Arasta Bazaar

Place is just behind the Suleymani / Blue Mosque. Shops are well placed and organised but the price is a bit higher. Products are selective but compared to the nearby area price is higher. There are some special shops for some special items like vintage arts, paintings and crafts. Few eateries are there. Good thing is it is covered market so during rain you will be safe a bit.

Running along the back of the Blue mosque is this rather lovely market (Bazaar), quite small however no where as hectic as the grand bazaar, definitely worth a visit when in the area.

I found this little bazaar far more welcoming than the Grand Bazaar, where I felt like everyone was out to scam you. We just bought a beautiful acrylic painting from there, which we felt was very fairly priced. If you're going for the atmosphere, go to Grand Bazaar, but if you want to actually buy something good, go to arasta Bazaar.

A much smaller scale market compared to the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Bazaar located next to Sultanahmet Park - primarily selling textile products, ceramics and jewelry. Pleasant shopping experience and a lot less chaotic.

We deliberately walked through this Bazaar to window shop, just before opening time, which was a much more relaxing experience than usual in Istanbul. A few shops were open and we did end up tasting and then buying some tea from a shop called Flamingo (photos attached).

A short walk from the Blue Mosque, this bazaar is on a side street. Our tourist guide took us there. i know it must be touristy. But so what? if you only have a few hours in Istanbul, this could be a great place to stop to look around and get a few souvenirs. People are friendly and the merchandise is decent. it also happened to be a wonderful spring like day! The whole experience is magnificent. there are cats and dogs, not many, a few, roaming around. but they look well taken care of and do not bother anybody. love this place!

A small street with lots of shops selling all kinds of goods. This shopping street caters for tourists. The shops here look very elegant and tempting, but be aware that prices here are much more higher than elsewhere in Istanbul. I don’t recommend buying anything from this street until you check shops in other areas and compare prices.

Marhaba 👋 Located just 5 minutes away from the mosque, this bazaar offers a unique shopping experience that is not to be missed. While the prices may be slightly higher than those of other shops and malls, the quality of the products and the atmosphere of the bazaar make it well worth the visit. If you are planning a visit with your family and have young children, I would highly recommend bringing a stroller to make navigating the bazaar easier. There is so much to see and explore, and having a stroller will ensure that your little ones are comfortable and safe throughout your visit. In addition to its convenient location near the mosque, the bazaar is easily accessible by tram, metro, taxi, and bus, making it a great destination for anyone looking to explore the area. I hope you find this information helpful, and I encourage you to visit the bazaar soon to experience its unique charm for yourself.