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Istanbul's Spice Bazaar

Rüstem Paşa, Istanbul, Turkey

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Lokum (Turkish Delight), nuts, sweets, and dried fruits. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Turkey // Istanbul Turkey· markets· Middle East Location: [post_gps_latitude], [post_gps_longitude]

You can get much more than spices at the Spice Bazaar, but spices are the stars. They're stacked high in mounds that are not at all like the boring little jars we get in our supermarkets. You just know that they're going to taste better. And what colors! If you like cooking, you'll love this place. Whether you're after pure individual spices or mixes perfect for lamb or chicken, they're here.

Located in the Eminonu quarter of Istanbul, next to the Galata Bridge and the New Mosque (Yeni Cami), the Spice Bazaar is one of the city's largest and most famous markets, second only to the Grand Bazaar. It's also known as the Egyptian Market, it's smaller than the Grand Bazaar, but it can be just as busy. You don't come here for Turkish rugs--the Grand Bazaar is better for that--and there's a much stronger emphasis on food offerings like spices, nuts, dried fruits, baklava, and, of course, Turkish delight (lokum) in the traditional rose water as well as just about any flavoring you can think of. But more and more the foods are getting displaced by shops selling goods with larger profit margins like jewelry and souvenirs.

Some of the more interesting vendors are actually outside the Bazaar. Lining its exterior walls are vendors catering more to locals than tourists. There you'll find a small fish market on one side, and on the other some shops dedicated to gardening, hardware, or even fish tank supplies. And the streets around the Spice Bazaar are especially interesting--you can find many of the same goods for sale at less touristy prices. The Rüstem Pasha Mosque nearby is also worth a look.

My favorite time down around this area is in the early evening, in the hour or two before the Spice Market closes. The Eminonu waterfront buzzes, the two plazas next to the New Mosque fill with people out and about, and the mosques fill with people.

Photos of Istanbul's Spice Bazaar

Assorted spices at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Spices. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Nuts and grains store at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Buying fish in Istanbul Turkey

A fish shop on one of the outside streets. I loved these lightbulbs, but when I visited again a few years later, unfortunately the bulbs had been replaced with ugly CFLs. Better for the environment and for the shop's electricity bill, but much less photogenic. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Outside the Spice Bazaar Istanbul

One of the outside streets lining the Bazaar. One of the main entrances is at the end of this street at the very right of the frame. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Buying grains and fruits

Nuts and dried fruits. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spices at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul

A small sampling of the dozens of different spices available. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Bags of spices at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Its roof has been replaced with a much more stable and utilitarian roof, which is quite different from the patchier but older roof of the Grand Bazaar. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Fish Market Spice Bazaar Istanbul

This is the same fish shop as the shot with the lightbulbs, above, but taken a few years later after new lightbulb regulations had kicked in. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

A store specializing in lokum (Turkish Delight) with a huge selection of flavors (some better than others). Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Nuts at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul

This store occupies prime real estate on a busy street outside the market and is on the corner with the square. It always seems to be doing a roaring trade. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

No, not really. But it got your attention, right? Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Busy street at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

A busy street inside the covered part of the Bazaar. You can see some of the tourist stores that have come in selling the colored glass lamps and earthenware. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Cinnamon and other spices at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Cinnamon and other spices. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Many of the shops are essentially basic market stalls. This delicatessen is one of the fancier and more-established permanent stores.  Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Rose Water Turkish Delight

Lokum (aka Turkish Delight). Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Nuts and dried fruits store at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Nuts and dried fruits. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice store at the Egyption Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Inside one of the more established stores. Some of these places can vacuum seal your spices to make them easier to travel with (check with your local customs rules before flying home with them, of course). Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Constainers of spices at the Spice Bazaar Istanbul Turkey

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Istanbul alleyway at night

One of the alleyways surrounding the main part of the market. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

What to Know Before You Go

  • The Spice Bazaar is down near the waterfront of Eminonu, near the Galata Bridge and next to the New Mosque (Yeni Cami). It's next to the Eminonu tram stop on the T1 line. From Beyoglu, it's across the Galata Bridge, or you can also get a ferry to Eminonu.
  • The Spice Bazaar is a lot smaller than the Grand Bazaar and is laid out of two covered "streets" at a right-angle, so you're unlikely to get lost.
  • It gets crowded later in the day, but that's when it's at its best.
  • The Spice Bazaar keeps slightly different hours to the Grand Bazaar. The most significant difference is that it's open on Sundays (the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays).
  • Many of the vendors can vacuum seal your spices, making it easier and cleaner to pack them in your luggage. But do check with your local customs rules before flying home with them--some countries have very strict rules about such things. If in doubt, it's a good idea to declare them.
  • If you're looking to cook some Turkish cuisine, here's a handy guide to some useful spices to pick up. And if you're looking for a very good Turkish cookbook, this one is my favorite.

More to Explore:

  • Prayer Hall of Nuruosmaniye Mosque Istanbul
    Nuruosmaniye Mosque
  • Prayer Hall of the New Mosque (Yeni Cami) Istanbul
    Istanbul's Grand "New" Mosque
  • Rustem Pasha Mosque in Istanbul with tourists
    Rustem Pasha Mosque
  • Mosque against the setting sun in Istanbul
    Istanbul's Beautiful Mosques
  • Brightly colored lights for sale in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
    Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
  • Fishermen on Galata Bridge Istanbul
    Galata Bridge
  • Blue Mosque Prayer Hall in Istanbul
    The Blue Mosque
  • Istanbul Naval Museum
    Istanbul Naval Museum
  • Karakoy Restaurant on the Banks of the Golden Horn
    The Karakoy Waterfront


Travel Advice for Turkey

You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Turkey (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.

The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Turkey here and the Australian Government's here.

Health & Vaccinations

The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Turkey here.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.


Location: Spice Bazaar
Country: Turkey
Coordinates:
      Latitude: 41.016429
      Longitude: 28.970606

      # Istanbul Turkey
      # markets
      # Middle East



About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find my photography gear reviews and tips at havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing & Prints

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
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