The gates and layout of the Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) is a covered market in Beyazıt, in Istanbul's Fatih district. You enter through gates set into the outer walls, and inside the streets branch off a central axis. The gates are your best landmarks.
Counts differ depending on how entrances and streets are tallied, so treat the figures below as a range. Whichever gate you use, a few landmarks help: the Beyazıt gate, the Nuruosmaniye gate and the two old bedestens at the core. A guided Grand Bazaar tour is a good way to see all of them in one go and to learn how the streets connect.
Our pick: an Old City walk into the bazaar
This walk enters the bazaar from Sultanahmet, so you see how the Old City leads to the gates.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Grand Bazaar tours that cover the gates and lanes
Guided walks through the covered market and its hans, with live prices and availability.
Key landmarks
Use these to find your way.
Beyazıt gate
The gate facing Beyazıt Square carries the tuğra, the monogram, of Sultan Abdülhamid II. It is the easiest entrance from the T1 tram stop Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı.
Getting there →Nuruosmaniye gate
The gate on the other end of the main axis carries the Ottoman coat of arms. It opens onto the Nuruosmaniye street, which runs past the walls of the Nuruosmaniye Mosque.
Kalpakçılar, the main axis
This street runs between the Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye gates. Gold and jewellery shops cluster toward the Nuruosmaniye side, which some people call the gold street. Use it as a guide, not a rule.
The two bedestens
The Cevahir Bedesteni, also called the İç Bedesten or Bedesten-i Atik, and the Sandal Bedesteni, also called the Yeni Bedesten, form the historic core. The hans and covered streets grew around them over time.
History →The numbers at a glance
Figures vary with how entrances, streets and shops are counted.
| Item | Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gates | 18 to 22 | The lower figure is 8 large and 10 small gates. |
| Streets and lanes | 61 to 65 | The figure depends on which lanes are counted as streets. |
| Shops | About 2,500 to 4,000 | Roughly 2,500 to 4,000, depending on whether stalls and workshops are counted. |
| Hans | 14 to 21 | The figure depends on which hans are counted as part of the market. |
| Area | About 30,000 to 45,000 m² | The figure depends on where the boundary is drawn. |
For most visitors the exact figures matter less than the landmarks. Pick the Beyazıt gate as your start, walk the central axis to the Nuruosmaniye side and use the two bedestens to find the middle of the market.
Finding your way inside
The covered streets can look alike, so check where you came in. Note the name of your entry gate and a shop front nearby, and keep the Kalpakçılar axis in mind as your guide.
Not every gate is open at every time, and security staff may check bags at entrances. Do not count on a particular gate being open, and keep the gate nearest your next stop in mind. Opening times are on the opening hours page.
To combine the market with the main sights, an Istanbul old city tour is an easy option. The nearby mosques are covered in the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome guide.
Grand Bazaar gates: frequently asked questions
How many gates does the Grand Bazaar have?
Between 18 and 22, depending on how they are counted. The lower figure is 8 large and 10 small gates.
Which gate is best for the tram?
The Beyazıt gate. The T1 tram stop Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı is close by.
Where are the gold and jewellery shops?
Mostly toward the Nuruosmaniye side of the central street, Kalpakçılar. Shops of other trades are mixed in, so use it only as an orientation aid.
What is a bedesten?
A bedesten is a solid, vaulted building for valuable goods. The Grand Bazaar has two: the Cevahir Bedesteni and the Sandal Bedesteni.
Are all gates open at all times?
Do not assume so. Opening depends on the day and the time, and entrances may have security checks. The market itself is open Monday to Saturday from 08:30 to 19:00.