Istanbul markets/bazaars
 

Are any open on Sundays

Spice or Egyptian Bazaar is open on Sundays, but not the Grand Bazaar.
See http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/g...ianMarket.html .
I loved my browsing session here. Dried fruits, sweets, spices, tea, other groceries, and yes, some touristy souvenirs. If I had to choose only one browse, I’d choose this market over the Grand Bazaar.

The only Sunday street market in Istanbul is at Kasimpasa, on the Northern side of the Golden Horn, across from the Unkapani bridge, up the hill and down to your left, or by ferry from Eminonu.

It also has regional special products from Inebolu area on the Black Sea, some of which you cannot find anywhere else.

all the regular and outlet malls are open.

almost all shops at beyoglu (Istiklal Street) are open.

all green grocers, everywhere are open.

all pastry shops are open.

I liked the Spice Bazaar better than the Grand Bazaar too.

Speaking of Turkey, how is the weather in the spring? I'm longing to return and don't want to wait until fall 2011.

Thanks.

Hi Luisah, The Spring is glorious.
Istanbul has a tulip festival
the judas trees bloom along the shores of the bosphorus.
the green juicy plums start end of april and the cherries by mid May.
Special regional salad greens on the aegean are terrific.
terrific turbot finds its way to our plates.
rock, pop, jazz, classical concerts abound.And, all the cats of all sizes caterwaul.
Do come back.

Hi OtherC,

I thought you'd be back.

Oh, that sounds delicious. I remember the pomegranates in October -- yum!

"terrific turbot finds its way to our plates" LOL.
Poor turbot, all that only way to be consumed by hungry tourists and native Turks.

How is May? Cool enough to be comfortable but warm enough to swim? Rainy?

Thanks for a quick response.

May is swimmable on the Med coast, or for my wife and younger daughter , on the aegean coast as well.

Istanbul may have a bit of rain, the Southern coasts will have less. Evenings will definitely be comfortably cool in the South and will require a thin cardigan or windbreaker in istanbul. Colder at high altitudes.

To the west of Antalya, you can see snow on the peaks while you swim.

And we do not just consume the turbot. we look at it as the work of art it is, and take dainty bites, and when we find that all the meat is gone, then we start to very delicately suck whatever is left on the bones. :)

The Arasta Bazaar may be open on Sundays. It's near the Blue Mosque and is quite civilized. It's just a street, with lots of little shops on both sides.

We were there last month and the Arasta Bazaar was open on Sunday. We thought it was much nicer than the Grand Bazaar.