Istanbul Spice Market – Photo Essay
We love market places. That crazy scene of ordered chaos that spreads through the clogged and narrow alleyways of many Eastern European and Middle Eastern cities around the world.
And the Istanbul Spice Markets is one of the crazier local markets we have been in.
Istanbul Spice Markets – Photo Essay
The hustle and bustle as locals go about their daily lives while tourists stumble around in the way of everyone. Shop keepers call out their specials and try to sell their wares to every passerby that sends a shy glance their way.
The delectable smells from fresh produce and spices spreads through the hot sticky air. Shirts cling to our backs as the heat seems unable to escape from beneath the high arched dome ceilings above.
It comes as no surprise then that one of the first places we drop into is the Istanbul spice market.
We instantly fell in love with the first shopkeeper after he handed us delectable and chewy slabs of Turkish delight. You can definitely taste why it got it’s name! And sharing Chai Tea with them is a delight in itself.
Downing a glass of fresh orange juice to wash away the sticky pistachio’s from the Turkish delight we meandered our way through the many criss-crossing alleyways.
We wish that we didn’t have to backpack around for another 10 days so that we could have brought some of the spices to take home and cook with. Saffron, ginger, paprika and chilly all beg to be added to future culinary delights.
It was pretty hard to drag Adela away from these gorgeous twinkling lamps. The only saving grace was convincing her that she was going to have to sacrifice one of her many scarves to fit it in her backpack.
With doggy bags packed and sweet-tooths satisfied it was time to head back into the fresh air.
Definitely think we will be back tomorrow to the Istanbul Spice Market and are really hoping that they have markets along the southern shoreline that we can indulge our five senses in while on our Busabout Sail Turkey cruise.
Category: Europe
Gorgeous pictures, I so loved Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar. Should I go now I’d be in danger of buying EVERYTHING!
We are still raving about the Turkish Delight we had there!
Another great photo essay guys. You definitely gave me a feel of the market. Looks amazing! Can’t wait to visit.
Thanks Bobbi. When are you headed to Istanbul?
The lamp photo is so pretty, great shots.
Cheers Ayngelina. It was hard work pulling Adela away from buying them.
Great colours. Really like the picture of the tea stall with the serving scoop sticking up out of it. Funky stuff!
We wish we had been able to take away massive scoops of all the amazing smelling spices.
Love the photos. You captured the aura of the spice market perfectly. I am back in Istanbul next week
Looks like we will just miss you by a few days then Natalie!
The Spice Market was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Istanbul, too. We went back a few times, just to make sure we weren’t missing anything. We also were lucky to be able to bring home some spices and tea. Great post, guys!
We were gutted we couldn’t buy any as we are travelling around for an extra week and didn’t have the room.
Beautiful and inspiring! So many colors.
Thanks
What a delightful sensory overload from this market! I would go nuts with the teas and spices, and definitely would not have been able to resist the Turkish delight, either.
Glad you enjoyed the photos Nina. We just brought some more Turkish Delight to have after dinner tonight in Eceabat
Can’t WAIT to see this in person this summer! I love that shot of the hanging lamps.
Cheers Amanda. You will absolutely love it! Just go earlier to avoid the crowds
OMG this looks amazing! I love markets, and I love the fact that all of the labels in this one are in English. Selfish, I know, but this makes it much easier for us language challenged Americans. When we were in Casablanca, we didn’t buy a whole lot of spices because we only had a short amount of time and couldn’t decipher what each one was.
Any other tips for must sees in Istanbul? We want to go there soon.
I totally get what you mean Shanna about the labels. It definitely helped us out
We only managed to spend a 2 days in Istanbul (will post more articles soon) but I just recommend visiting everything as soon as they open or just before they close. It is extremely popular with tourists at the moment! The mosques were ridiculously overcrowded with tourists!
Amazing pictures, very inspiring!
Thanks Sam! Have you been to Istanbul before? Love the blog name by the way.
Ooooh Istanbul how much I love thee (thy? Is it thy? There’s my attempt at being fancy). Great post guys, I just cannot wait to go back to Istanbul! Are you headed anywhere else in Turkey?
Haha I am going with “thee”. Although now you have made me over think it as well. We are in Fethiye at the moment Caro and spent a few days in Gallopoli for ANZAC Day (http://www.fourjandals.com/europe/dedication-to-the-anzacs/). Heading on a Sail Turkey cruise for 8 days today as well! Trying not to make you jealous of course
Hi, love this post! Makes me want to visit Istanbul even more. Will be following you on Twitter now, hope to see you there. (I’m @spiceboxtravels).
Thanks Linda for checking us out and glad you enjoyed the pics! Following you back now too
Love, love the photos. I have a bit of a thing for markets/food stalls myself… Always manage to end up with more photos of them than anything!
I was going snap happy haha. These were just the best ones (well in my opinion) but could have easily loaded up more!
These are great photos — wonderful colors! I came smell the markets now! Mmm, and some lively Turkish music in the background. Ahh, great travel memories!
So glad we could help bring back some fond memories for you Ellen
Pictures are just awesome man love to see more cool stuff.
No worries Mike we will keep putting up our favourite photos!
Beautiful! I think this has to be my favourite April photo essay. Are those apricots filled with hazelnuts? Super cute!
Yea all the fruit are filled with nuts and are DELICIOUS Sophie
Have you ever been?
I haven’t been there, but it is on my travel wish-list
So many places to go…
We just got back from Turkey yesterday and already trying to plan how we could get back there as soon as possible!
Really vivid, colorful pictures – I can practically smell the spices!
We love walking in and being hit by all the smells. Such a chaotic scene but so much fun.
Gorgeous shots!
Thanks Andi
Have you been to the spice markets or Istanbul before?
Andy and I were just in Turkey a couple weeks ago, and we loved Istanbul. I wasn’t a big fan of the spice market because it was so crowded, but somehow the Grand Bazaar seemed more manageable. Wider halls maybe? We did buy some spices at the spice market though, I believe the guy just called it “Turkish spices.” And we bought chili pepper at the Grand Bazaar. We put that stuff on everything while we were in Turkey!
The chilli flakes they have at all the restaurants are AMAZING! We brought some back to the UK with us so hopefully it is as good.
Awesome tour…like I was there myself!
Thanks D.J! Wish you could have joined us.
Great photos guys – you really got in there! I love the markets in Turkey (all of them!) The people are so friendly without the aggression you feel in some parts of the world.
Was less crazy than Cairo that’s for sure! We found that everyone was happy just to chat with us rather than try to convince us to buy something.
Okay, so where exactly was the spice market? We saw signs for it when we were in the Grand Bazaar, but we couldn’t seem to find it exactly. We did pass a sort of market with spices on our way to the Grand Bazaar. (We were coming from where you could get the fish sandwiches on the boats. We walked in this alley and BAM! Suddenly there were shops and stall everywhere. But it wasn’t the Grand Bazaar yet. We still walked several blocks before we reached it.)
Your pics are great. I really wish we found the Spice Market. Did they sell the apple tea loose? Oh man, that was my husband’s favorite. I liked it too, but he could not drink enough apple tea. Wish we’d bought some to bring home. (Not sure why we didn’t.) I did bring home a small desk lamp though. (Was afraid to try and transport one of the hanging ones.) Your photos of them are great. I fell in love with them too. VERY neat to see this article after having been to this wonderful city. I better appreciate what the heck you’re writing about.
Sounds like you walked through a part of it Courtney! We didn’t go to the Grand Bazaar ourselves as heard the Spice Markets were a lot better (more authentic). They sold everything lose including a range of teas and spices for every occassion
Istabul is one of the most vibrant cities I have ever visited!
We loved it and could easily have spent a lot more time there Danny
Yum!! Do they give you samples?
You bet Christy! We were filled up just walking through it without buying anything haha. But then felt bad and went back through and brought lots of the nicest stall owners
This is a great photo essay! We (from U.S.) are planning a trip in late August and want to visit Istanbul, Fethiye and some historical places on the coast between them. Our only concern is our son who wil be 13 months at the time! Your blog only inspires us to go though! Thanks!
Sounds like you have an awesome trip planned! Did you see our Sail Turkey write ups? I am sure your son will love the warm water
great photos. I also missed the spice bazaar but did manage to buy a lamp! Ha.
It was too hard to leave Turkey without one!
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We just couldn’t fit the lamps in our backpacks (luckily haha).