Where to shop
Some of the best places to shop in Turkiye come in the form of outdoor markets, bustling roads and clusters of quaint boutiques. Both Chinatown and Little India are great shopping destinations in their own right, and the vast Bugis Street Market is a fun and friendly shopping experience not to be missed either.
The malls are quiet stunning and extensive in variety, whether you're looking for souvenirs, updating your wardrobe, some of the classiest restaurants, exciting adventures, or just open spaces where you can admire the innovation and creativity of the unique architecture.
Here are some of the top picks for shopping destinations for Turkiye.
1. Grand Bazaar
Turkey's most famous shopping destination needs no introduction. Istanbul's
Grand Bazaar has been in business since the mid-15th century. It's basically the
medieval version of a modern shopping mall.
As the bazaar itself is one of the city's top places 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 your bearings 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,
snaffled inside the smaller lanes in the depths of the bedestens.
Many of the shops lining the main thoroughfares deal in cheap tourist tat.
Deeper exploring will turn up embroidered textiles from Uzbekistan, handwoven
silk shawls, and intricately inscribed metalware.
Address: Main entrance off Beyazıt Square, Yeniçeriler Caddesi, Beyazıt
2. Egyptian Spice Bazaar
Facing the Eminönü ferry docks, 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 cuisine, such as
sumac and pul biber (Aleppo pepper), to buy high-quality pomegranate molasses
(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.
Address: Off Ragıp Gümüşpala Caddesi, Eminönü
3. Arasta Bazaar
The Arasta Bazaar is conveniently located just behind the Blue Mosque (Sultan
Ahmet 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 bearings and see what type of crafts are on offer.
If you're looking for ceramics, particularly hand-painted Iznik tiles (both
traditional and contemporary designs), this is the number one shopping
destination in town. 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.
Address: Küçük Aya Sofya Caddesi, Sultanahmet
4. Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir
For sweet-tooths visiting Istanbul, one of the top things to do is visit the
confectionary shops and guzzle your weight in lokum (Turkish delight).
Unsurprisingly, there are bundles of tempting shops where you can do just that,
but lokum and many other traditional Turkish candies make great gifts 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 (tahini sweets).
Address: Hamidiye Caddesi, Sirkeci
5. Kadıköy Market
One of Istanbul's top spots for local produce, Kadıköy's market operates Monday
to Friday and is a vibrant, 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, honeys, and other condiments; dried fruits;
and traditional Turkish confectionary.
For non-foodie shopping, this is also a great area to source soaps and skincare
products made from olive oil, herbal oils, and ointments and traditional hammam
(Turkish bath) 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.
Address: Off Rıhtım Caddesi & Damga Sokak, Kadıköy
6. Balat
In recent years, the narrow hillside lanes of Balat, with their colorfully painted
buildings, have become a favored haunt for small, quirky independent stores.
On sunny weekends, the alleys here throng with young Istanbul locals, who head
here to hang out.
Come to Balat for shopping if you enjoy a rummage rather than if you're looking
for something in particular, as you never know what you'll find while browsing.
It's a particularly good area for antique furniture and home decoration shops and
good quality vintage fashion and accessories stores.
There are plenty of cute independent cafés here for when you need a shopping
break.