Shopping in Istanbul

Shopping in Turkey is always been very good however most famoust shopping outlets, retail parks ets located in Istanbul and Ankara because very year gets visited by many tourist from all over the World. In Turkey, chic boutiques, Turkish bazaars, and open-air markets are everywhere, and the most popular items to purchase at these places are carpet, brass, copper, jewelry, nazar bonjuks (evil eye beads), leather, silk, alabaster, antiques, faience (colored tile), and last but not least, kilims.

You can finds most of these goods throughout Turkey, however Istanbul has the most shopping venues. Istanbul is also the center of the leather trade and is the location of the Grand Covered Bazaar, which is the most famous place for shopping in Turkey.

Misir Carsisi (The Egyptian Spice Bazaar) is the second largest covered bazaar in the city and certainly cant be missed while you are in Istanbul. As the name implies, you can find spices and medicines there as well as t-shirts and other goods.

For silk, a trip to Bursa is a must because the city has been the center of the silk trade for hundreds of years and growing silk industry certainly brings city names forward on th market in many places.

Turkey’s vast terrain and blend of cultures make sightseeing an experience! From religious and secular architecture to ecotourism, Turkey has it all. The Yerebatan Basilica Cistern is Istanbul’s largest underground cistern and is a remnant of the Roman Empire. Hagia Sophia is an edifice that is a blend of Islam and Christianity.

It was built in 537 AD and used as a church for almost 1000 years before it was converted into a Mosque. The Blue Mosque is the only mosque in the world with six minarets (tall spires with onion-shaped crowns). However, if you prefer seeing the living spaces of royalty over religious architecture then you will not be disappointed. Istanbul is home to many palaces including the Beylerbeyi Palace and the Topkapi Palace.

Cities outside of Istanbul have a lot to offer as well, especially in the realm of archaeological ruins. Antalya is close to the ancient city of Perge, and Ankara is two cities combined into one: an old city around a citadel and a modern metropolis that has sprouted up in recent years as a planned attempt at accommodating governmental entities. The city of Safranbolu houses a well preserved Ottoman town, and the Ephesus and the Hierapolis are well preserved Roman cities.