Located in the center of Shiraz, Vakil Bazaar like many other historical monuments in this city is part of the Vakil complex (including a mosque, citadel, bazaar, water storage, caravanserai and baths) dating back to the Zand era. In its golden ages, all trading of domestic and foreign goods took place in this market. In fact, Vakil Bazaar was the beating heart of Shiraz then. Let’s go on with the attractions of this ancient Bazaar.
Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz
What you will read in this article are:
| Monument Name |
Vakil Bazaar, بازار وکیل |
Contact No. | N/A |
| Monument Category | Bazaar | Website | N/A |
| City | Shiraz | Coordinates | 29°36′53.93″N 52°32′48.47″E |
Karim Khan Zand selected Shiraz as his capital, he came to the conclusion that Shiraz as the capital needs a perfect place for trade exchanges after visiting Qaisaria Bazaar of Lar. The 21,000 square meters bazaar shows the glory it was to have.
Vakil bazaar was built by the best architects of its time in a way that severe earthquakes have not been able to damage it. The cross-shaped structure, high ceiling and wide width of Vakil Bazaar are important features of its construction. The other interesting point of this Bazaar is the special lighting system that is different from the other Iranian bazaars. The roof holes direct sunlight into the bazaar while it blocks direct sunlight as well as a large amount of water to enter. There are also windows above most of the rooms helping with ventilation and moderating the temperature.
If you like to purchase souvenirs in Shiraz, the best place is Vakil Bazaar. A variety of carpets, kilims and gabbehs, copper or silver ornamented valuable handicrafts as well as a variety of Shirazi sweets and snacks such as Masghati, halva and Yokheh are some options there. Even if you don’t intend to shop, walking in this old bazaar, feeling the atmosphere of an ancient trading center and the enthusiasm of people there will surely convey an unmatched feeling to you.
Vakil bazaar was registered as one of the national monuments of Iran on July 8, 1972, under number 924. Join Leaveabode Shiraz City Tour or Shiraz Walking Tour and enjoy this historic market.
You may also like to Read: Comfortable Airport Transfer in Iran
You may also like to Read: The easiest way to get Iran Visa to visit Persepolis
Vakil Bazaar throughout history
It is said that when Karim Khan visited Qaisariyeh Bazaar in Lar city, he decided to build a similar bazaar in Shiraz to create a place for business and economic affairs in Shiraz. It was built as a four-sided, cross-shaped and arched construction with 5 entrances from different parts of the city. According to the historical records, the construction of this ancient Bazaar in Shiraz took 21 years.
The architecture of Vakil Bazaar
Vakil bazaar is made up of brick and lime, and the columns are carved out of stone, making it one of the strongest buildings of its era. The roof of Bazaar used to be about 11 meters high, but now it is reduced to 10 meters. There used to be a large marble basin in the center of Bazaar to which a waterway leaded water. Currently, the marble basin is destroyed but the waterway still exists.
Sara-ye Moshir
It was formerly a small caravanserai next to the bazaar but now it is a segment in which a variety of traditional Iranian handicrafts and jewellery is sold. As well as enjoying its beautiful architecture and tranquillizing atmosphere, you can purchase some art crafts as souvenirs there.
Purchase souvenirs at Shiraz Vakil Bazaar
This ancient Bazaar in Shiraz is currently a place for selling various Iranian and imported goods. The most prominent goods are all kinds of Iranian handmade and machine-made carpets, traditional fabrics and ornaments.
What other places of interest can you visit near Vakil Bazaar?
- Vakil Bath: (9m walk)
- Karim Khan Citadel: (5m walk)
- Pars Museum: (10m walk)
- Khan School: (15m walk)
-
© robertharding _ Alamy Vakil Water Reservoir: (1m walk)
- Forough Al-Molk House: (11m walk)
- Meshkinfam Art Museum: (11m walk)
- Manteghi Nezhad House: (10m walk)
- Shah Cheragh Shrine: 2.4 km
- Nasir Al-Molk Mosque: (15m walk)
- Zinat al-Mulk House: (14m walk)
- Haft Tanan Stone Museum: 3.5 km
What hotels are there near the Bazaar?
- Darbari traditional Hotel
- Setaregan Hotel
- Homa Hotel
- Eram Hotel
- Parsian Hotel
What restaurants are close to the Bazaar?
- Sharzeh Restaurant: 1m walk
- Vakil Restaurant: 4m walk
- Saray-e Mehr Restaurant: 6m walk
- Kateh Mast Restaurant: 9m walk
- Sufi Restaurant: 15m walk
- Ghavam Restaurant: 15m walk
Know Before You Go
Vakil Bazaar is located in the center of Shiraz. It has several entrances in Zand, Taleghani and Lotfali Khan Zand streets. The main entrance of Vakil North and South Markets is located on Zand Street, on the east side of Shahrdari Square.
The best way is to take part in one of the day tours of Leaveabode. Shiraz City Tour or Shiraz Walking Tour.
Vakil Bazaar is located in the central part of Shiraz, Fars province.
By metro: The nearest metro station is Zandiyeh Station, which is less than a 15-minute walk from the bazaar.
By bus: From almost everywhere in Shiraz, buses run to Shahrdari Square, from where you can have a 5-minute walk to the Bazaar.
Months |
Hours |
| March-September | from 9:00 to 22:00 |
| October-February | from 9:00 to 19:00 |
The required time from this monument is 2 to 3 hours.
- 1 April
- 4 May
- 14 & 15 May
- 4 & 5 & 7 June
- 18 & 19 August
- 6 & 7 October
The dates may be changeable so get in touch with us for more accurate info. info@leaveabode.com
Shiraz Vakil Bazaar was built during the reign of Karim Khan Zand in the 18th century.
Monuments in the same category
Walking in Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz and enjoying its antiquity is a very good entertainment for art and architecture lovers.
This is a place where you can shop in the traditional way. You can buy almost anything, but I liked the spices section the most.