etc.
In front of each object, vendors lurk and treat passers-by with Turkish delight, baklava and tea. They don’t oblige you to make a turnover, but they are so busy that you feel obliged to buy at least a little. The curious thing is that the same products on different stalls have big differences in price. If a kilogram of Turkish delight costs 700 liras in some places, the price can exceed 1000 in others. Well, of course, after bargaining, the amount evens out.
Import from Egypt
Built in 1664, the market was a place where mainly goods imported from Egypt were sold. Hence its name. Later, however, it also began to be called the Spice Bazaar, due to the variety of goods and spices imported from different countries, besides Egypt.
The Spice Bazaar is built in the shape of the letter “L” with a total of 113 shops. During the Ottoman Empire, the bazaar operated as a pharmacy for many years. Although it suffered two major fires in 1691 and 1940, the market was restored, and the last major renovation was completed in 2018. In the spring of 2024 There was also a fire, but fortunately firefighters quickly extinguished the fire before it caused any major damage to the historic site.
The Egyptian Market is open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and is one of the busiest places in Istanbul. With increasing interest from tourists, the bazaar is quickly establishing itself as a must-see in the city on the Bosphorus.
Illustrative Photo by Kübra Kuzu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-street-sign-with-a-street-name-and-a-street-sign-16051322/
