Shopping is a habit everyone loves. We go shopping when we need something or sometimes just to spend time. If you are interested in both shopping and history, there is a perfect place for you in Istanbul: Grand Bazaar.

Grand Bazaar is known as the world’s first shopping mall. It covers an area of 45,000 square meters. Even today, with its 4,000 shops and 21 gates, it remains the largest historical covered market in the world. According to a survey conducted by TIME magazine in the 2000s, the Grand Bazaar is among the most visited tourist destinations in the world.

The history of the Grand Bazaar is quite fascinating. While in Europe, only fruits, chickens, and eggs were sold in the streets, in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, each street was designated for a specific profession. Streets were named after the goods sold there, such as Aynacılar (Mirror Sellers), Hasırcılar (Mat Weavers), Kilitçiler (Locksmiths), İpekçiler (Silk Merchants), Kürkçüler (Fur Sellers), Yorgancılar (Quilt Makers), Terlikçiler (Slipper Sellers), and Fesçiler (Fez Makers). These names still exist today, but over time, some professions disappeared due to factory production and the influx of goods from China. In the past, products could only be sold at prices determined by the state, and advertising was prohibited.Most trades and shops were passed down from father to son. As a result, families built up a reputation for trustworthiness over generations. The Grand Bazaar was a highly secure place, with guards patrolling day and night.

Before visiting the Grand Bazaar, it is good to do some research, but the best experience is simply getting lost in it. If you are new to the Grand Bazaar, getting lost is inevitable. There are so many streets, and they all look alike.

You can find everything here, from carpets and bags to textiles, gold and silver jewelry, antiques, ceramics, and souvenirs. Even if you dedicate an entire day to exploring, it is impossible to see everything. Like Istanbul itself, the Grand Bazaar combines the old with the new, tradition with modernity.

However, I believe it is not fully utilizing its potential. Some shopkeepers sell low-quality but very expensive products. The true Grand Bazaar merchants are those who continue traditional crafts such as glassmaking, ceramics, carpet weaving, and copperwork, carrying on their family’s legacy in these arts.