Fatih Wednesday Market (Çarşamba Pazarı): opening hours, getting there and tips

Updated on October 4, 2026

The Çarşamba Pazarı, or Wednesday Market, is held every Wednesday in the streets around the Fatih Mosque, on the fourth hill of the historic peninsula. It is one of Istanbul's largest neighbourhood markets: the Turkish press quotes nearly 1,300 traders, about 4,800 stalls and some 2,500 street vendors spread over 7 main streets and 17 side streets. According to tradition it has been running for about three centuries, and one explanation of the name of the Çarşamba neighbourhood ("Wednesday" in Turkish) refers to this market. People come here for their weekly shopping, not for souvenirs: fruit and vegetables, cheese, olives, clothing, textiles and kitchenware.

Highlights

The streets around the Fatih Mosque

On Wednesdays the neighbourhood's streets are closed to traffic and covered with white awnings, especially Darüşşafaka Caddesi, behind the mosque. The mosque's domes and two minarets serve as a landmark so you do not get lost in the maze. Bring comfortable shoes and a sturdy bag: the market stretches over dozens of streets.

Fruit, vegetables and farm produce

A large share of the stalls sells fresh produce, brought by vendors from Thrace, Bursa, Bolu or Kastamonu. Garden herbs and vegetables, several kinds of free-range eggs, cheeses from Gönen, olives, dried fruit and pickles (turşu) are sold by the kilo, with prices displayed. Further on, stalls selling clothes, shoes, household linen, crockery and pans take over.

The Fatih Mosque

On the north-west side, a garden with fountains leads to the main entrance of the courtyard, a good spot for a break between two market streets. The mosque can be visited outside prayer times, with shoulders and knees covered and a headscarf for women. The Valens Aqueduct and the Zeyrek Mosque are a 10 to 15-minute walk away.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Bring cash in small notes in Turkish lira: only some stalls accept bank cards (see money and payment in Istanbul). Food prices are generally displayed and are not haggled over. In the crowd, keep your bag and phone in front of you, and ask before photographing vendors or shoppers: the neighbourhood is conservative and modest clothing is appreciated. The nearby mosques have toilets. Information checked in October 2026.

How to get there

Streets around the Fatih Mosque, especially Darüşşafaka Caddesi, Çarşamba neighbourhood, Fatih district, Istanbul. Bus: lines running along Fevzi Paşa avenue, Fatih or Yavuz Selim stops. Metro M2, Vezneciler station, or tram T1, Laleli-Üniversite or Aksaray stops, then about a 20-minute uphill walk. For a full tour of the area, see Fatih and Zeyrek; for the city's other markets, see Istanbul's markets, the Kadıköy Tuesday Market, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.