Bazaars and bargaining: what to take home, the back story

About Bazaars and bargaining: what to take home, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Istanbul Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

From the covered Grand Bazaar, trading since the 15th century, to the Spice Bazaar and the boutiques of Nişantaşı, Istanbul is a joy for shoppers. In the bazaars, prices are often a starting point for conversation.

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) grew from the warehouses Mehmed II built in the 1450s and 1460s into a covered city of more than 60 streets and thousands of shops, with jewellers, carpet dealers, leather, textiles, lamps and ceramics. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Spices, coffee and lokum

The Spice Bazaar at Eminönü sells spices, dried fruit, nuts, teas and lokum (Turkish delight); the streets around it are where locals shop for coffee, cheese and kitchenware. For lokum and helva, the historic shops Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir and Koska are classics.

The Grand Bazaar has more than 60 streets and thousands of shops under one roof.

Carpets and kilims

A good carpet takes time to choose: ask about the knots, the dyes and the region, and whether it is hand-made and old or new. Reputable dealers explain without pressure and provide paperwork and shipping. Never feel obliged to buy after a glass of tea.

How to bargain

In the bazaars, bargaining is expected for carpets, jewellery, leather and souvenirs, less so for food. Decide what you are willing to pay, stay friendly, and be ready to walk away. Shops with fixed price labels, and the malls, do not bargain.

Beyond the bazaars

Nişantaşı is the city’s smartest shopping district, Çukurcuma the place for antiques, Kadıköy for markets and vintage, and the malls, such as Zorlu Center and İstinye Park, have every international brand.

Our advice: visit the Grand Bazaar early on a weekday, buy coffee and lokum from the historic shops rather than tourist stalls, take your time over carpets, and keep your receipts. Then walk down to the Spice Bazaar and the ferry at Eminönü.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Bazaars and bargaining: what to take home, the back story before you go.