Let us tell you where you can refresh your wardrobe in Istanbul at very attractive prices.
Istanbul is rightly considered the Mecca for shopping enthusiasts, attracting thousands of tourists every year. Here you can find both affordable and high-quality clothing, interior items, furniture of all sizes, household appliances, souvenirs, and even food products. What's noteworthy is that only in Istanbul can expensive goods from world-renowned brands and budget no-name products be found on neighboring shelves.
Peculiarities of shopping in Istanbul
Standard working hours for most stores in Istanbul are from 09:00 to 21:00. Small shops take a break for lunch from 13:00 to 14:00, and also prefer to rest on Sundays.
The traditional time for sales is from July to September, and also from January to March. You can meet the biggest discounts at the shopping festival.
Shopping Festival
Every year, shoppers from all over Europe and the western part of Asia gather for the Istanbul Shopping Fest, an unprecedented event where discounts can reach up to 50%. The dates of the shopping festival vary and are announced in May or early June. In 2019, the Istanbul Shopping Fest took place from July 4th to 24th.
Where to go for a shopping stroll
When going shopping, it's worth exploring not only specific shopping malls and markets but also special shopping streets filled with stores.
Shopping districts of Istanbul
Osmanbey
Osmanbey district specializes in textile products. Top-sellers are the following products:
clothes, including jackets, fur coats, coats from local ateliers (in the Rumeli Caddesi quarter) and expensive brands (Abdi İpekçi street);
shoes, toys, electronic gadgets and souvenirs (at the Osmanbey Çarşı market).
You can also enjoy a snack or a cozy meal in one of the small tranquil cafes or restaurants in the area.
Laleli
The stylishly named Laleli district is known for fashionable clothing and shoes. It is the go-to place for buying trendy wholesale and retail clothing, footwear, and accessories for the upcoming season.
Zeytinburnu
Zeytinburnu's range covers leather and fur local production. Discerning customers can even order custom-made coats or mantles, which are usually created according to the client's preferences within 2-3 days.
For ready-made products, you should go to Olivium outlet, located in the same area.
The only drawback of Zeytinburnu is its distance from the city center.
Merter
For the iconic Turkish denim clothing and a wide selection of evening dresses, it's best to head to Merter. This district is also known for offering a variety of evening gowns, ranging from budget-friendly options to truly luxurious pieces.
Nishantashi
In the area of Turkish Milan, or the Nişantaşı area, you can quite often meet a world celebrity: boutiques for a respectable public are concentrated here. In addition to high-quality branded clothing, people go here for exclusive jewelry.
Fatih
In the historic Fatih district, shopping revolves around the famous pedestrian street, İstiklal. Walking along the one-and-a-half-kilometer-long İstiklal, you can find:
snack bars, cafes and restaurants;
shops, shops and malls with clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, cosmetics and much more.
Baghdat Quarter
Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, the green-filled Bağdat Quarter stretches down to one of the city's waterfronts. While strolling through this neighborhood, tourists have the opportunity to explore:
expensive boutiques;
high-end jewelry shops.
Shopping centers in Istanbul
The shopping centers of Istanbul are not only a paradise for avid shoppers but also a distinct attraction. Some of them are among the largest not only in Istanbul but in the world.
Istinye Park
Istinye Park boasts a highly unique structure: it is essentially a complex of buildings where boutiques are arranged in a semicircle under the open sky. Here, only global brands are traded.
There is a small cafe in the center.
Address: Pınar, Katar Cd No:73, 34460 Sarıyer/İstanbul, Turkey Website:istinyepark.com Phone:+90 212 345 55 55 Working hours:daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Canyon
Literally situated in a stone canyon, the shopping mall descends underground with its boutiques, rather than rising above the ground. Kanyon can boast the following features: features:
both branded clothing and footwear, and the mass market of the middle and budget price segment;
one of the largest bookstores in Istanbul;
various cultural events.
Address:Levent, Büyükdere Cd. No:185, 34394 Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey Website:kanyon.com.tr Phone: +90 212 317 53 00 Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Zorlu Center
Despite the presence of mass-produced clothing in the Zorlu Center, most of the goods belong to elite category. In addition to the shops, this shopping center offers:
cafes and restaurants located on the food court;
children's entertainment center;
Vocal and dance numbers on a small stage.
Address: Levazım, Koru Sokağı No:2, 34340 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey Website:zorlucenter.com.tr Phone:+90 212 924 01 24 Working hours:daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Jevahir
One of the largest shopping malls in Istanbul, Europe, and the world, Cevahir occupies a six-story building that comfortably accommodates over 300 retail outlets. Under its roof, you can find almost everything: from clothing, footwear, accessories, children's goods, and souvenirs to electronics, furniture, and automobiles.
Address: 19 Mayıs, Büyükdere Cd. No:22, 34360 Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey Website:istanbulcevahir.com Phone:+90 212 368 69 00 Working hours:daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Akasya
One of the largest shopping malls in Istanbul, Europe, and the world, Cevahir occupies a six-story building that comfortably accommodates over 300 retail outlets. Under its roof, you can find almost everything: from clothing, footwear, accessories, children's goods, and souvenirs to electronics, furniture, and automobiles.
Address:Acıbadem, Çeçen Sokağı No:25, 34660 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Turkey Phone: +90 216 325 03 72 Working hours:daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Emaar
EMAAR Square Mall offers the standard selection of boutiques and clothing stores. However, its distinctive feature is the children's play area, which includes an excellent playground, an aquarium, and animator services for little ones.
Address: Ünalan, Libadiye Cd No:88, 34700 Üsküdar/İstanbul, Turkey Website:emaarsquaremall.com Phone: +90 850 290 8090 Opening hours:daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Metropol
Metropol Istanbul Shopping and Entertainment Complex is a paradise for shopping enthusiasts, offering:
more than 200 stores;
about 5 thousand square meters. meters allotted for the stage and the auditorium. This square often plays host to performances by local and visiting artists;
and another 5 thousand square meters. meters, which are attractions and entertainment for the whole family.
Address: Ataşehir Atatürk, Ataşehir Blv., 34758 Ataşehir/İstanbul, Turkey Website:metropolistanbul.com Phone:+90 850 255 2552 Opening hours:daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Children's shops in Istanbul
You can buy goods for both a baby aged 0+ and a teenager in specialized children's stores. Some of them are located in a separate building, but most are part of large shopping centers.
The following shops are the main ones with goods for children:
LC Waikiki (clothes);
E-bebek, Joker, Mothercare (prams, car seats and clothes);
Soobe (local textiles).
Istanbul Markets
Referring to the traditional Turkish bazaar as just a "market" would be somewhat inaccurate. Only the word "bazaar" (Çarşı) with its inherent charm can truly convey the atmosphere and mood of such a location.
Grand Bazaar
A full-fledged trade city with 4,000 outlets located on 60 shopping streets has been welcoming visitors for several centuries. Here, you can find everything from spices to precious gemstones. The highlight of Kapalı Çarşı is the sale of high-quality counterfeit goods imitating world-famous brands.
Address: Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey Website: kapalicarsi.com.tr Phone:+90 212 519 12 48 Working hours:daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
Egyptian Bazaar
The Mısır Çarşısı, also known as the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, was opened in the 17th century. Since then, its doors have been open daily to guests in search of food products, spices, and fabrics.
Address: Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey Website: misircarsisi.org.tr Phone:+90 212 513 65 97 Working hours: from 08:00 to 19:00.
Khorkhor
The indoor market known as Horhor Antikacılar Çarşısı is located in a five-story building and specializes exclusively in the sale of antique items dating back to the time of the Ottoman Empire. Here, you can find:
paintings and tapestries;
interior items, for example, figurines and floor lamps;
dishes and other kitchen furniture;
books and other printed publications.
Several outlets can help with the restoration of items valuable to travelers.
Address:İskenderpaşa, Kırma Tulumba Sk. 1/140, 34080 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey Phone:+90 532 789 06 14 Working hours:Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00.
What to buy in Istanbul
Traditionally, travelers bring back clothing, footwear, accessories, and jewelry, antiques, tableware, as well as sweets and alcohol from Istanbul.
Clothes and shoes
For those seeking the best value for money in textiles, brands such as Adilisik, Sumak, Oztas, Dilvin, Carla, and Waikiki are highly recommended. When shopping for clothing at the market, it's essential to engage in negotiations to secure a favorable price.
Textile items can be found starting from $80 USD, while leather or fur items typically start at around $200 USD.
Antiques
When browsing for antique items, it's advisable to request museum certificates from sellers. Keep in mind that exporting items older than 100 years from Turkey is prohibited.
Bargaining at the markets can be a lengthy process, often accompanied by friendly conversations and the sharing of stories about the antique pieces.
Cost of an antique item varies from 100 to 1000 USD.
Jewelry
Istanbul offers relatively affordable jewelry made of gold, silver, and precious stones. While counterfeits are limited, it's still a good idea to inquire about quality certificates from sellers. Silver is priced at around $25 USD per gram, while gold prices start from $35 USD, depending on the purity.
Dishes
Authentic Turkish tableware is crafted from ceramics or copper. Local craftsmen, known as kalaycı, can apply a layer of tin to copper vessels for an additional fee to prevent any copper vapor during usage. The average cost of a plate or cup ranges around $3 USD.
Edible presents
Turkish sweets and alcohol are among the most popular gifts brought back from Turkey. When choosing edible presents, it's advisable to follow these guidelines:
Turkish delight, baklava and other sweets are better to choose in specialized pastry shops (for example, Koska and Bebek Badem Ezmezisi). They offer higher quality, freshness, and attractive packaging. The average cost of a gift set weighing 400 grams starts from $12 USD.
coffee should never be purchased from the market. The best coffee is in the oldest store in Istanbul Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi (from 20 USD per 500 grams);
local wine, olive oil or fruit is cheaper to buy in markets or supermarkets.
Tax Free
To take advantage of the tax-free or tax refund option, you need to make purchases exceeding 118 TRY and fill out a special form provided by the seller. The store should display a Tax-Free Shopping sign. By presenting the completed form at the airport, you can receive a refund of up to 18% of the total amount spent. Shopping in Istanbul is not only about pleasant gifts for yourself and loved ones after your trip; it's also an exciting experience! To fully immerse yourself in the city's atmosphere, make sure to explore various places for shopping, including modern shopping malls, small specialized boutiques, and atmospheric markets.
