Istanbul Shopping Guide 2024: What to Buy? Best Areas to Shop

Discover shopping in Istanbul with our comprehensive guide. Istanbul can be considered as Turkey’s capital of culture and fashion and offers many many shopping opportunities. The shopping variety of the city ranging from traditional and modern products makes Istanbul an attraction center for shopping lovers. As being a very big metropolis, travelers can easily find almost every world brand in the shopping malls and the districts of Istanbul.

Istanbul Shopping Insights: What to expect?

Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind when you are on your way for your shopping journey in Istanbul:

  • There are many places to shop, from the old Grand Bazaar to modern shopping malls like Istinye Park, Akmerkez.
  • Unique textiles, pottery, and crafts made in Turkey that make great gifts and souvenirs.
  • Don’t miss the Spice Bazaar, which smells great and has lots of spices, drinks, and Turkish treats.
  • High-end shopping can be found in places like Nişantaşı, which has both foreign and local designer stores.
  • Spend money on high-quality Turkish textiles like traditional clothes, towels, and linens.
  • Walk through street fairs and small shops in the area to find one-of-a-kind items and handmade goods.
  • Bargaining is normal and a fun part of shopping in many traditional markets.
  • In places like Cukurcuma and Galata, you can look for old things and new art.
  • You can get great deals at shopping events and sales that happen at certain times of the year.

Top Tours to Experience Best Shopping in Istanbul

If you are looking for a best value for money, satisfaction guaranteed Istanbul shopping tours with local advice and guide, trust our recommendations, save time and money, than you can feel free to check out the below tours.

Insider Advice: Kickstart your Istanbul adventure with the Istanbul E-Pass, Saver Card or Istanbul Tourist Pass. These passes provide free access to around 70+ top attractions, tours and essential local services in the city with around 70% savings.

What to Buy & Where to Shop in Istanbul?

Istanbul has everything for every budget and style. From popular outdoor markets, bazaars, carpet & kilim workshops, copper working shops, antique and handicraft shops, to designer shops, traditional shops, modern department stores, tattoo shops, wedding dress boutiques, and very big shopping centers; shopping is one of the best things to do in Istanbul.

Istanbul provides various choices of shopping items from the Ottoman’s originated historical bazaars through modern shopping malls.

The world famous Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi) is one of the greatest historical malls in the world, with its more than 4000 shops.

The Egyptian Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) is also very popular where you can enjoy the scenery of the various spices, dried fruits, basketry, jewelry, drapery and haberdashery.

The world famous Turkish carpets made of silk, wool or cotton, the rugs (kilim), the precious jewelries, authentic glassware, traditional evil eye souvenirs, leather and textile products, and haute couture, trendy and creative products…

All can be found in the multiple shopping areas of the city reflecting every era’s characteristic traits.

Istiklal Street with its nostalgic tramway, passages, and colorful showcases, Bağdat Street, which offers shopping pleasure for about 5 kilometers, and Nişantaşı, Istanbul’s luxurious district, are among the favorites for shopping lovers.



We Highly Recommend These Fantastic Night-time Activities


Additionally, more than 100 shopping centers spread across various parts of Istanbul are waiting for you.

In addition, almost all districts have their own local street markets where you may find fresh vegetables, clothing and more…

Historical Bazaars

There are many interesting things to find in Istanbul’s historical markets, from the Grand Bazaar’s grandiose beauty to the Spice Bazaar’s real-life charm. You can experience and enjoy the energy of these markets, where old traditions meet new styles. Each visit is like taking a trip through the heart of this beautiful city.

Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)

With roots going back to the 15th century, the Grand Bazaar, also known as Kapalıcarşı in Turkish, is known for being one of the world’s oldest and biggest covered markets. It is famous for both how big it is and how many different kinds of things it sells. Without a question, it’s the most popular place for tourists to shop in Istanbul.

Over 4,000 shops are set up along a number of covered streets, all selling different goods.It has everything from dried fruits and spices to boots and shoes, drapes, haberdashery, and gold and silver jewelry. This busy market is like a maze because it’s spread out over many roads and alleys.

You can find everything here, from beautiful Turkish carpets and traditional textiles to intricate ceramics, jewelry, spices, and old things. It’s not just a market; it’s a lively example of Turkish culture, a spot where the present and the past meet. Anyone traveling through Istanbul should go there.

Egyptian Spice Market

The Spice Market, which is also called the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, is right in the middle of Istanbul. It’s a lively reminder of the city’s long past. It is one of Istanbul’s oldest covered markets. It was built in the 1660s as part of the New Mosque complex. Its name comes from the many traders who came from Egypt to buy and sell spices, medical herbs, and other goods.


The market is cleverly set up in a L shape, with 88 rooms that are covered with domes. The market has six gates, with the Haseki Gate part being two stories tall. Other gates are smaller. When it was at its busiest, the upper floors were used as a court where traders settled disagreements with customers and among themselves.

During the time of the Ottoman Empire, the Spice Market was more than just a place to buy and sell spices. It was also a place where herbal drugs were made and sold according to old recipes. Today, the bazaar is a sensory treat, with a wide range of traditional tastes, such as spices, herbal teas, dried fruits, and the delightfully chewy Turkish delight. It also has jewelry, fabrics, baskets, and a lot of different kinds of one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

You can do more than just shop at the Spice Market. It’s like taking a trip through time and seeing how Istanbul’s past and present are intertwined.

Istanbul’s top bazaars and markets

Shopping Malls

Istanbul also hosts more than 200 modern shopping malls. And some of them are really very huge and amongst the best shopping malls in Europe. The Kanyon, Metrocity and Akmerkez in the Levent district; the Istinye Park in Maslak, the Cevahir in Mecidiyekoy are the most popular shopping malls in Istanbul, on the European side that worth a visit.

Istinye Park

The Emaar Square Mall in Uskudar, Capitol in Altunizade, Palladium and Brandium in Atasehir and Viaport next to Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) are the popular ones in the Asia side.

Istanbul’s top shopping centers

Street Markets

As for street markets; the Thursday Market in Ortakoy (former Ulus market) and Saturday Markets in Besiktas, Bakirkoy and Ferikoy (Sisli), and Sunday Market in Kasimpasa (Beyoglu) on the European side, and the Tuesday Market in Kadikoy on the Asian Side are all worth to visit.

Popular Shopping Districts & Neighborhoods

Sultanahmet and around

Sultanahmet neighborhood, with its craftsmen, is the number one place for the ones who want to enjoy the ambiance of the Ottoman era and historic center. The Arasta Bazaar, located just behind the Blue Mosque is famous for its jewelry, pottery, spice, textiles and carpet shops.

Arasta Bazaar

The Antique Books Market , located in Beyazit, 20 mins walk from Sultanahmet, around Grand Bazaar, is famous for its priceless books and antiques, especially for the history lovers.

Taksim and around

Taksim is a the modern and cosmopolitan part of the city and hosts wide range of shopping places with numerous big brands located on and around the famous Istiklal Street. The 2 km. long pedestrian Istiklal street has many famous and neo-classical passages with variety of fantastic shops ranging from vintage clothing to hand made ceramics, as well as more than 100 year old traditional shops and sweet cafes and pubs.

Istiklal Street

The Sishane, Galata, Karakoy, Cukurcuma and Cihangir are the other popular neighborhoods located near Taksim that are all full of great designer and antiques shops, vintage stores and bookshops. Cukurcuma is famous for its antiques. The Nisantasi neighborhood very close to Taksim is famous for its with world brands and local designer clothing shops.

Asian Side

The Kadikoy market place, Bahariye Street and the Bagdat Street are the popular places on the Asia side and always very crowded for shopping lovers.


Tip: If you go shopping in Istanbul, it is a good idea to use Istanbul bag storage for your bags to keep them safe and keep your hands free while you browse the markets and shops.

Some Shopping Ideas

Jewellery & Gold Shops

Whether you are out for shopping for an elegant gift, or to treat yourself to something jewel or golden, Istanbul provides various choices of shopping items from the Ottoman’s originated historical bazaars through modern shopping malls.

Wanna learn more about the best place to buy jewellery in Istanbul?

Tattooing & Piercing

Are you interested in getting your new ink done when visiting Istanbul? The tattoo scene in Istanbul is one of the most exciting ones in Europe along with fantastic tattoo artists and shops delivering some of the best quality tattoo arts for their visitors.

Wanna learn more about the best tattoo & piercing shops in Istanbul?

Brand & Designer Shoes

When you are in Istanbul and on a shopping day out especially at the popular tourist zones such as Sultanahmet, Beyazit, Aksaray, Laleli, Taksim, Istiklal Street, Galata, Karakoy, Sisli, Nisantasi, Kadikoy, Bahariye and Bagdat Streets, you’ll definitely be shocked with the number of footwear and shoe stores spread through the city’s top streets.

Wanna learn more about the best shoes in Istanbul?


Share post:

Best of Istanbul Tours & Tickets

 

Most Popular Now in Istanbul

Tourist Passes & Discount Cards
DON'T MISS

Istanbul Tourist Pass® Review: Is It Worth It? Insider Tips

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is one of the four...

Istanbul Welcome Card (Why Buy? How To’s? Fares & Insider Tips)

The Istanbul Welcome Card is one of the four...

Istanbul E-Pass (Worth It? How To’s? Fares, Insider Tips)

The Istanbul E-Pass is one of the four common...

Medical Tourism
DON'T MISS

Best Hair Transplant in Istanbul, Turkey: TOP 10 Clinics for 2024

Discover the best hair transplant clinics in Istanbul, Turkey,...

Best Rhinoplasty in Turkey, Istanbul 2024: TOP 10 Surgeons, Cost

Rhinoplasty in Turkey has become an incredibly popular aesthetic...

Dental Implants in Turkey, Istanbul: Best Dental Clinics 2024, Prices

Dental implants, veneers and all other dental care is...