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

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

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

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

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

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.