Located in Eminönü square and in the New Mosque Complex, Egyptian Bazaar is the most popular bazaar after Grand Bazaar. Covering an area of 384 blocks, the Egyptian Bazaar stretches along Tahmis and Flower Market streets and New Mosque street. Well-known for its herbalists, the Egyptian Bazaar still offers traditional natural medicines, spices, flower seeds, roots and shells of rare plants along with dried nuts and fruits, deli products and various food products.
When the history of the bazaar is looked into, it is said that there used to be a bazaar named Makro Envalos in the same place during the Byzantine period. The construction we see today was made by Architect Kazım Ağa, comissioned by Turhan Sultan in 1660. Previously called as the New Bazaar or Valide Çarşısı (literally meaning Mother’s Bazaar in Turkish) and said to be built with the taxes taken from Egypt, the bazaar started to be named with its present name as of the 18th century. Bazaar experienced two large fire dangers in 1691 and 1940 and was finally renovated by Istanbul Municipality between 1940-1943. It is also said that the Egyptian Bazaar got its name from the fact that it is a place where goods and especially spices from Egypt were sold during the time.