Shopping in Istanbul
There are two main types of shopping in Istanbul. Modern shopping malls and bazaars. Tourists tend to like something different to what they are used to back home so the bazaars may be more interesting, however I find that after a few days of doing all the Historic sites and bazaars, it can be nice to venture into more familiar, modern territory. That is why we have included both.
Although the below is taken from a Turkish comedy, it is a somewhat accurate reflection of the shopping environment in the bazaars in Turkey.
Although the below is taken from a Turkish comedy, it is a somewhat accurate reflection of the shopping environment in the bazaars in Turkey.
Kapali Carsi - Grand Bazaar
The covered bazaar is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world with over 4000 shops, close to the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul (the old town). It is definitely worth visiting and you can find almost anything there. It is quite good for retail and wholesale jewelry swell as many other items such as carpets, leather goods, souvenirs etc. Although Turkish markets have a reputation for wildly inflating prices before giving huge discounts, the concept of bargaining is not what it used to be (this is just my observation). Sellers seem less comfortable bring something that they quoted for 100 Lira down to 10, but obviously prices here tend not to be fixed. If you do go to the bazaar, you will probably spend the whole day there, so I definitely recommend you have your lunch at Fez Cafe, which can be found in the restaurants section.
How to get there: If you are staying closer to Taksim, take the overground tram from Kabatas and get off at Beyazit station. Many tourists stay in the Sultan Ahmet district, in which case you can just ask around and you will find it fairly easily.
Official Website: http://www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/
How to get there: If you are staying closer to Taksim, take the overground tram from Kabatas and get off at Beyazit station. Many tourists stay in the Sultan Ahmet district, in which case you can just ask around and you will find it fairly easily.
Official Website: http://www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/
Misir Carsisi - Spice Market (Egyptian Market)
This bazaar, which is the second largest covered bazaar in Istanbul, gets its name from Egypt, where many of the spices used to come from. Although the name and picture suggest it is only spices that are sold in this market, there are many other items. Shops worth visiting in the spice bazaar are Namli, which has excellent Turkish cheeses and meats, and Mehmet Efendi, where you will find a line of people waiting to buy fresh Turkish coffee outside. Both do have branches in other parts of the city, check the links above.
How to get there: If you are staying closer to Taksim, take the overground tram from Kabatas and get off at Eminonu station. If you are in Sultan Ahmet walk down towards the Bosphorus and ask from there.
Wikipedia Webpage
How to get there: If you are staying closer to Taksim, take the overground tram from Kabatas and get off at Eminonu station. If you are in Sultan Ahmet walk down towards the Bosphorus and ask from there.
Wikipedia Webpage
Istiklal Caddesi - Istiklal Street
Istiklal (Turkish for Independence) street is probably the most famous pedestrian street in Istanbul. It has a good mix of more modern shopping options (some Western brands), with a predominantly Turkish feel. This street has a long and rich history which you can read more about through their Wikipedia webpage. It is right next to Taksim, which is a good place to stay because it is quite central and you can find many hotels around there. You will find several of the restaurants/cafe's on this website are in and around Taksim/Istiklal street. We recommend you start at Taksim, walk down Istiklal street all the way to the end, looking through the numerous side streets (definitely have a look in Cicek Pasaji) and if you get hungry you can try: House Cafe, Zencefil Cafe, 360 (great views), or any of the Cafe's all the way down in Cihangir. Also down near the end of Istiklal is Galata where you have the famous Galata Tower. For traditional Turkish desserts, definitely try Saray Muhallebicisi. If you want to have a drink, try Asmali Mescit or Nevizade where you have plenty of eating and drinking options in a buzzing environment.
How to get there: Taksim is on the Metro line, and also connects to the overground tramline via a funicular from the Kabatas station.
How to get there: Taksim is on the Metro line, and also connects to the overground tramline via a funicular from the Kabatas station.
Nisantasi
Nisantasi is by far the most European and elegant shopping district in Istanbul. It is also a great place to stay while you are in Istanbul but pricier than Taksim, and other parts of the city are slightly less accessible than they are from Taksim (since the metro station is at the top of the street). The Cafe's in and around Nisantasi are great for people watching. There is a House Cafe here as well (in fact it was the original one). I would recommend you walk down the main street Rumeli Caddesi (which then becomes Tesvikiye Caddesi) then just past the Tesvikiye Mosque take a right on to Aliye Sokak. There are several nice cafe's here. At the end of that road, take another right and after a short walk, you will see the cafe pictured on the left, which is one of the most upscale cafe's in Istanbul. In general, the are is worth exploring, but I wouldn't say I knew exactly where the best places in Nisantasi are so you will have to discover that for yourself! (Do let me know though)
How to get there: Use the metro to get to Osmanbey or take the Dolmus (yellow colored 6 people cabs) from Taksim square to get directly to Aliye sokak.
How to get there: Use the metro to get to Osmanbey or take the Dolmus (yellow colored 6 people cabs) from Taksim square to get directly to Aliye sokak.
Ortakoy
Ortakoy is home to one of the most popular images you can see of Istanbul (see the image on the left). Apart from this mosque however, it is perfectly situated on the Bosphorus with several options in terms of eateries. Ortakoy probably shouldn't really be placed in the "Shopping" section of this site since it is mostly stalls selling a limited range of items, but it definitely worth visiting if you have some free time. On the other side of this mosque (i.e. the other side to the one pictured) there are boats that regularly leave for a bosphorus tour of the city. I highly recommend you do this (I'm not sure if they have it in winter to be honest) because it is the best way of seeing from a distance the best spots in the city. It's going to sound like I have a share in House Cafe, but believe it or not, I recommend you check out the House Cafe in Ortakoy as well. If you can get a table right on the water, you can enjoy a wonderful view while sipping on their signature lemonade with apple slices.
How to get there: The best way is take a taxi or bus.
How to get there: The best way is take a taxi or bus.
Kanyon
Kanyon is a great shopping mall to visit while in Istanbul mainly for it's unique design. It is a mix of indoor and outdoor shops with a great cinema, and generally more upscale restaurants cafe's, and casual eateries such as Kichenette, Konyali, Num Num and many many others. You also have what I believe is Istanbuls only Harvey Nichols in Kanyon so know yourself out!
How to get there: Take the Metro to Levent, and it's right there, next to Metrocity, which is another shopping mall you can stop into on your way to Kanyon.
Website: http://www.kanyon.com.tr/
How to get there: Take the Metro to Levent, and it's right there, next to Metrocity, which is another shopping mall you can stop into on your way to Kanyon.
Website: http://www.kanyon.com.tr/
Istinye Park
Istinye Park is my favorite mall in Istanbul. Yes, it is the closest one to my house, and unfortunately likely to be the furthest one from where you are staying, but it's more than that. It's big, gets a lot of natural light, is easy to get in and out of by car, and has great shopping and eating alternatives. I was a huge fan of the Osmani restaurant in this mall - they do a big range of traditional Ottoman dishes - however the last time I went there it wasn't as good as I remember. Although Istinye park has many high end brands like the ones pictured on the left, they also have pretty regular brands within the mall. A great kebab restaurant here is Borsa, and there is also an interesting Mongolian Barbecue concept, although the name escapes me at the moment. Also, more of a place to be seen, right in the centre of the avenue where all the chic brands are is a restaurant/cafe called Masa (meaning table) which is quite popular.
How to get there: The closest metro station is Istanbul Technical University, it's about a 5 minute cab ride from there.
How to get there: The closest metro station is Istanbul Technical University, it's about a 5 minute cab ride from there.
Akmerkez
Akmerkez is one of the older malls in Istanbul, so it is slightly dated, however it still boasts a vast array of shopping alternatives, and a big food court if you have kids that need to be fed on-the-go. There is a good cinema up there as well. I'm not going to go on about it, because if I do you will probably end up disappointed, but if you're into malls, this one is good. The website link below is pretty informative, so if you want to see if they have a particular brand before you go there, check it out.
How to get there: Taxi from Levent Metro station.
Official Website: www.akmerkez.com.tr/en
How to get there: Taxi from Levent Metro station.
Official Website: www.akmerkez.com.tr/en