This bazar was not as big as the grand bazar but it was very fun with some cool businesses. I went there multiple times for shopping and I enjoyed the vibe of it. If you find any opportunities, visiting this place is recommended! :) read more

See all

Much preferable to the Grand Bazaar, it's smaller with less aggressive sales people. Near the Blue Mosque, and like a couple of other Yelpers, we found a nice shop to get scarves. You should still visit the Grand Bazaar and Spice-Egyptian Bazaars for the tourism, but for more enjoyable shopping come here. It's also near the mosaic museum which I'm not sure is worth your time but I mention this for orientation purposes. You can meet some nice cats here. read more

See all

My favorite Bazaar in Istanbul, situated near the Blue Mosque, easy to find, look for signs! I found it (read about it before) in my first day in Istanbul, checked it out and I like it on the spot. After visiting the crazy Grand Bazaar and the Spice/Egyptian Bazaar, I liked the Arasta even more. Why? It's small, but it has enough shops, far from crowded, you don't get hassled for Istanbul norms, the merchandise is more varied, better quality, reasonable prices. This is where we came daily and got gifts for family, friends, for ourselves, found cute souvenirs. More relaxed shopping atmosphere, there some restaurants around as well if you need a bite or a piece of baklava. Great bazaar, nice shopping experience, more fun and calmer! read more

See all

I loved this small Bazaar near to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. It has a great assortment of shops with friendly shopkeepers. You can find most anything you want here and it is nowhere near as crowded as the Grand Bazaar. We visited almost every day just to browse and find some goodies here. We got scarves, Turkish delights, pottery and tiles and a few gifts for friends. read more

Arasta Bazaar - Public Markets Near Me - Istanbul, 34

See all

I been in several of Istanbul's bazaars. This is a great smaller one next to the Blue Mosque. It's not a huge maze. It's kinda like a bazaar in strip mall form. A single open air hall with no side alleys. The area is clean. The hall quite wide. It has the usual shops, yet seems a step up from the other bazaars. Spices, teas, shirt souvenirs, trinket souvenirs and baklava. Better Turkish linens and clothes are here. As well as higher end art galleries for rugs, pictures and glassware. Located a few steps from the Blue Mosque, it can be easily missed. The Mosaic Museum is located here. The sign can be a little tricky to see. But any shopkeeper will tell you the right turn to make to find it. read more

See all

Very cool small bazaar near the Blue Mosque. Most of the shopkeepers speak English and there is a nice restaurant there too. They have a few jewelry stores and some shops for fake designer handbags. Lord of souvenirs. read more

See all

Nice area in Istanbul to buy souvenirs, spices, silk/cashmere scarves, trinkets etc. nice outdoor restaurants and live venues. Enjoyed walking around and taking in the scenery. read more

Shop without any hassle A nice little bazaar. It's just one little street, but nicely done. It's open every day until the evening (we passed it always around 9pm - still open). There are the usual spice and turkish delight shops, but also lots of art and crafts shops. Many selling scarfs....but of higher quality with more interesting designs then other bazaars. The best part of it is, is the fact that it's hassle-free. You can roam around the area without being stopped every two seconds. Vendors here are friendly, good for a chat but not pushy. It's just a street away from the Blue Mosque....but seems to be overlooked a bit. We came here several times....it was always pretty empty. Too bad... read more

Arasta Bazaar - at night - Public Markets Near Me - Istanbul, 34

See all

This was the best part of coming to blue mosque for me. It's right beside the mosque. I loved their scarfs. I should add two more "loved, loved". It's definitely a place to come to if you want scarves, don't want to be overwhelmed by crowds and want great quality. It's a tiny place though so don't expect a bazar bazar like I was expecting read more

Arasta Bazar is an absolute delight! I don't do well in a large crowd so this was a very refreshing experience compared to the Grand Bazar. It is very conveniently located behind Blue Mosque. I love all the little shops with their abundance of scarf and jewelry. I did all my shopping here. I miss you Istanbul! read more