When traveling to a new destination, your itinerary must include a few shopping excursions where you can buy souvenirs to take home with you. And if you’re visiting Istanbul, you are guaranteed to have a splendid time shopping since it is a shopper’s paradise; there is a plethora of items that you can buy, such as colorful ceramics, spices, traditional clothes and accessories, leather goods, local jewelry, rugs and carpets, pretty lamps and much more. However, shopping can also be very expensive, and it is always a great idea to know about a few spots where you can find things for cheap!
Here is the list of 15 places for cheap shopping in Istanbul:
1. Grand Bazaar
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The 15th century Grand Bazaar or Kapali Çarşı is one of Istanbul’s largest and oldest covered markets and is the perfect place if you’re in the mood to shop but not spend too much money. Spread out across 61 streets, it features about 4,000 shops selling a variety of items including clothing items, beautiful hand-woven carpets and rugs, antiques, blankets, towels, Turkish lamps, hand painted ceramics, bags, copperware and more. The market is also known for its jewellery stalls where you would find pieces in silver, gold and even gems. Make sure to haggle with the vendors!
Address: Beyazıt, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Monday to Saturday), Sunday closed
2. Spice Bazaar
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Located in the Eminönü quarter, the Spice Bazaar or Egyptian Bazaar is a must visit when you are visiting Istanbul. It comprises over 85 stalls selling colourful and fragrant spices and herbs such as cardamom, rosehip, saffron, cinnamon, sumac, paprika, chicory and dried chillies amongst others. Furthermore, you would also get edibles like dry fruits, dried vegetables, nuts, tea, coffee, nougat and cheese here along with other items like jewellery, antiques, Turkish towels, scarves, textiles etc. Don’t forget to try out some of the local food at one of its stalls.
Address: Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
3. Terkos Pasaji
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Terkos Pasaji is a relatively smaller shopping centre where you can buy affordable things. It is located along the famous Istiklal street and mostly consists of clothes vendors. You would find traditional Turkish clothes, jeans, t-shirts, dresses, skirts, trousers and more along with a few shops selling bags, footwear, jewellery, accessories etc. Everything sold here is quite cheap but it is advisable that you still bargain a little.
Address: Asmalı Mescit, Terkoz Çk. No:2, 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye Timings: 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM
4. Beyazit Book Bazaar
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The Beyazit Book Bazaar or Sahaflar Çarşısı is situated close to the Grand Bazaar in the Fatih district and is a treat for book lovers! It is said to be where Turkey’s first book was printed and is home to about 50 shops selling old and new Turkish and international books, illustrated books, ancient texts, miniature books, religious texts, historical maps, books on literature, history, poetry, philosophy etc. You might even come across antique books that would make for an excellent addition to your personal collection or as a souvenir.
Address: Mollafenari, No:, Medrese Çk. No:4, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
5. Kadikoy Market
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Known primarily for its food items, Kadıköy Market over the Bosphorus consists of a number of stalls selling delicious local dishes that you can try on the spot as well as items that you can take home with you. You can find olive oil, dried herbs, spices, cheese, pickles, dry fruits etc., along with fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and meat. Perhaps you would like traditional Turkish food like pide or kup griye that is commonly sold here too. You must bargain with the vendors to get better deals on the items.
Address: Caferağa, Muvakkıthane Cd. No:18, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday to Saturday), Sunday closed
6. Al-Fateh Market
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One of Istanbul’s cheapest shopping destinations, the Al-Fateh Market in the historic Al-Fateh district is open only on Wednesdays and has about 2,500 shops and stalls. This outdoor market spans 7 streets and alleyways. Here you can buy traditional Turkish clothes, bags, footwear, sunglasses, cosmetics, home appliances, perfume, home decor, and food items like olives, pickles, dry fruits, spices, fresh fruits and vegetables. Although the prices here are mostly low, it is always better to bargain.
Address: Zeyrek, Nevşehirli İbrahim Paşa Cd. No:30, 34083 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Wednesday), Closed the rest of the week
7. Opera Bazaar
Make sure to visit Opera Onur Çarşısı for a fun day of shopping; this four storey shopping centre features mostly local brands and is a great place to buy souvenirs. Some of the items that you can buy here include clothes, handbags, footwear, jewellery, homeware, electronics etc. Keep in mind that some of the boutiques might be slightly expensive so fully explore the centre to find the affordable stores.
Address: Osmanağa, Gen. Asım Gündüz Cd. No:17, 34714 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Monday to Saturday), 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Sunday)
8. Sinanpasa Business Center
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With over 200 stores, Sinanpaşa İş Merkezi in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş quarter is an excellent place to shop if you don’t want to spend a lot of money. Most of these stores are local boutiques selling products at low prices, while some are international brands like Topshop and Bershka. You can find clothes, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, homeware goods, jewelry, and food items here. Try to avoid coming here on the weekends as it gets quite crowded.
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The Mahmut Pasha Market is situated close to the Spice Market and is one of the city’s cheapest markets that features nearly 250 stores. This market is perfect for buying a variety of items like clothes, home decor, jewellery, electrical appliances, textiles, accessories and more.
Address: Kazım Karabekir Mah, Ordu Cd. No:13, 34768 Ümraniye/İstanbul, Turkey
10. Bakirkoy Underground Shopping Center
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The Bakirkoy Underground Shopping Center is a hidden gem for cheap shopping in Istanbul. It consists of many stores selling clothes, footwear, bags, cosmetics, home decor, electrical appliances, jewellery etc. While some of the brands are well-known, most of them are local and therefore not expensive. You can also pop into one of its restaurants to grab a bite to eat.
Address: Cevizlik, Fahri Korutürk Cd. No:67, 34140 Bakırköy/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Monday to Friday), 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM (Saturday), 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM (Sunday)
11. Ferikoy Antika Pazari
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The Ferikoy Antika Pazari is a flea market on the city’s European side that is open only on Sundays. If you’re looking for some unique finds, this is the place to be since it is famous for its vintage goods. It’s 200 shops and stalls sell, jewellery, records, old books, maps and photographs, homeware goods, camera equipment, clothing, accessories etc. Furthermore, you can also stop at a few of its food stalls to try a local delicacy like the famous gozleme. You will need to bargain with the vendors for lower prices.
Address: Cumhuriyet, Semt Pazarı No:8, 34380 Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Sunday), Closed the rest of the week
12. Arasta Bazaar
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Also known as the Sibahi Market, the 17th-century Arasta Bazaar is situated behind the Blue Mosque and is a historical landmark best known for its handicrafts and Turkish souvenirs. There are about 70 shops here where you can find hand-painted ceramics, pottery, Turkish lanterns, carpets and rugs, patterned Hammam towels and glassware amongst others. Some of the other items sold here include spices, herbs, sweets etc. Don’t forget to haggle for better prices! Moreover, once you are done shopping, you can also go and visit the Great Palace Mosaic Museum which features beautiful mosaics dating back to the 6th century.
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Mimar Mehmet Ağa Cd. No:2, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
13. Kadikoy Tuesday Market
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A Tuesday bazaar, the Sali Pazari Kadiköy offers you an authentic Turkish market experience with its numerous stalls selling different kinds of products at affordable prices. You would still need to bargain with the vendors, though! Here you can buy traditional clothes, footwear, beautiful ceramics and pottery, glassware, gold and silver jewellery, rugs, carpets, home decor, Turkish lamps and a lot more. Furthermore, there are vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables and local delicacies that you must try out.
Address: Hasanpaşa, Uzunçayır Cd. No:32 D:No:32, 34722 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Tuesday), Closed the rest of the week
14. Al-Nahhasin Market
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The Al-Nahhasin Market is a very a affordable market in Istanbul’s Beyazit district and is known primarily for handicrafts made of copper. It is another one of the city’s historical markets and features numerous alleyways where you can buy gold and silver jewellery, utensils, home decor, leather items, traditional Turkish clothes, accessories, footwear etc.
15. Tarlabaşi Market
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Open only on Sundays, the Tarlabaşi Pazari is located close to Taksim Square and is known for fresh fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits. You can buy walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, lamb chestnuts etc. here along with clothes, accessories, homeware items and more. Haggling is important to get the right price.
Address: Kalyoncu Kulluğu, 34435, Ömer Hayyam Cd. 32-34, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey Timings: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Sunday), Closed the rest of the week
It is no surprise that souvenir shopping can turn out to be a little expensive since there is so much to buy! And while Istanbul isn’t an extremely expensive city to visit, you might find that shopping at some of the popular markets and stores can be a bit costly. The best way to save some money but still shop a lot is by visiting some of the local markets, bazaars and shopping centres where vendors sell a variety of items for very low prices.
