The Rising Trend of Shopping in Turkey
Turkey is located in a strategic position, and that is one of the reasons why it enjoys huge trade advantages over other countries. It’s one great idea that the country is continuously becoming a force in textile and fashion industry. Giving rise to influx of tourists and business men and woman who troop in for both wholesale and retail shopping for clothes in Turkey.
The country enjoys the best of the east and the west, thanks to the geographical location that is partly between Europe and Asia.
This Middle Eastern country is also one of the best locations for people who are looking for quality products at the best prices.
Clothes and garments are one of the products you can buy in Turkey today. In this article, I will reveal most of the things you need to know about clothes shopping in Istanbul.
Shopping For Clothes in Turkey – What Can I Buy in Turkey?
Turkey means a lot of things to different people. For some people, the country is an ideal location for them to take a vacation. For some others, Turkey is their favorite country for anything relating to shopping both online and offline.
Indeed, you have a lot of choices to select from as far as buying goods in Turkey is concerned. From the popular Turkish to the irresistible spices, the option is many. I am not leaving out the Turkish delights to satisfy your sweet tooth, as well as the Turkish rugs and carpets to improve the looks of your home.
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Best Places to Shop in Turkey
I understand that one of the challenges you have with Turkey shopping is the best places to buy goods.
You are not the only one in this dilemma. Every month, hundreds of tourists are confused about the places they should shop for products, especially clothes they would take back home.
And with many markets and Turkish online shopping websites, I can imagine how confused you are.
But, never to worry because I got you covered. Below, I took the time to explain some of the places you can shop for clothes in Turkey.
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Shop in the Turkey Grand Bazaar
There is no denying that the Grand Bazaar is one of the most visited markets in Turkey. This market also doubles as one of the largest markets in Turkey, with its capacity of occupying up to 5,000 shops.
It is worthy of note that the Grand Bazaar has been here for many years. It was launched in 1450 mainly to serve as a market where souvenirs are sold. However, many other goods are now available at the bazaar.
Aside from the fact that the Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest Turkish markets, it is also one of the markets where you can buy things cheaper.
Best Time and Places for Tourists Considering a Turkey Trip
Where is the Grand Bazaar Located?
The Turkey Grand Bazaar is located a walking distance from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. You can also locate it by taking a train to Beyazit, Sirkeci, Eminonu through Istanbul University Laleli.
Who Can Shop in the Grand Bazaar?
As one of the oldest markets in Turkey, the Grand Bazaar is open for everyone. Most of the customers who buy goods in the bazaar are tourists who came to Istanbul to visit some Istanbul attractions and wouldn’t be an out of place idea to list Grand Bazaar as where some tourists to shopping For clothes in Turkey.
Ideally, about 200,000 tourists make their way to the bazaar every day. That is huge and goes to show how important this bazaar is to the average Turks.
What to Buy or Shop in the Turkey Grand Bazaar
You rest assured that you can buy a variety of goods in the Grand Bazaar. From the Turkish rugs and carpets that highlight the Turkish culture to Turkish delights, there are many things you can buy in the bazaar.
Some of the other goods you can buy in the Grand Bazaar are:
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- Spices
- Carpets
- Antiques
- Embroideries
- Pieces of jewellery and
- Hand-painted ceramics
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When Can I Shop at the Grand Bazaar?
Are you wondering about the best time to shop in the Turkey Grand Bazaar? Worry no more because you can visit the market both in the morning and evening.
To be on the safe side (especially to bargain better), you should shop in the morning. The reason is that some of the salesmen are working to meet up with the targets given to them by their bosses.
So, when they meet those targets in the morning, they would switch to sell goods at their discretion. The aftermath is that you may pay more money to buy goods in the evening.
With that being said, the best timeframe to shop in the Turkey Grand Bazaar is between the hours of 8:30 am and 10:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Also, you can only shop in the Turkey Grand Bazaar between Monday and Friday of every week, because the market is closed on Sundays.
ALSO READ: Best Time and Places for Tourists Considering a Turkey Trip
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Mall of Istanbul
The Mall of Istanbul is another place you can do your shopping in Turkey. The exciting thing about it is that the mall is mainly for people (especially tourists) who are looking for luxury items to buy.
Mall of Istanbul could double as one of the biggest malls in Turkey and nicknamed the “Functional Shopping Center of Turkey.” Annex to the biggest home furniture market in Istanbul and can stake claim as one of the world’s finest place for luxury home furniture, Masko Mobilya is an eye-catching place to take a stroll to with just some meters apart from Mall of Istanbul.
I must mention here that the Mall of Istanbul has over 350 stores that house hundreds of brands that sell their goods to the never-ending stream of tourists in Turkey.
You are also confident that you can do your shopping with ease and with all the fun that comes with it because of the exclusive and extraordinary shopping experience you will have at the Mall.
In addition to the shopping, the Mall of Istanbul also houses:
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- A traditional arts street
- Gourmet centres
- 16 theatres and
- Performance arts centre
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Istanbul Handicrafts Center
With the upgrading of the Grand Bazaar to become a bigger market, there was an opening to facilitate the sales of souvenirs.
You will recall that souvenirs were the major goods sold in the bazaar before other goods were introduced.
In light of that, the Istanbul Handicrafts Center filled that gap by providing you with a place to order for souvenirs of all kinds.
Aside from souvenirs, you can also buy other goods, including clothes, and fresh food produce.
Worthy of mention is that the Istanbul Handicrafts Center is your one-stop shopping centre for all kinds of souvenirs. You can readily find souvenirs from famous designers, including miniatures, famous ceramics, and calligraphy.
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Shop in the turkey Arasta Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is not the only bazaar in Istanbul. Arasta Bazaar is another bazaar and big market in Istanbul.
It was built in the 17th Century as part of the efforts at the time to ensure the upkeep of the Blue Mosque.
Also, Arasta Bazaar used to be a market to shop for traditional souvenirs and products. However, it has now been transformed to become an all-encompassing market that features a vast range of goods.
Some of the goods you can buy in Arasta Bazaar are:
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- Trinkets
- Ceramics
- Kilims
- Textiles
- Pottery
- Turkish delights and spices
- Scarves and
- Rugs
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Egyptian Spice Bazaar
This is yet another bazaar in Turkey. The Egyptian Spice Bazaar as the name denotes is a market where you can buy different kinds of spices.
It is also one of the numerous places to shop in Turkey, especially if you are looking for spices.
The multitudes of flavors you can buy in the Egyptian Spice Bazaar include:
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- Nuts
- Jams
- Teas
- Exotic spices and
- Coffee
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Bagdat Street
This is one of the street shopping places in Turkey. Bagdat Street is your one-stop place to shop for items that are easily gotten on the streets of Turkey.
Also, the fact that the items here are sold on the streets doesn’t mean that their reduced costs mean reduction in the quality. A very great and casual place to do your shopping for clothes in Turkey with ease.
So, if you cannot afford the luxury goods in Turkey malls and larger shopping centres, you can come over to Bagdat Street to find affordable ones.
Where Can I Buy Goods on Bagdat Street?
You don’t have to bother about the places you can check in to buy goods when on Bagdat Street, because there are several shopping centres here.
The street boasts of posh restaurants, shopping malls, and department stores.
No matter what you are looking to buy cheaper in Turkey, you rest assured that you can find that on this 9 km long shopping street in Turkey.
Things You Can Buy in Bagdat Street
You have a variety of goods to buy in Bagdat Street. One good place for shopping For clothes in Turkey but here are some of the goods you can buy in this street are:
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- Stylish glassware
- Designer clothes
- Exquisite paintings and
- Fancy jewellery
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Serdar-I Ekrem
Are you looking for a street shopping place in Turkey or Istanbul? Look no farther because you got one right here on Serdar-I Ekrem.
This street shopping location in Turkey is mostly occupied by fashion suppliers who sell a variety of fashion items.
Whether you are looking to buy jewellery or vintage clothes, you can find most of the fashion items you want in this street.
The best time to shop in this street market is between the hours of 11:00 am and 8:00 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, you can shop here between 11 in the morning and 6 in the evening.
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Kemeralti
Kemeralti is one of the historic markets in Turkey, because of the establishment in the 17th Century.
Since then till now, this market has evolved and went through different developmental phases following the market situations at the time.
Now, Kemeralti is one of the lively shopping centres in Istanbul that boasts of shops selling some of the best Turkish handicrafts.
The current design of the street market is meant to favour you a lot. For example, you can move from one shop to another because of the interconnection and availability of spaces to make movement easier.
When you are through shopping, you can sit out at any of the restaurants there to eat your favourite Turkish meal or take a cup of coffee.
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Nişantaşi Shopping Center
Many tourists and importers from all over the world prefer to buy their designer clothes in Turkey because of the affordability of the garments.
I must mention that you can also buy popular designer wears like Prada, Marks and Spencer, Gucci and Louis Vuitton in Turkey.
The Nişantaşi Shopping Center is one of the luxury shopping centres in Turkey where you can buy your favourite designer wears at affordable costs.
Aside from shopping for garments in this shopping centre, you can also dine at any of the restaurants close-by.
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Feriköy Antique Market
Located in Istanbul, this is one of the places you can shop for antiques in Turkey. The Feriköy Antique Market boasts of some of the oldest goods you made not successfully find in modern Turkey.
The list of goods you can buy in this antique market includes:
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- Old books
- Very old records and music tapes
- Old typewriters
- Well Kept Old clothes
- You can also buy porcelain sets here
- Analogue cameras can also be found in this antique market
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How to Bargain When Shopping in Turkish Markets
The art of bargaining with sellers is one important skill you must master before you start shopping for goods in any Turkish market, be it the Grand Bazaar or street markets.
So, how can you successfully bargain with sellers so they can sell to you within your budget?
Here are some bargaining techniques you can use to save costs when shopping in Turkey:
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- Decide on what you think a particular product is worth, and be ready not to pay more than you already wanted to.
- Do not be obligated or tricked to buy an item that you are not ready to pay for.
- Always allow the shopkeeper or seller to quote a price before you bargain so that you don’t make the mistake of overpricing an item.
- Ask around (preferably in 3 shops) to be sure of the average cost of an item. That way, you will be in a better position to bargain with the shopkeeper when you want to buy the item.
- Always insist on paying for your goods with cash so that you wouldn’t be charged up to 6% per transaction when paying via banks.
- You should put on a poker face when shopping in Turkey. When you don’t show enthusiasm or excitement to buy an item, the shopkeeper/seller wouldn’t be moved to hike the price.
- Finally, always make conscious efforts to take your purchases home with you immediately after paying instead of allowing the supplier to ship it to your home.
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You can learn more about how to bargain in Turkey here.
Allow Turkey Errand Boy to Handle Your Shopping For Clothes in Turkey
Our job at Turkey Errand Boy includes but not limited to, shopping for clothes in Turkey sourcing, packaging and shipping your goods to anywhere you are in the world.
You can trust us to handle all the aspects of your Turkish shopping, even when you are not in the country.
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