Grand Bazaar of Tehran

The Grand Bazaar of Tehran (Bazar-e Bozorg-e Tehran) is a large covered market in the south-central part of Tehran, near 15 Khordad Square in Tehran Province, Iran. It contains over 10 km (6.2 mi) of interconnected corridors. Each corridor or section specializes in a particular category of goods, so trades cluster together rather than mixing throughout the market.

Beyond retail and wholesale trade, the complex includes mosques, guesthouses (caravanserais) and banks. The principal entry point is at Sabze Meydan, though the bazaar has several entrances.

History and significance

Commerce on this site developed gradually over centuries. The modern bazaar took its present shape under the Qajar dynasty, after Tehran became the capital of Iran in 1796, expanding around the Shah Mosque. The oldest surviving parts are several centuries old. Sources cite varying origins, from the Safavid era or earlier, and an exact founding date cannot be pinpointed. The bazaar grew incrementally and formed a unified complex during the Qajar period.

The Grand Bazaar was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 24 October 1977.

The most prominent religious building inside the complex is the Shah Mosque (Masjed-e Shah), also known as the Soltani Mosque and renamed Imam (Khomeini) Mosque after the 1979 Revolution. It was commissioned by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (reigned 1797-1834). Groundbreaking took place in 1810 and construction was completed in 1825. The minarets and a clock tower were added later under Naser al-Din Shah, with the clock tower dating to 1905.

What to see

The bazaar is organized into dedicated areas for distinct trades:

• Carpets
• Gold and jewelry
• Spices
• Copperware
• Textiles
• Paper

Each trade is grouped in its own section, so go directly to the area matching what you want to see or buy.

The Shah / Imam (Khomeini) Mosque sits in the northern part of the bazaar, with courtyard access from several passages. It has two minarets, a small gilded dome and two shabestans (covered prayer halls). According to Wikipedia, it was built with about 18 million bricks and 475,000 tiles; these figures could not be confirmed against a second authoritative source, so treat them as reported rather than verified. Some sources place the mosque toward the southeastern corner of 15 Khordad Square rather than strictly within the northern section, so descriptions of its exact position vary.

Total area figures circulate on some tourism sites (for example around 105 hectares, or claims of "10 square kilometers"), but these are not confirmed by Wikipedia or an official source and should be treated as unverified. The confirmed measure of scale is the corridor length of over 10 km.

How to visit

Opening days: open Saturday through Thursday; closed Fridays and public holidays.

As of June 2026, typical hours run from roughly 9:00 AM to early evening. Many indoor shops close around 5:00-6:00 PM, while some outdoor stalls stay open later. Reported hours differ considerably between sources (examples include 9:00 AM-6:00 PM, 9:00 AM-8:00 PM, and 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Saturday to Wednesday with shorter Thursday hours). Confirm current opening times locally or on an official source before you go; the cross-confirmed fact is that the bazaar is open Saturday to Thursday and closed Fridays.

The market is busiest from midday onward, so a morning visit avoids the heaviest crowds. Allow a few hours to walk the main sections.

Practical notes:

• Walking surfaces are uneven; wear comfortable shoes.
• Bargaining is expected.
• Watch for pickpockets in crowded lanes.
• Use Sabze Meydan as an orientation landmark when entering.

Getting there

The bazaar is served by Tehran Metro Line 1 (the red line). The nearest stations are Panzdah-e Khordad (15 Khordad) and Khayyam. From 15 Khordad station the bazaar entrances are a short walk via 15 Khordad Square.

Nearby

The bazaar adjoins 15 Khordad Square in central Tehran, the main reference point for the surrounding district and the closest metro access. The Shah / Imam (Khomeini) Mosque is within the complex itself and reachable from several internal passages.