Shopping · Istanbul · Turkey
Shopping in Istanbul
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Istanbul shopping ranges from the historic covered bazaars to the designer streets of Nişantaşı and the antique shops of Çukurcuma. Bargaining is expected in the bazaars, while modern shops and malls have fixed prices. Best souvenirs: Turkish delight and baklava, Ceramics and Carpets and kilims.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Turkish delight and baklava
Where to shop
Grand Bazaar and Mahmutpaşa
Carpets, lamps, ceramics, jewellery and leather inside the bazaar, and cheaper everyday goods in the market streets running down to Eminönü.
Nişantaşı
International and Turkish designer labels along Abdi İpekçi Caddesi and Teşvikiye Caddesi.
Çukurcuma
Antique and vintage shops in the lanes below Cihangir, near Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence.
Galataport
A waterfront shopping and dining promenade in Karaköy and Tophane, next to Istanbul Modern.
Markets
Kadıköy Tuesday Market
A huge weekly street market in the Hasanpaşa area selling fruit, vegetables, cheese, clothes and household goods.
Fatih Wednesday Market
Streets around Fatih Mosque fill with produce, spices and textile stalls on Wednesdays.
Arasta Bazaar
A row of shops behind the Blue Mosque selling carpets, ceramics and textiles, calmer than the Grand Bazaar.
What to buy
Turkish delight and baklava
Freshly cut lokum and vacuum-packed baklava from established confectioners travel well.
Ceramics
Hand-painted bowls and tiles in İznik and Kütahya styles; real İznik-quality pieces are expensive, so ask how they were made.
Carpets and kilims
Flat-woven kilims and knotted carpets from across Turkey; take your time, compare shops and get a receipt and certificate.
Peshtemal towels
Light cotton hammam towels that double as beach towels and scarves.
Turkish coffee and a cezve
Freshly ground coffee and a small copper or steel pot to brew it at home.
Nazar beads
Blue glass evil-eye charms, sold everywhere as keyrings, bracelets and wall hangings.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Beyazıt
Grand Bazaar
One of the oldest covered markets in the world, the Kapalıçarşı began trading in the 1460s and now has around 60 vaulted streets of jewellers, carpet dealers, leather shops, lamp makers and tea sellers.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Eminönü
Spice Bazaar
The L-shaped Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar) was built in the 1660s beside the New Mosque at Eminönü.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
- History
Street · Beyoğlu
Istiklal Avenue
This 1.4-kilometre pedestrian street runs from Taksim Square to Tünel past 19th-century embassies, arcades and churches, including the Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage) and the Church of St Anthony of Padua.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
- Food
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Market · Kadıköy
Kadıköy market streets
The pedestrian streets just up from Kadıköy pier are the Asian side's food market: fishmongers on Güneşlibahçe Sokak, delis selling cheese, olives and pastırma, pickle shops, bakeries and simple restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Simit, Baklava, Turkish delight and Turkish tea and coffee. Red street carts on every busy corner, ferry piers and on board ferries; bakeries sell warmer ones in the early morning. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Galata and Karaköy | $$$ | Cobbled lanes below Galata Tower, third-wave cafés and the Istanbul Modern waterfront |
| Beyoğlu and Cihangir | $$ | Istiklal Avenue, meyhane taverns and steep residential streets above the Bosphorus |
| Kadıköy and Moda | $$ | Asian-side market streets, student bars and a seafront promenade |
| Beşiktaş and Ortaköy | $$$ | Bosphorus waterfront, Dolmabahçe Palace and a lively student-and-football district |
| Nişantaşı | $$$$ | Boutiques, fashion labels and smart cafés north of Taksim |
| Balat and Fener | $ | Colourful hillside houses, churches and synagogues along the Golden Horn |
| Üsküdar | $ | Conservative Asian-side district of mosques, tea gardens and Maiden's Tower views |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in TRY. In restaurants, leaving about 5–10% in cash for good service is normal if service is not already added. Round up taxi fares, and tip hammam attendants a little directly at the end of the treatment.
- Accepting a glass of tea from a shopkeeper is polite and does not oblige you to buy anything.
- Bargaining is expected in the bazaars and with carpet dealers, but not in supermarkets, restaurants or shops with fixed prices.
- Eat at esnaf lokantası canteens and pide shops away from Sultanahmet's main squares.
- Withdraw cash from bank ATMs rather than standalone machines in tourist areas, and decline dynamic currency conversion.
- Compare carpet and jewellery prices in several shops before buying, and never feel obliged after a free glass of tea.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are June–August.
- April: Istanbul Tulip Festival — millions of tulips in Emirgan and Gülhane parks (usually April)
- April: Istanbul Film Festival (usually April)
- June: Istanbul Music Festival — classical concerts (usually June)
- July: Istanbul Jazz Festival (usually July)
- October: Akbank Jazz Festival (usually October)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers, food lovers and shopping
Beyoğlu and Cihangir
Istiklal Avenue, meyhane taverns and steep residential streets above the Bosphorus
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Istanbul?
Turkish delight and baklava, Ceramics, Carpets and kilims and Peshtemal towels.
+Where is the best shopping in Istanbul?
Grand Bazaar and Mahmutpaşa: Carpets, lamps, ceramics, jewellery and leather inside the bazaar, and cheaper everyday goods in the market streets running down to Eminönü.
+What are the best markets in Istanbul?
Kadıköy Tuesday Market, Fatih Wednesday Market and Arasta Bazaar.