Where to Buy the Best in Istanbul: A Guide to the City’s Shopping Havens

Istanbul, a city where continents collide, cultures blend, and history breathes in every corner, is not just a feast for the eyes but a paradise for shoppers. From the historic Grand Bazaar to the chic streets of Nişantaşı, this vibrant metropolis offers an array of shopping experiences that are as diverse as the city itself. Whether you’re on the hunt for exquisite Turkish delights, unique textiles, or handcrafted souvenirs, Istanbul’s markets and districts provide a treasure trove of goods. This guide will navigate you through the best places in Istanbul to find everything from traditional crafts to modern fashion, helping you capture a piece of this enchanting city to take home. Let’s embark on a journey through Istanbul’s best shopping destinations, where the charm of the past and the allure of the present meet.

Beşiktaş Ortaköy – Souvenirs

The most important symbol of the district, whose history dates back to the Ancient Age, is the Ortaköy Mosque. The stalls set up on the streets leading down to the shore of the district are full of colorful, unique, handmade, and one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Maybe a woolen knitted hat, a bookmark, or a beautiful piece of jewelry. The most enjoyable part is browsing the stalls and shopping while eating the famous baked potatoes of Ortaköy.

Beykoz – Beykoz Glass

A new development in Ottoman glass art was observed in the early 19th century. A Mevlevi dervish named Mehmet Dede was sent to Italy by Sultan III Selim (1807) to learn and enhance his knowledge of glass art. After working in Italy for a while, he established a glass workshop in the district of Beykoz and began producing various glass items. In Beykoz Glass Art, named after the district where it was established, you can see examples of rose water bottles, pitchers, sugar bowls, and bowls in different techniques and patterns like Çeşmibülbül, Maydonozlu, Mine Decorated, and Gilded. During your visit to Istanbul, you can make your loved ones happy by buying gifts of Beykoz Glass Art examples.

Beyoğlu Cihangir – Antique Items, Design Products

Named after the mosque built in the name of Cihangir, the son of Suleiman the Magnificent, the district is today one of the most colorful and cosmopolitan places in Istanbul. Çukurcuma, which is connected to it, is a complete antique center. You can find original antique pieces and design products where old and new are blended. The connected Tomtom Neighborhood is on its way to becoming today’s design center. Products you can find in workshops that design in different fields, environments where you can drink coffee to relieve fatigue, will provide you an unforgettable day in Istanbul in terms of art.

Beyoğlu / Fatih Eminönü / Kadıköy – Akide Candy

The history of Akide candy dates back to the Ottoman Empire. Akide candy, symbolizing the loyalty of the Janissaries to the state and served to important people of the state, derives its name from the word “akid,” meaning “loyalty, contract, inseparability.” You can buy Akide candy from the historic confectioners during your visit to Istanbul.

Beyoğlu / Fatih Eminönü – Coffee

Continuing to be an important part of life with its 40-year tradition, Turkish coffee is always an excuse for our fatigue, happy moments, and long conversations. Drinking coffee at engagement ceremonies where families come together before marriage is an indispensable element of our tradition. Another reason that makes Turkish coffee special is its unique culture. It is quite different and unique from other coffee types in terms of its procurement, preparation, and consumption. Coffee, reflected in our oral culture with sayings like “A cup of coffee has forty years of memory,” “The heart wants neither coffee nor a coffeehouse, the heart desires friends, coffee is just an excuse,” “Coffee comes with the morning, with the morning,” “Coffee is brewed, come, the foam has overflowed, come, my friends of good days, my bad days have passed, come”; is among the indispensable flavors of Turkish Cuisine that you can buy in Eminönü and enjoy with your loved ones.

Beyoğlu / Fatih Eminönü / Kadıköy – Turkish Delight

Turkish delight, also known by its Arabic origin name “rahat ul-hulküm,” meaning “comfort for the throat,” is a staple of our holiday treats and Turkish coffee. Turkish delight, which has significantly reflected in our oral culture, holds an important place among traditional Turkish dessert culture products. You can create a sweet bond with your loved ones by buying a box of Turkish delight from the historic confectioners of Istanbul.

Beyoğlu Galip Dede Street – Musical Instruments

The road descending from Tünel Square on İstiklal Street to Kuledibi is Galip Dede Street. In the past, the street, which housed antique dealers, stamp shops, bookstores, and patisseries, has been home to music instrument shops for almost 30 years. Walking down the road where you can find all kinds of musical instruments and sound system equipment also means breathing in the history of the street dating back to the Genoese Colony period.

Beyoğlu İstiklal Street – Secondhand Bookstores, Souvenirs

The secondhand bookstores you can find on the different streets of Beyoğlu are like a magical journey offering different experiences. You can find Istanbul’s oldest secondhand bookstores in Beyoğlu. Each visit offers new discoveries, with books in foreign languages also available. The books you buy from these secondhand bookstores will either satisfy your memories or curiosity but will definitely touch you.

Beyoğlu is also one of the best places to go for souvenirs. Whether in the historic arcades or in the shops along the streets, you will find the most beautiful souvenirs to remind you of Istanbul.

Beyoğlu Şişhane – Chandeliers

The word “âvîze,” meaning “hanging thing” in Persian, is one of the most important decoration elements that add warmth to our living spaces and reflect the spirit of the space. Today, the Şişhane Area is famous for its workshops and shops producing and selling lighting elements. During your visit to Beyoğlu, you can light up your homes by purchasing chandeliers that suit your taste from the chandelier shops in Şişhane.

Fatih Beyazıt Sahaflar Bazaar – Rare and Secondhand Books

Located behind the Beyazıt Mosque, the Sahaflar Bazaar, known in its old form as Hakkâklar Bazaar, is an important element of Ottoman cultural life. The practice of secondhand bookselling, which began settling in this area next to the Grand Bazaar in the 1890s and continued to grow, has been entirely devoted to book sales since the bazaar was rebuilt in concrete after the fire in 1950. In this bazaar, where you can feel the historical texture of centuries, you can find all kinds of books from rare works to textbooks, as well as products reflecting the art of books.

Fatih Cağaloğlu – Books

Cağaloğlu, one of Istanbul’s famous districts, is filled with printers and secondhand bookstores on the slope rising from Sirkeci. There is no writer, journalist, or artist who has not witnessed the historical identity of Cağaloğlu or who does not have a memory there. When you find yourself in Cağaloğlu, you can find many books by visiting several publishing houses on the same street or even in the same building.

Fatih Gedikpaşa – Shoes

Gedikpaşa, one of Istanbul’s oldest districts, extends from Beyazıt to Kumkapı. It is known that craftsmen who manufactured leather clothing in Saraçhane during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet and tradesmen who provided materials for production settled in the area between Sultanahmet and Beyazıt after the burning of Saraçhane. The opening of businesses by those engaged in shoe production in the regions known as Parmakkapı, Divanyolu, Uzunçarşı, and Tavukpazarı and the rapid development of trade in the post-Republic period have made Gedikpaşa one of the important centers for shoe producers. During your visit to Istanbul, in Gedikpaşa, where many shoe manufacturers had their production centers in the past, you can find almost everything related to shoes today, from suppliers to manufacturers and wholesalers to stores.

Fatih Horhor Flea Market – Antique Items

Horhor Flea Market is one of the most important centers in Istanbul for antique item trade. It is almost impossible not to find an item to your taste in about 200 shops located in the 7-story inn. Chatting with experienced antique dealers and tracking the history of antiques will be a memory to add to your memory box. If you want your old items to be renewed, then Horhor Market is the place to go.

Fatih Kapalıçarşı – Jewellery, Carpets, Fabrics, Antiques, Souvenirs

Dating back to the Byzantine bazaars and taking on a classic Ottoman architectural identity in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Grand Bazaar was completely destroyed in the earthquake of 1894 and rebuilt in 1898. It is possible to buy gold jewelry, silver, and precious stone jewelry, carpets and fabrics, antiques, and souvenirs from this great bazaar. Visiting the Grand Bazaar allows you to breathe the historical atmosphere of Istanbul and witness its economic dynamism, in other words, to experience Istanbul within a closed bazaar.

Fatih Laleli – Clothing, Shoes, Accessories, Souvenirs

Laleli, located between Beyazıt and Aksaray, takes its name from Laleli Baba, who lived during the reign of Sultan III Mustafa (1757-1774), and is one of the important trading centers of today. It is a popular destination for traders from the Russian Federation and Balkan countries. A wide variety of clothing items, textile materials, shoes, bags, and other accessories are the main export products. There are also many souvenir shops in this area targeting tourists.

Fatih Mahmutpaşa – Bridal Trousseaus, Clothing, Accessories

Today, Mahmutpaşa, part of the Fatih district, has always been an important shopping center. The inns and shops, arranged in a row along the narrow streets, selling products from towels to slippers, from clothing to accessories, are organized according to the type of products they sell. Visiting Mahmutpaşa for life’s turning points and shopping there is essential. Bridal trousseaus are carefully selected from the shops in Mahmutpaşa, and all necessary materials for engagement and wedding preparations are found there. Boys are also taken to Mahmutpaşa for circumcision ceremony shopping. For the Hajj, which requires the most preparation among religious duties, Mahmutpaşa is visited first. The clothes that will breathe the air of the holy lands with you, that you will carry during your entire visit, and even keep in the most careful part of your wardrobe when you return, are bought from there. Gifts for family and friends, and all needs are again met from Mahmutpaşa.

Fatih Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Bazaar) – Spices, Souvenirs

Located next to the New Mosque in Eminönü, the Egyptian Bazaar was built in 1660 by Architect Kasım Ağa, commissioned by Valide Turhan Sultan. The scent of spices wraps around us as we pass through the gates of this center, where spices from Egypt were distributed in the 1600s. In the bazaar, planned in a small arasta layout, it is possible to find spices from around the world and Turkey, as well as souvenirs.

Fatih Sirkeci – Watches, Glasses, Electronics

Sirkeci is one of the busiest and most touristic places on the Historical Peninsula in Istanbul. In the inns located between Eminönü and Sirkeci, it is possible to find electronic items, watches, glasses, and many other products suitable for every budget. In Sirkeci, you can meet your needs for electronic items, watches, and glasses.

Fatih Sultanhamam – Fabric In the streets of

Sultanhamam, you can easily find hundreds of types of fabrics ranging from crepe to taffeta, from poplin to batiste, from printed fabrics to silk, and from woolen fabrics to satin. The district, located between Sirkeci and Mahmutpaşa and lined with fabric shops, has always held an important position in the Inner City area. When you find yourself in Eminönü, it is one of the centers where you can buy fabric.

Fatih Unkapanı – Istanbul Manifaturacılar Çarşısı (IMC)

Located between Unkapanı and the Bozdoğan Aqueduct, IMC was built in the 1960s. The Bazaar, developed and planned with the need for a new area by the manufacturers and fabric wholesalers around Sultanhamam, is one of Istanbul’s first modern architectural structures and includes decorative elements signed by important artists of the era. Today, in addition to the sale of decorative products such as upholstery fabric, curtains, wallpaper, and flooring materials, it is also an important center for musical instruments and music production-distribution places. In the 80s and 90s, many musicians came here for vinyl and cassette works, serving as a vibrant music center.

Merter – Textiles

Established in the 1960s, the center is now the heart of Turkish textile trade. Merter, home to thousands of brands, offers every product related to textiles, from fabric to clothing. The area, where wholesale and retail sales take place, is always bustling with its hotels, restaurants, and trading centers.

Şişli Nişantaşı – Clothing

Nişantaşı, one of Istanbul’s most elegant districts, is connected to Maçka, Teşvikiye, Harbiye, and Osmanbey. Fashionable clothes and accessories are displayed in this area. Everything related to clothing, from the world’s most luxurious brands to centers producing boutique items, can be found here. For art lovers, this district is a popular destination; you can step into a world of art ranging from sculpture to furniture, from galleries to auction houses.

Şile – Şile Cloth

Şile Cloth is a cotton fabric produced in the Şile district using local techniques. Şile Cloth weaving, named after the district of Şile, is one of the most important handicrafts of the region. Şile Cloth, known for its comfort, lightness, healthiness, and natural qualities, finds a wide range of uses. Today, Şile Cloth is still woven in Şile and its villages. During your visit to Şile, you should not leave without buying products made of Şile Cloth.

Zeytinburnu – Leather

The history of leatherworking in Zeytinburnu dates back to the period of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. At that time, tanneries from various regions of Anatolia were brought together to more easily obtain leather products needed by soldiers, making the area an important center for leather production. The relocation of leather businesses established by Greeks in various parts of Istanbul after the conquest of Istanbul to this area has led to the rapid development of tanning in the region. Today, although the tanneries in this area have been moved to the Tuzla Region due to environmental reasons, the district continues to be one of the places where visitors to Istanbul can find all kinds of leather materials, a tradition that has been maintained since its history.