Shopping

Istanbul

Many people come to Istanbul for the shopping alone. The Kapali Carsisi, or Covered Market, is the logical place to start as the area and variety is immense.

Still the commercial centre of the old city, the bazaar is the original shopping “mall” with a vast selection of carpets, souvenirs, clothes, shoes, jewellery and handicrafts made from ceramics, copper and brass. Many shops have recently sprung up around Aksaray selling leather, suede and fur coats, catering mainly for Russian and Eastern European buyers. The Misir Carsisi is good for picking up spices, locum, flavoured teas and small souvenirs. (See section on Bazaars.)

Sultanahmet has become another shopping mecca in the old city mainly because it has the highest concentration of tourist attractions. The Istanbul Sanatlari Carsisi (Bazaar of Istanbul Arts) in the 18th century Mehmet Efendi Medresesi, and the nearby 16th-century Caferaga Medrese, built by Sinan, offer you the chance to see craftsmen at work and to purchase their wares. In the Arasta (old bazaar) of the Sultanahmet Mosque, a thriving shopping arcade selling carpets, jewellery and local arts makes both shopping and sightseeing very convenient. There are many carpet shops in this area, and the chances are that sooner or later you will be approached by one of many dealers to visit his shop.

The sophisticated shops of in the Taksim and Nisantasi districts contrast with the chaos of the bazaars. Istiklal Caddesi and Cumhuriyet Caddesi have shops selling elegant fashionwear made from Turkey's high quality textiles. Exquisite jewellery, as well as finely designed handbags and shoes can also be found. Nisantasi is the main area for clothes by top Turkish designers.

For an even more modern, European shopping experience, the huge new malls of the Atakoy Galleria Mall in Atakoy, the Akmerkez Mall in Etiler and the Carousel Mall in Bakirkoy have have European outlets, Turkish fashion shops, as well as restaurants and a cinema. have branches of Istanbul's most elegant shops. In Bakirkoy, the Carousel Mall is worth a visit, as is the Atlas Passage in Beyoglu. Bahariye Avenue, Bagdat Avenue,and Capitol Mall on the Asian side, offer the same shopping opportunities.

In Istanbul's busy flea markets there are astonishing assortment of goods, both old and new. There is a daily opportunity to poke about the Sahaflar Carsisi and Cinaralti in the Beyazit areas. On Sundays, in a flea market between the Sahaflar and the Covered Bazaar, vendors uncover their wares on carts and blankets. The Horhor Carsisi is a collection of shops selling furniture of varying age and quality. Flea markets are open daily in the Topkapi district, on Cukurcuma Sokak in Cihangir, on Buyuk Hamam Sokak in Uskudar, in the Kadikoy Carsi Duragi area, and between Eminonu and Tahtakale. After a Sunday drive up the Bosphorus, stop between Buyukdere and Sariyer to wander through another lively market.

Izmir

The busiest shopping area is the Kemeralti Streets, which still retain a 19th century atmosphere of pull-down shutters, thresholds of the doors, low ceilings and old briquettes. On both sides of Anafartalar Caddesi is the lively atmosphere of the street vendors, bronze workers and fishermen, and Fevzipasa Bulvari which is famous for its leather garments. In contrast to the traditional and busy old market, Alsacak has modern boutiques and Cankaya has a mass shopping centre.

Ankara

Ankara's shopping centres are clustered around Ulus, Kizilay and Kavaklidere. One popular place for visitors is the Cikrikcilar Yokusu and its shops, near Ulus. Around the castle in Ulus, in the area of Cikrikcilar Yokusu and Samanpazari, there are shops which sell traditional handicrafts such as textiles, copper, ceramics, wickerwork and leather, as well as a variety of jewellery, decorations, gift items and all types of antiques.

In the Bakircilar Market, there is a wide selection of goods on offer like souvenirs, antiques and clothes as well as copperware and jewellery. At the end of the ascent to the castle is a small bazaar with stands selling spices, dried fruit and nuts and other products.

Most of the modern shopping centres are in Kizilay, Tunali Hilmi Street and at Atakule in Cankaya. The 125m Atakule dominates the city landscape and from the revolving restaurant there is a breathtaking view of Ankara. The most elite department stores and restaurants in Turkey are in the Karum Mall in Kavaklidere.

Mugla / Bodrum

Carpet business is the most common product and hand craft at the villages of Milas, Bodrum and Yatağan districts. The pileless carpet and destar textile industry is very developed in Fethiye. The forged copper hand works are present at the districts of Yatağan and Kavaklıdere subdistrict. Some of the souvenirs of the region could be counted as the carpets of Milas, Bodrum and Yatağan districts, pileless carpets and destar textile products of Fethiye district, forged copper products of Kavaklıdere Subdistrict.

Antalya

In Antalya, there are shopping malls that the foreign or local tourist could find lots of thing. The city is famous for its jams and jellies made from every fruit and vegetable imaginable. The most interesting ones are the eggplant, watermelon, bergamot and turunc jellies. There are also souvenirs and gift items particular to Turkey in the shops of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and the shops in the old city. The area is famous for its Dosemealti carpets coloured with natural root dyes.