Meet at Ataturk airport, Hotel or Cruise Port follows transfer to Grand bazaar:
Shopping in Istanbul is one of the delights of a visit to this city where wandering through the colorful bazaars is a enjoyable as browsing in the modern shops. For all tourist the 'Kapali Carsi' or Covered Bazaar in the old city is , of course, the favorite place. In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each trade its own area: goldsmiths’ street, carpet sellers’ street and so on. Of the great variety of goods offered there is something to suit every taste and pocket. In Ottoman times this was the centre of trading, and a vital area of town. The Sandal Bedesten was added during Suleyman’s reign, to cope with the rising trade in fabrics, during the 16th century. Traditionally the more valuable goods were in the old central area, called Ic Bedesten, because it was more secure. As quite typical of the area, most streets are laid out and devoted to a particular trade, for example gold on Kuyumcular Caddesi, leather on Bodrum Han, and shoes on Kavaflar Sokak. But the trade has also spilled out onto the surrounding streets, and it is very common to see Russian traders buying up huge sacks of leather jackets or shoes outside the main entrance. Even the streets leading to the Golden Horn are lined with outdoor stalls, which have traditionally been controlled by strict trading laws to reduce competition between traders. There is wide selection of jewelery, from traditional to modern settings, while the carpet shops display eye-catching wares of vivid colors and intricate designs. Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, handhoned copper, brassware and trays, water ewers, onxy-ware and meerschaum pipes; all make charming souvenirs and gifts. Leather and suede goods are excellent and relatively inexpensive. In the Old Bedesten, in the heart of the bazaar, the pattern of shopping seems to have remained unchanged for century. Bazaar is closing on Sundays.
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