Shopping in Istanbul
You can find almost everything in Istanbul what you can find in other metropols. You can find all famous brands in very modern shopping centers or you can prefer shopping in street district.
The city's most famous shopping centre is the Grand Bazaar for tourists. If you prefer to do all your shopping under one proof, head for one of the city's modern shopping malls which offer a variety of international and Turkish brand goods.
Dont make shopping without bargain in some traditional shopping areas.
Opening Hours
Shops are open in general from 08:30 am to 6 pm monday to saturday. Large shops and department stores open slightly later in the morning. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar open 08:30 am to close at 19:00 pm. Big shopping malls open from 10 pm seven days a week. Shops don't close for lunch. Only small shops are closed in the prayer times on friday (12:00-13:30)
Many shops close on the traditional Islamic festivals twice a year. (Ramadan Festival and Kurban Festival)
Vat Exemption in Turkey
You can make shopping without paying Turkish taxes like KDV where you see Tax Free logo shops. If you pay KDV at your shopping you can take back this rate at your departure from Turkey.
In many products Turkish Taxes (KDV) is appliying % 18 of main price.
How To Pay
You can make your cash payments with usd and euro in so much shopping places. Usually there is a discount for the cash payments. If you would like to pay with credit cards, it is accepted also in so much shopping place. And you will not pay any extra commisssion for your credit card payment too.
Shopping cheques is accepted at very few shops.
Turkey Sizes and measures
Turkey uses continental European sizes for clothes and shoes. Food and drink are sold in metric measures.
Seasonal Sales
Clothes shops are the main places for seasonal sales (indirim in Turkish) althought department stores and a number of speciality shops alsa have them. They begin in june and continue to the end of september. Winter sales start in january.
But you cant find discounts at bazaars.
How to bargain
The prices are standart at major shops and shopping malls so you don't need to bargain at this places.
We advice to bargain especially at Grand Bazaar and around old city, Sultanahmet.
Turkish salers are usually hot blooded people and they present a cup of tea or coffee in their shops to you. Feel free to accept. And when you are talking about the price at this time make bargain around Sultanahmet.