Shopping

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Shopping in Istanbul is a wonderful experience with its open-air markets , covered bazaars and shopping centers everywhere .
Some of the best places in Istanbul where you will enjoy shopping include:

Grand Bazaar:
(Located just a 12 to 15 minute walk , or much less by tram , west of Sultanahmet along the old Roman road) . After walking through the Nuruosmaniye gate of the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) you will be fascinated by the number of shops and shop-displays filled with many gorgeous merchandise from jewellery to leatherwear , to carpets . With more than 4000 shops there , you will find what you want for sure . Shops in the Grand Bazaar are organized around their wares , e . g . the silver jewelers are clustered together . You can find there Turkish alabaster , Antiquities in central Old Bazaar section , Copper and brass decorated works , Jewels , beautiful carpets (however be aware that most of the carpets sold were not really made in turkey but probably in India or China) , faience (colored tilework) , Leather Apparel (including soft leather and suede coats , jackets , skirts , dresses , vests , hats , gloves , handbags , wallets and many other items) , Nazar Bonjuks (Turkish Evil Eye Beads , which are delightful handcrafted items with a tradition going back at least 5000 years and are thought to bring good luck , you can wear them or decorate your house and car with them to keep away the "bad spirits!") , in addition to many other wonderful things .

The Egyptian Bazaar:
(also Misir Carsisi or Spice Bazaar): Located in Eminönü with its main entrance located in the southwest corner , facing Yeni Mosque . This place will make you feel like you are walking through history . It is a covered bazaar like the Grand Bazaar , but is a lot smaller than it , and there you will find many herbalist and spice shops . There are many goods belonging to the east , like Fragrances , Spices , dried fruits , nuts and seeds , lokum (Turkish Delight) and many other edibles and spices .

Open-Air Bazaars (street markets):
These open-air bazaars are named after the neighborhood or after the day on which they are held . You can find there many kinds of good quality and low-priced goods . Many kinds of good are there from clothing to kitchen utensils . Some of these open-air bazaars are the bazaars in Etiler and Yesilkoy which begin early in the morning and last until sunset . Also , other bazaars are in Bakirkoy and Besiktas and held on Saturdays , in Fatih on Wednesdays , in Kadikoy on Tuesdays , and in Findikzade on Fridays .

Shopping Centers and Malls:
There are several shops and fashion boutiques at different malls in Istanbul . These malls offer many shopping items at attractive rates as well as well-known brands from fashion centers of the world . You can find the elite boutiques of the world famous name brands in the buildings located in Nisantasi and Tesvikiye , or in elegant stores in Bagdat Caddesi .

In the Taksim-4 , Levent subway station at the Taksim Square , there are some shopping centers you may find interesting to shop at . Also there are centers in Nisantasi (which you can reach by getting off at Osmanbey stop , then use the Nisantasi-Rumeli Avenue exit , turn to the Rumeli Avenue ahead the exit) , Here , you can visit the stores in Cevahir and Canyon shopping centers . These centers can directly be reached by the subway line , so you should get off at Sisli stop if you want to go to Cevahir or at 1 levent stop if you want to go to Kanyon . These two centers have hundreds of stores selling many different items , in addition to restaurants , cafes and cinemas . You may also wish to shop at Metrocity shopping center which is located next to Kanyon .