One of the main highlights for many people who travel to Turkey is
visiting a Turkish market to buy some of the unique local items. Shopping in Turkey is a
wonderful experience and there are a great number of open-air markets, Turkish
bazaars and fashionable boutiques. One of the best reasons to shop in Turkey is that
you will find a range of unique and beautiful crafts which you would be unable
to find anywhere else. It is a good idea to go shopping with an idea of what
you want and roughly how much you would like to pay so that you do not end up
overspending. Before you leave for your trip it is a good idea to go online or
onto a Turkish forum and see where the best places to shop are so that you know
you will have the best experience.
When you are looking for a Turkish market one of the best
places to go is to Istanbul
and in particular the Grand Covered Bazaar of Istanbul. This was originally
constructed by Sultan Mehmet and has changed quite a bit over the years. You
may feel a little intimidated at the idea of shopping in such a large area but
you needn’t be as the experience is truly worthwhile! In total the bazaar
covers 65 streets and has roughly 3300 shops as well as a mosque and 21 inns. In
particular some of the best shops to visit are along Kapalicarsi Caddesi and leading
up to the Nuruosmaniye entrance. However if you are feeling confident you could
try shopping along the backstreets to find some bargains as the prices tend to
be a little more reasonable.
If you do decide to go shopping then a trip to the Egyptian Spice Bazaar is a
must. You may think that this will only sell spices but these days you can find
all kind of delicacies so it is definitely worth a visit. Another unique
Turkish market area is the Istanbul Handicrafts Centre will sells ceramics and
handicrafts along with Anatolian dolls and hand painted silk which can make
wonderful gifts. Form here you can visit Istiklal Caddesi where there are yet
more shops and many cafes so that you can take a break from shopping. Of course
there are many other great markets around the country so wherever you go be
sure to find the nearest one and visit!
