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The Top 16 Places for Shopping in Istanbul
1. Grand Bazaar
2. Spice Bazaar
3. Terkos Pasaji
4. Beyazit book bazaar
5. Kadikoy market
6. Al-Fateh market
7. Opera Bazaar
8. Sinanpasa Business Centre
9. Mahmut Pasha Market
10. Bakirkoy underground shopping centre
11. Ferikoy Antika Pazari
12. Arasta Bazaar
13. Kadikoy Tuesday market
14. Al-Nahhasin market
15. Tarlabasi market
16. Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir
Shopping in Istanbul: A fusion of tradition and modernity
Shopping in Istanbul isn’t just about buying things, it’s an experience that submerges you in the city’s history, culture, and atmosphere. From traditional bazaars to modern malls, Istanbul offers a variety of shopping opportunities that cater to every taste and budget. One of the highlights of shopping in Istanbul is exploring its famous bazaars, such as the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. These markets are filled with colorful stalls selling everything from spices and textiles to jewelry and souvenirs. Walking through the alleys, you will see the sights, sounds, and smell of centuries-old trading traditions making it an unforgettable experience. There are many famous places to visit in Istanbul around here. No matter where you choose to shop in Istanbul, be prepared to haggle. Bargaining is a common practice in the city’s markets, so feel free to negotiate for the best price. And while you are out and about, take time to sample some of Istanbul’s delicious street food offerings, from freshly baked Simit to succulent kababs. Whether you are looking for unique souvenirs or designer clothes, or just want to soak up the lively atmosphere, shopping in Istanbul offers something for everyone. So grab your wallet and get ready to commence a shopping adventure with Turkey tour packages!
The Top 16 Places for Shopping in Istanbul
- Grand Bazaar
- Spice bazaar
- Terkos Pasaji
- Beyazit book bazaar
- Kadikoy market
- Al-Fateh market
- Opera bazaar
- Sinanpasa Business centre
- Mahmut Pasha Market
- Bakirkoy Underground Shopping Center
- Ferikoy Antika Pazari
- Arasta Bazaar
- Kadikoy Tuesday market
- Al-Nahhasin market
- Tarlabasi market
- Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir
1. Grand Bazaar
Turkey’s most famous shopping Istanbul destination needs no introduction. Shopping in Istanbul, Grand Bazaar has been in business since the mid-15th century. It’s the medieval version of a modern shopping mall. As the bazaar itself is one of the city’s top things to do in Istanbul to visit for tourists, as well as a major shopping destination, it’s a good idea to plan to spend at least a couple of hours here – and prepare to get a bit lost. The bedestens (warehouses) and caravanserais, all connected by vault-roofed lanes, contain roughly 4,000 stores. Happily, losing yourself slightly when inside often leads you to some of the more interesting, small stores off the main routes. The full caboodle of Turkish crafts, as well as craftwork hailing from central Asia and the Middle East, is available here. Everything from antique handloom Turkish carpets and handcrafted gold jewelry to cheap, plastic Istanbul fridge magnets. It’s a great place to get a thorough grounding of what’s available. The best places to seek out are the specialist artisan stores and workshops, hidden inside the smaller lanes in the depths of the bedestens. Many of the shops lining the main thoroughfares deal in cheap shopping in Istanbul. Deeper exploring will take you to embroidered textiles from Uzbekistan, handwoven silk shawls, and intricately inscribed metalware.
Location: Fatih, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM, Sundays closed
2. Spice Bazaar
Situated in front of the Eminönü ferry docks, It is the perfect photography spot in Istanbul. The building housing the Egyptian Spice Bazaar dates from the 17th century and was built with the tax revenues received from Ottoman-ruled Egypt. This is a one-stop shop for foodie travelers who want to bring a taste of Turkey back home. Over 80 shops here trade in spices, dried fruit, nuts, specialist Turkish food products, dried flower and herb teas, and local sweet treats such as helva (tahini sweets) and lokum (Turkish delight). Come here to stock up on the spices that are integral to Turkish cuisines, such as sumac and pul biber (Aleppo pepper), to buy high-quality pomegranate molasses which is another important Turkish cooking flavor enhancer, and to taste test a vast range of Turkish honeys. It can get uncomfortably crowded from around noon to late afternoon, so try to visit in the morning. It is one of Istanbul’s famous shopping places. There are dozens of Day trips in Istanbul and opportunities to break things up if the shopping becomes too much.
Location: Fatih, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM
3. Terkos Pasaji
Terkos Pasaji is a relatively smaller shopping center where you can buy affordable things. It is located along the famous Istiklal Street and mostly consists of clothes vendors. You would find traditional Turkish clothes, jeans, t-shirts, dresses, skirts, trousers, and more along with a few shops selling bags, footwear, jewelry, accessories, etc. Everything sold here is quite cheap but it is advisable that you still bargain a little.
Location: Beyoglu, Istanbul
Timings: 10 AM to 8:30 PM
Suggested Read: Adventure activities in Istanbul.
4. Beyazit book bazaar
Squeezed between the Grand Bazaar and Beyazıt Mosque, this twist and turns of alleyways is where book collectors head to hunt for old maps and rare titles, as well as secondhand books.The current market dates from the mid-20th century, but its site itself has literary links that stretch back much further in time. This was the city’s main book-printing district during the Ottoman era. Today, all sorts of books, from academic titles for local university students and dictionaries to Korans, can be bought here. Unless you have a specialist interest in collectible old books, you possibly won’t find much to buy, as the vast amount of books here are in Turkish, but it’s an interesting place to browse and walk through.
Location: Fatih, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 7:30 PM
5. Kadikoy market
One of Istanbul’s top spots for local produce, Kadıköy’s market operates Monday to Friday and is a buzzing commercial hub. It’s just as much fun for browsing as for actual shopping, with a plethora of stalls selling fresh seafood, herbs, vegetables, and fruit, as well as shops specializing in products you can pack to take home. Come here for local pickles, jams, kinds of honey, and other condiments; dried fruits; and traditional Turkish confectionery. For non-foodie shopping, this is also a great area to source soaps and skincare products made from olive oil, herbal oils, ointments, and traditional hammam scrubbing brushes and exfoliating sponges. The market is on Istanbul’s Asian side just behind Kadıköy ferry terminal. The most scenic way to get here is by ferry, though you can also catch the metro.
Location: Kadikoy, Istanbul
Timings: 8:30 AM to 5 PM
6. Al-Fateh market
One of the cheap shopping Istanbul destinations, the Al-Fateh Market in the historic Al-Fateh district is open only on Wednesdays and has about 2,500 shops and stalls. This outdoor market spans 7 streets and alleys. Here you can buy traditional Turkish clothes, bags, footwear, sunglasses, cosmetics, home appliances, perfume, home decor, and food items like olives, pickles, dry fruits, spices, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Although the prices here are mostly low, it is always better to bargain.
Location: Fatih, Istanbul
Timings: 6 AM to 8 PM
7. Opera Bazaar
For shopping in Istanbul local brands Make sure to visit Opera Onur Çarşısı for a fun day of shopping, this four-story shopping center offers mostly local brands and is a great place to buy souvenirs. Some of the items that you can buy here include clothes, handbags, footwear, jewelry, homeware, electronics etc. Keep in mind that some of the boutiques might be slightly expensive so fully explore the centre to find affordable stores.
Location: Kadikoy, Istanbul
Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM
Suggested Read: Hotels & resorts in Istanbul
8. Sinanpasa Business Centre
With over 200 stores, Sinanpaşa Merkezi in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş quarter is an excellent place to shop if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. Most of these stores are local boutiques selling products at low prices, while some are international brands like Topshop and Bershka. It is among the best cheap shopping in Istanbul. You can find clothes, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, homeware goods, jewelry, and food items here. Try to avoid coming here on the weekends as it gets quite crowded.
Location: Besiktas, Istanbul
Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM
Suggested Read: Homestays in Istanbul
9. Mahmut Pasha Market
The Mahmut Pasha Market is situated close to the Spice Market and is one of the city’s cheap shopping in Istanbul markets that features nearly 250 stores. This market is perfect for buying a variety of items like clothes, home decor, jewelry, electrical appliances, textiles, accessories, and more.
Location: Umraniye, Istanbul
Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM
10. Bakirkoy underground shopping centre
The Bakirkoy Underground Shopping Center is a hidden gem for cheap shopping in Istanbul. It consists of many stores selling clothes, footwear, bags, cosmetics, home decor, electrical appliances, jewelry etc. While some of the brands are well-known, most of them are local and therefore not expensive. You can also get into one of its restaurants to grab a bite to eat.
Location: Bakirkoy, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 8 PM on weekdays, 9 AM to 8:30 PM on weekends
11. Ferikoy Antika Pazari
The Ferikoy Antika Pazari is a flea market and Local market shop in Istanbul on the city’s European side open only on Sundays. If you’re looking for some unique finds, this is the place to be since it is famous for its vintage goods. Its 200 shops and stalls sell, jewelry, records, old books, maps and photographs, homeware goods, camera equipment, clothing, accessories, etc. Furthermore, you can also stop at a few of its food stalls to try a local delicacy like the famous gozleme. You will need to bargain with the vendors for lower prices.
Location: Sisli, Istanbul
Timings: 8 AM to 8 PM only on Sundays
12. Arasta Bazaar
The Arasta Bazaar is located just behind the Blue Mosque in the heart of the old city. Originally, this arcade of shops was part of the mosque complex and would have provided revenues for the mosque. Today, the shops here are all about the tourism trade and specialize in ceramics and textiles. More easygoing, smaller, and less crowded than the Grand Bazaar, as well as being open-air, the Arasta Bazaar is a laid-back and easier alternative for Turkish handicrafts shopping. Like the Grand Bazaar, it’s also one of the best places to visit to get your shopping in Istanbul and see what types of crafts are on offer. If you’re looking for ceramics, particularly hand-painted Iznik tiles both traditional and contemporary designs, this is the Best Shopping place in Istanbul. There are several stores here displaying a full range of ceramic wares. After leaving the Arasta Bazaar proper, make sure to wander the hilly cobblestone lanes radiating out behind the bazaar. Several high-quality textile emporiums for Turkish and Central Asian carpets and kilims, and felt work have their home in this area.
Location: Fatih, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM
13. Kadikoy Tuesday market
A Tuesday bazaar, the Sali Pazari Kadiköy offers you an authentic Turkish market experience with its numerous stalls selling different kinds of products at affordable prices. You would still need to bargain with the vendors, though. Here you can buy gifts from Istanbul like traditional clothes, footwear, beautiful ceramics and pottery, glassware, gold and silver jewelry, rugs, carpets, home decor, Turkish lamps, and a lot more. Furthermore, vendors are selling fresh fruits and vegetables and local delicacies that you must try out.
Location: Kadikoy, Istanbul
Timings: 7 AM to 10 PM only on Tuesdays
Suggested Read: Airbnb in Istanbul
14. Al-Nahhasin market
The Al-Nahhasin Market is known for cheap shopping in Istanbul Beyazit district and is known primarily for handicrafts made of copper. It is another one of the city’s historical markets and features numerous alleyways where you can buy gold and silver jewelry, utensils, home decor, leather items, traditional Turkish clothes, accessories, footwear, etc.
Location: Fatih, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 8:30 PM
15. Tarlabasi market
Open only on Sundays, the Tarlabaşi Pazari is located close to Taksim Square and is known for fresh fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits. You can buy walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, lamb chestnuts, etc. here along with clothes, accessories, homeware items, and more. Haggling is important to get the right price.
Location: Beyoglu, Istanbul
Timings: 7 AM to 7 PM only on Sundays
16. Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir
For sweet tooths visiting Istanbul, one of the top things to do is visit the confectionary shops and devour lokum which is a Turkish delight. Surprisingly, there are bundles of tempting shops where you can do just that, but lokum and many other traditional Turkish candies make great gifts from Istanbul for friends back home as well. This historic lokum and sweet maker has been in business since 1777. In the 19th century, the shop was given the Ottoman sultan’s official stamp of approval by being anointed with the title of Chief Confectioner to the Palace. And if it was good enough for the sultan, it should be good enough for you. Lokum in all its varieties is available here, from traditional rosewater, pomegranate, and pistachio flavors to lokum flavored with cloves or smothered in chocolate. Other traditional sweets to stock up on here are the sugar-coated almonds and pistachio-stuffed helva.
Location: Hamidiye Caddesi, Istanbul
Timings: 9 AM to 7 PM
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Q:What are the must-visit shopping districts in Istanbul?
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