The Spice Bazaar at a glance
The Spice Bazaar, in Turkish Mısır Çarşısı, stands in Eminönü beside the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) complex, near the Galata Bridge. It is a market of its own and not a wing of the Grand Bazaar. Shops sell spices, herbal teas, dried fruit, nuts and lokum (Turkish delight), and the building itself is worth a look.
Most visitors combine it with the Grand Bazaar on the same day, since the two are a short tram ride apart. A Spice Bazaar food tour is a good way to taste your way through the market and its surroundings with a guide. The Spice Bazaar is also open on Sundays, when the Grand Bazaar is closed, which makes it a good fallback for a Sunday.
Our pick: a food walk from the Spice Bazaar
Starts with tastings at the Spice Bazaar and walks up to the Grand Bazaar.
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.
Spice Bazaar tours and food walks
Guided food walks and shopping tours through the Spice Bazaar and the old city, with live prices and availability.
Opening hours
Every day, with a few differences between shops.
The market is open seven days a week, generally from 08:00 to 19:30, and some shops keep 10:00 to 20:00 instead. Individual shops set their own pace, and holiday hours can change. Arriving between 10:00 and 19:30 finds nearly every shop open. Do not apply the hours of the Grand Bazaar here: that market runs Monday to Saturday from 08:30 to 19:00 and is closed on Sundays.
What to buy
The shops cover a few main groups. The sweets and teas make good gifts, since they travel well when properly packed.
| Group | What you find | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Spices and herbs | Cinnamon, pepper, spice blends and dried herbs | Ask to smell before you buy, and ask for vacuum or sealed packs for the flight home. |
| Tea | Black tea and herbal mixes | Sealed boxes keep best. Do not rely on any health claim for herbal blends. |
| Nuts and dried fruit | Nuts and dried fruit by weight | Buy small amounts first if you want to compare. |
| Lokum and sweets | Turkish delight, baklava, candied nuts | Taste a sample if it is offered, then decide. |
For most visitors, the simplest purchase is a few sealed packs of tea and spice plus a box of lokum. Check your home country's rules on bringing food through customs before you buy in bulk. The same bargaining manners as in the Grand Bazaar apply: see bargaining in the Grand Bazaar.
Getting there from the Grand Bazaar
The T1 tram links the two markets.
By tram
Take the T1 from Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı toward Eminönü. The route passes Çemberlitaş, Sultanahmet, Gülhane and Sirkeci, about five stops in all. Eminönü is the stop for the Spice Bazaar.
Getting there →On foot
It is a walk through busy streets. Allow extra time for shops and crowds along the way.
The neighbourhood
Eminönü lies on the Golden Horn by the Galata Bridge. Ferries leave from the waterfront, and the Bosphorus excursions are covered by Bosphorus cruise guide.
Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the area
The Rüstem Pasha Mosque, known for its tiled interior, stands in nearby Tahtakale. It is not part of the Spice Bazaar, but it makes an easy next stop. The way there runs along Hasırcılar Caddesi, a busy street of small shops.
The Spice Bazaar was commissioned in 1660 by Turhan Sultan and completed in 1664 as part of the Yeni Cami complex, so the market and the mosque belong together historically.
Spice Bazaar: frequently asked questions
Is the Spice Bazaar open on Sundays?
Yes. It is open seven days a week, unlike the Grand Bazaar, which is closed on Sundays.
What are the Spice Bazaar opening hours?
Hours are generally 08:00 to 19:30, and some shops keep 10:00 to 20:00 instead. Arriving between 10:00 and 19:30 finds nearly every shop open, and holiday hours can change.
Is the Spice Bazaar part of the Grand Bazaar?
No. It is a separate market in Eminönü, built in the 17th century as part of the Yeni Cami complex.
How do I get from the Grand Bazaar to the Spice Bazaar?
Take the T1 tram from Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı to Eminönü, about five stops.
What should I buy at the Spice Bazaar?
Tea, spices, nuts and lokum are the usual choices. Buy sealed packs for travel, and check your home country's food import rules.