Artisans and Rooftops Tour: Behind The Scenes At The Grand Bazaar In Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 4 hours
This experience takes you past the well-worn tourist areas of the Grand Bazaar and into the hidden scene of some of the greatest artisans in Turkey. From carpet weavers and metal-smiths, to jewelry designers and pottery painters, you’ll meet the people carrying on Turkey’s ancient handcrafting tradition. As an added bonus, you’ll also get access to some of the secret rooftop viewing points that can only be accessed by those in the know, including the roofs around the iconic rooftop chase scene in James Bond "Skyfall".
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This experience takes you past the well-worn tourist areas of the Grand Bazaar and into the hidden scene of some of the greatest artisans in Turkey. From carpet weavers and metal-smiths, to jewelry designers and pottery painters, you’ll meet the people carrying on Turkey’s ancient handcrafting tradition. As an added bonus, you’ll also get access to some of the secret rooftop viewing points that can only be accessed by those in the know, including the roofs around the iconic rooftop chase scene in James Bond "Skyfall".There’s the Grand Bazaar that visitors see, then there’s the real Grand Bazaar: A warren of streets and hans filled with buzzing workshops unchanged for hundreds of years. This tour will take you behind the scenes at the greatest market in the world to meet some of the artisans that make it unique and see some of Istanbul’s most stunning views from the rooftops of the Bazaar.
Led by a local guide, you’ll slip away from the teeming tourist trail and wind through the less frequented warrens of the market until you find the traditional artisans’ workshops. There you’ll meet a variety of craftsmen and women including a jeweler, a fabric maker, Iznik ceramic makers, a silver polisher, and a small carpet-making factory, home to the last loom in the Grand Bazaar.
A donation is made to every studio you visit and the local tour operator works with only the most passionate craftsmen who will be delighted to chat with you and answer any questions you may have – all of which will be interpreted by your English-speaking guide. Through conversation and observation of their work, you’ll share in their love for their craft, and learn how much care and attention goes into the creation of each product.
But this tour isn’t all back rooms and narrow passageways. The Bazaar is full of rooftop exits that, if you know where to find them, will afford you some of the most unique views of Istanbul. Remember that incredible chase scene from James Bond “Skyfall”? You'll be taken to those rooftops as well as at least two other stunning viewpoints. These places are virtually unknown to tourists (and even most locals), so there is no better way to really get a feel for what the Grand Bazaar is really like.
Led by a local guide, you’ll slip away from the teeming tourist trail and wind through the less frequented warrens of the market until you find the traditional artisans’ workshops. There you’ll meet a variety of craftsmen and women including a jeweler, a fabric maker, Iznik ceramic makers, a silver polisher, and a small carpet-making factory, home to the last loom in the Grand Bazaar.
A donation is made to every studio you visit and the local tour operator works with only the most passionate craftsmen who will be delighted to chat with you and answer any questions you may have – all of which will be interpreted by your English-speaking guide. Through conversation and observation of their work, you’ll share in their love for their craft, and learn how much care and attention goes into the creation of each product.
But this tour isn’t all back rooms and narrow passageways. The Bazaar is full of rooftop exits that, if you know where to find them, will afford you some of the most unique views of Istanbul. Remember that incredible chase scene from James Bond “Skyfall”? You'll be taken to those rooftops as well as at least two other stunning viewpoints. These places are virtually unknown to tourists (and even most locals), so there is no better way to really get a feel for what the Grand Bazaar is really like.
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