Shopping
What to Buy:
- Turkish Carpets & Kilims: Hand-woven rugs - quality varies greatly, bargain hard
- Ceramics & Tiles: İznik and Kütahya pottery with traditional designs
- Turkish Tea & Coffee: Excellent souvenirs, widely available
- Spices: Saffron, sumac, cumin - buy from Spice Bazaar
- Turkish Delight: Hafız Mustafa and Hacı Bekir are top brands
- Evil Eye (Nazar Boncuğu): Blue glass amulets for protection
- Leather Goods: Jackets, bags, shoes - quality leather at good prices
- Textiles: Silk scarves, cotton towels (peştemal), traditional fabrics
- Backgammon Sets: Beautiful handcrafted boards
- Olive Oil & Soap: Natural Turkish products
Shopping Areas: Grand Bazaar for souvenirs and traditional goods. Istiklal Avenue for modern shopping and international brands. Nişantaşı for luxury designer boutiques. Karaköy for vintage and independent designers. Local markets (pazar) on different days in each neighborhood for fresh produce and local products.
Bargaining: Expected in bazaars and small shops. Not appropriate in modern stores with price tags. Start at 50-60% of quoted price. Be polite and walk away if price too high - often brings better offers.