My Favorite Shopping Spots in Istanbul (Turkey)
The Turkish lira is losing so much value that Turkey in general, and Istanbul in particular, has become a shopper’s paradise.
Before, Turkey was already full of treasures, but now even more so.
Silk scarves
I found Turkish silk to be quite good. Of course, it has nothing to do with Hermès scarves, but I really liked the colorful patterns here.
The first address, for those who don’t want to travel far, is not far from Taksim. It’sIpek (Google Maps). You can find scarves starting at 90 TL and the really nice ones around 250 TL. You should ask if it’s 100% silk or mixed with satin. Everything is made in Turkey.
The second address is near luxury shops, in a more local neighborhood: Vakko (Google Maps). But the scarves are even better quality with hand-rolled hems, like luxury brands. There’s more choice and sizes too. Expect to pay around 500 TL for a nice scarf.
Roll-ons, guashas, and natural stone jewelry
The shop is called Taş Sandığı (https://tassandigi.com/) there are several, including one not far from Taksim, and that’s where I went. Unfortunately, it’s not on Google Maps, so go here instead (Google Maps), and on the left you’ll see the Taş Sandığı store. Pearl necklaces (real cultured pearls) cost around €10, while bracelets are €2-€3 depending on the stones. I bought some for a friend who knows a lot about natural stones. She told me that some stones I picked at random for her were quite rare and better quality than what she could find in Europe. They accept card payments. Avoid the weekend because everyone is fighting to fill their basket 😀 You’ll also find roll-ons, guashas… it’s crazy! Luckily I’m not into stones, otherwise it would have been irresistible at these insane prices!
There’s another store on the Asian side, but it’s smaller and the prices are a bit softer.
Another friend told me about ZULTANITEstones, which exist only in Turkey, rarer than diamonds. They can change color depending on the light, shifting from citrine yellow to pink and then green. I think the ones sold in this store are artificial (given the price), but the stones are still super beautiful. I bought some as gifts and everyone loves them for their color changes.
Goldstore
Another jewelry store I recommend, but this time for real gold, is GOLSTORE (https://www.goldstore.com.tr/). I find their pieces very modern, easy to wear, and really lovely.
In Turkey, they like to buy 24K as wedding gifts and wear 14K. This store also sells 18K on request. Personally, I bought a gold bracelet with the evil eye and paid around €130. The jeweler offered to shorten my bracelet in an hour for free. What’s really funny is that I posted the photo on Instagram and a friend recognized it right away. She told me she had drooled over a pretty ring and kept the store’s business card. Every two years, she checked if the store had created its website, and then… she came across my story on Instagram and found that ring she had been eyeing 😀
However, what I didn’t like was that the in-store price was higher than online, so check the price on their site before going. Don’t hesitate to negotiate the price, because everything is negotiable here.
Fth Jewerly
I told you about a ring made to order right before my eyes by a Turkish jeweler. (Google Maps) I highly recommend the experience, especially if you’re looking for engagement or wedding rings.
Avrupa Pasajı Arcade
There’s a little-visited arcade near Taksim, super quiet, reminiscent of the Grand Bazaar but much calmer. You’ll find semi-precious stones, vintage watches, lamps… a real Alibaba’s cave. (Google Maps link)
Of course, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar remain must-see places, but I wanted to give you other shopping spots on the European side.
I hope you enjoyed this travel journal and that it makes you want to visit Turkey. To check out our articles on Istanbul and Turkey, click here.
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