About Grand Bazaar
Construction began in the winter of 1455 to 1456, under Mehmed II, and the core, the Cevahir Bedesten, was finished around 1461. After fires and earthquakes, the bazaar grew to about 61 covered streets and somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 shops, where around 26,000 people work.
The strategy is to accept that you will get lost. Pick a main street as a reference, wander into the side passages without hurry and ask the price in more than one shop before deciding. If a shopkeeper offers you tea, accepting is a courtesy and does not oblige anyone to buy.
