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The Spice Bazaar, popularly known as Egyptian Bazaar (Misr Carsisi) owing to the fact that the market was built out of the taxes collected from Cairo during the Ottoman empire.
Previously called Valide Bazaar or New Bazaar, the spice bazaar is the second covered shopping complex in the city after the Grand Bazaar.
The bazaar is a part of the Yeni Mosque complex and revenues from the shops help to fund the expenses of the mosque. It was originally designed by the chief court architect Koca Kasým Aga, but completed by architect Mustafa in 1660.
There are 88 shops inside the bazaar which used to be mostly spice shops but nowadays, there are lots of shops selling variety of stuff -- from souvenir items, trinkets, lamps, shawls, clothing, jewelries, bath and beauty stuff, etc.
There are two entrances at both ends, the more popular one is the one near the Yeni Mosque.
Written Nov 22, 2012
Address: Eminonu, Fatih-Istanbul, Turkey
Tourists who'd like to have a more authentic local market experience must walk along the Uzuncarsi Street of Tahtakale neighborhood. Most shoppers here are locals though you'll find the occasional brave tourists getting lost amidst its busy activities and traffic. But if you don't like the rush, then be contented with the more tourist-oriented Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar.
The Uzuncarsi is actually beside the Spice (Egyptian Bazaar) and also at the farther backside of the Grand Bazaar. It's one of the exciting walking tour of the city.
You can start the walk either from the beautiful Rustem Pasha Mosque ending at the Grand Bazaar or do it the oppositre way by starting at the back of the Grand Bazaar and end up with a visit to the Rustem Pasha Mosque and the Yeni Mosque at Eminonu.
What to buy: Almost everything.
Written Nov 22, 2012
Address: Uzuncarsi Street, Tahtakale, Fatih- Istanbul, Turk
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There's this small shop below the Laleli Mosque beside the tombs of Sultan Mustafa III and Sultan Selim III that sells nice olive oils, olive oil soaps, shampoos, bath and other stuff made of olive oil. Quality products and cheap.
What to buy: soap, shampoo, bath, etc.
What to pay: From 2 up.
Written Jun 1, 2012
Address: Ordu Caddesi, Istanbul, Turkey
Another huge mall a bit out of the central touristic part of Istanbul but very accessible by public transport. Two trains, take the tramvay from Sultanahmet or any station along this line and get off at Yusufpasha Tram Station and connect with the Metro train at Aksaray and get off at Kartaltepe-Kocatepe metro station, the station right before the main Otogar station.
The Forum is a large mall with several designers brand and the mall is very family friendly with a lot of programs geared for the kids. It also houses the Turkuazoo with several huge aquariums and a tunnel aquarium.
Several restaurants on the upper floor, cinema and a childrens playground outside the mall.
What to buy: clothing apparel and other stuff.
Written Jun 1, 2012
Address: Kocatepe Mahallesi, Paºa Caddesi 34045 Bayrampaºa
Phone: +90 (212) 443 13 50
Website: http://www.forumistanbul.com.tr/forumisten/?lang=TUR&mo=home-2
35,000sqm total area for shopping mall alone, the Sapphire is one of the huge malls in Istanbul. Sapphire is situated in the busioness district of Levent. The building itself is more than 261 meters tall with the observation deck on the 54th floor with the best 360 degrees of the whole city (entry at TL15).
The mall part is on the lower floors and it's so spacious and I have that dizzy symtptoms on huge space that I immediately felt that in this mall. Several shops, dozens of restaurants each floor and stuff for kids.
Like many other big malls in Istanbul, Sapphire is home to several international and local designer brands.
Take the Metro train from Taksim Square and get off at Levent 4 and you're there.
What to buy: clothing apparel, fashion accessories, etc..
Written Jun 1, 2012
Address: Buyukdere Avenue Levent, Istanbul, Turkey
Website: http://www.istanbulsapphire.com/
Abdulla is a soap shop, all kinds of aromatic soaps in blocks from Olives to Basil, various kinds and sizes of scrubs made out of goat hair and cloths. Envigorating smell when you get inside the shop.
Soaps are not expensive at all, costs from TL3 up.
Located inside the Grand Bazaar beside some cafe and restaurants.
What to buy: soaps, scents, scrubs, etc.
What to pay: TL2 onwards.
Written Jun 1, 2012
Address: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
...and more shopping at the Grand Bazaar.
The trouble is, even if we're not planning to buy anything inside the bazaar - I would bet it would also happen to you once you're in - we were enticed (not by the salesmen, but by ourselves) to buy something.
Like we bought some pouffs (leather thing that you put some cloth stuff to make it like a seat), it cost us only TL5, sometimes they sell it for 10, some stores sell it for TL25/3 pieces.
What to pay: Just haggle fairly.
Updated Sep 23, 2010
Address: Beyazit, Istanbul
The Grand Bazaar has lots of merchandise in it's more than a thousand of shops.
Took some pictures so you'll have an idea on what you expect to see and probably buy inside the bazaar.
Just don't forget to haggle, it's a form of art, and well expected.
What to pay: Just haggle, start with half the given price, then work your way to 60-70% the most.
Written Sep 23, 2010
Address: Beyazit, Istanbul
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I've never noticed this before in my previous trips to Istanbul, only this year (2010) when we accidentally stumble on it.
There are several discount shops, more of like factory overruns, or budget clothing stores along Istiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu. If you're coming from Taksim square walk until you reach almost the end before reaching the tunnel, or way between Galatasaray and the Tunnel Square, though a bit nearer to the tunnel. There are several shops that sells really cheapbut trendy clothings - shirts, pants, accessories.
You will see the signs like TL5 which means the items costs 5 turkish lira, yeah, most shirts costs from TL3.50 to 5, most of them factory overruns or bootlegs of famous brands.
For backpackers who seldom bring a lot of clothing (I normally bring only 4 shirts) and bargain hunters, this is a clothing haven!
Really cheap quality and trendy clothing.
What to buy: Shirts, pants, jogging pants, sweatshirts and shorts, headcaps, and other accessories.
Updated Sep 23, 2010
Address: Istiklal Caddesi
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Kanyon is a multi-purpose complex, metro stop is Levent.
We were staying in Taksim area so we have to take the metro train from the main square, get down at Levent (not Levent 4, where we've mistakenly got down, the station next to Levent).
There are two shopping malls here, Kanyon and Metro City which are beside each other. We first went to Kanyon. It's huge shopping complex, more high-end which houses many european brands, and a foodcourt on the upper level.
We went there twice, upon arrival and before flying out, to buy some shirts and pants - my favorite shop is the Jack & Jones on the upper level. The tall tower houses a residential apartments and office towers.
Kanyon holds 180 residential flats, 160 stores, 9 theater halls with a capacity of 1,600 spectators, and a parking facility for 2,300 vehicles. The shopping mall itself resembles a dramatic canyon in architecture and won the 2006 Cityscape Architectural Review Award in the "Commercial Built" category.
The metro stop in Levent has a direct access to the mall complex.
What to buy: signature brands, clothings, bags, etc.
Written Sep 23, 2010
Address: Büyükdere Avenue Nr. 185, Levent, Istanbul
Website: http://www.kanyon.com.tr/#/en/homepage/
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