Grand Bazaar

A tourist trap? 


Another very tourist centric area people go when visiting Istanbul, is the famous Grand Bazaar. We visited the Grand Bazaar on our last day in Turkey. I am glad we had our business negotiations class and knew how to bargain. Several classmates made some high end purchases of leather and Turkish handmade rugs and had these items mailed back to the United States directly.

This is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and half a million visitors daily. There are 22 entrances to this building, I was cautious to not get lost. There were so many vendors selling rugs and similar items that made it easier to bargain and state that other vendors had the same or better quality items at a better and more fair price. I later learned from my Turkish friends in the states that you need to travel with Turkish friends from the city or travel outside of Istanbul to get the best deals. I did buy a small rug and later learned that I had significantly overpaid for the rug, using this information I helped other members of the cohort make better buying and negotiated deals. I did not even want to buy a rug or anything at this bazaar, but did so to have an experience and to practice the skills we learned in our business negotiations course. 

The grand bazaar began construction opened in 1461. It is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and other consumable items including iPhone cases and knock off Apple accessories.

The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), which was built by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake. It continues to be one of the most visited parts within Istanbul today.

Today, the grand bazaar also has two mosques and multiple restaurants and cafes. The sprawling complex consists of 12 major buildings and has 22 entrances.


Sources:
http://www.grandbazaaristanbul.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Bazaar,_Istanbul