Istanbul - Shopping

All Travel Guides

Shopping

Istanbul

Provided by: Viacheslav Lopatin/Shutterstock.com

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Europe Turkey Istanbul Shopping

Overview

Shopping The guide was updated: 2023-10-31

Istanbul has become a major shopping destination for several categories of travellers. Some tourist are looking for exoticized outdoor markets, bazaars, carpet and kilim workshops, copper working shops, antique and handicraft stalls — and the city definitely delivers on this promise. Another cohort of visitors is coming to Istanbul for luxury brands and exclusive antique shops.

No matter your preferences, you can be sure that your shopping needs and desires will be met. Istanbul is big enough to support multiple shopping districts with boutiques, small shops, covered bazaars and enormous shopping malls.

İstiklal Caddesi

İstiklal Caddesi

İstiklal Caddesi is a fashionable old street in the Pera district, now called Beyoğlu. Walking down İstiklal is something every visitor does at least once because of its strategic location connecting Taksim square to Galata tower. In terms of shopping, you'll find many famous brands here, as well as smaller niche chops selling fashion items and other things to take home to remind you of your trip.

Çukurcuma

Çukurcuma

Çukurcuma, the hillside neighborhood just east of Istiklal Caddesi, attracts both serious antique collectors and lovers of thrifty antique shopping. Vintage clothing, textiles, and old books are presented amongst 19th-century Baroque furniture and floral-painted ceramics. You will definitely find something to spice up your home decor in an authentic, non-mass-market way.

Egyptian Spice Bazaar

Egyptian Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar is at the base of the Galata Bridge in Eminönü, and is also called the Egyptian Bazaar because the imported spices originally came from Egypt. Besides the vast array of spices, in the lanes of this indoor market you can buy cheese, honey, sausages, dried fruits, tea and all sorts of edible delights and knick knacks, including clothes and gorgeous fabrics.

Avrupa Pasajı

Avrupa Pasajı

Avrupa Pasajı or Passage d'Europe is a historic shopping arcade with antique shops and a great array of textile, ceramics and lamps on display. It's arched glass roof is quite a sight.

Bagdat Caddesi

Bagdat Caddesi

A good shopping district is the long Bagdat Caddesi on the Asiatic side. There are many trendy brand name shops here and prices are sometimes lower than in town because few tourists find this area.

Next section

Next Section