Shopping in Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar

You can’t talk about shopping in Istanbul and not begin at the Grand Bazaar. Guidebooks peg the number of shops here at 6,000, but no one really knows for sure. Its Ottoman architecture gives the Bazaar an air of intrigue, and the range of shopping covers brassware, leatherwear, alabaster curios, books, and the city’s most famous export, carpets. Haggling is the rule of law in this huge expanse, so be prepared to spend some time negotiating the best price possible.  Remember, no matter how low the merchant starts on that stained glass lampshade, he can always go lower.  The restaurants, cool fountains, and the muezzin’s call to prayer from the mosques inside the Bazaar promise an experience that goes beyond mere shopping. 

Markets

Built in 1664, the Egyptian Spice Market is covered with mounds of spices, dried fruits, nuts, and snacks, including Turkish delight - the spongy toffee that the locals consume after coffee.  Since the market is spread across prime real estate, many jewelers and other stores have begun to move in too.  There are other weekly open-air markets as well, where you can browse through everything from T-shirts to old gramophone records and other junk on your medical tourism holiday.  The arts fair at Ortakoy is good for a few bargains, and the flea market near Grand Bazaar every Sunday is also popular with the locals. 

Away from the sensual overload that is the Grand Bazaar is the Nurosmaniye Caddis, a stylish avenue packed with fine jewelry retailers and upscale boutiques.  Walk down the Istiklal Caddesi and you’d believe you were in a traditional Western city with boutiques, music stores, and jewelry stores lining the street. 

Apart from kilims (carpets), the city is also famous for the quality of its leather goods, gold and silver artifacts, white copper, ornamental tea sets, and embroidered fabric.  You’ll find just about anything from pipes to pillow cases, shoved under your nose on your medical tourism vacation.  Since this is one of the most ancient medical tourism cities, there is a thriving market for antiques too.