ISTANBUL
The bustling metropolis on the Bosphorus surprises with the fascinating mix of east &west. The countless cultural sights and museums are praised, as well as the trendiest clubs, shops, and restaurants. Istanbul is the current city trip destination. The attraction is him in unparalleled versatility. The wealth of cultural heritage is enormous with highlights such as the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofia Museum. It is also a city to enjoy a stroll, soak up the atmosphere, grab some terraces, shop extensively and enjoy culinary delights. You find there are hip clubs, trendy restaurants and all designer brands. But also traditional bazaars and authentic hammams.
Shopping in Istanbul
late night shopping Hunt for bargains at the Grand Bazaar, shop luxury brands in Europe and Asiä, or just wander around looking for nice boutiques. Istanbul has so much to offer that the true shopping enthusiast will immediately want to stay longer. Fortunately, the shops are open for a nice long time, so that you can get the most out of them every day.
Istanbul Shopping Fest
Those who really love shopping should not miss it: the Istanbul Shopping Fest. Around the month of June, the city is all about bargain hunting for three weeks! A large number of shopping streets, malls and boutiques participate in the festival. That’s good news, because you can shop tax-free at all participating stores during the Shopping Fest. The sights of the city also participate in the festive atmosphere by staying two hours longer than usual. A great way to stock up on your summer wardrobe.
A small selection of the shopping possibilities in Istanbul
Boutiques in Galata Istanbul is a true fashion city, complete with fashion week, contemporary designers and trendy dressed residents. Do you want to come home with beautiful items of clothing that certainly no one has at home? Then the boutiques in Galata are a must. In this district, you will come across many shops with clothing often designed by the owner herself. More and more designers are settling in Galata so that the more traditional shops are now interspersed with those of modern designers. You will also find nice studios and galleries here, to recover from all that trying on clothes. It is precisely this variety of established and ultramodern shops that make shopping in this neighborhood so special. What all shops have in common is the friendly and helpful staff. Don’t be surprised if the pile of clothes you have collected to try on is taken from your hands. It is already hung in the fitting room for you so that you can look further. In some boutiques, the designer is also the seller, so you can also learn the story behind a piece of clothing. Why that color, that length, or that pattern? It gives shopping a whole new dimension, and you probably won’t go home empty-handed.
Istiklal Caddesi
Istiklal Caddesi is a well-known 3 km long shopping street in the European part of Istanbul within walking distance of Taksim Square and the Galata district. Here you will find shops of major fashion chains, but also of Turkish brands that are less known in the Netherlands. The wide street offers a nice mix of shops, cinemas, restaurants and cafes.
Istiklal Caddesi
Istiklal Caddesi is a well-known 3 km long shopping street in the European part of Istanbul within walking distance of Taksim Square and the Galata district. Here you will find shops of major fashion chains, but also of Turkish brands that are less known in the Netherlands. The wide street offers a nice mix of shops, cinemas, restaurants and cafes. Istiklal Caddesi is a well-known 3 km long shopping street in the European part of Istanbul within walking distance of Taksim Square and the Galata district. Here you will find shops of major fashion chains, but also of Turkish brands that are less known in the Netherlands. The wide street offers a nice mix of shops, cinemas, restaurants and cafes. Even those who don’t want to shop for a while need not be bored for a moment. Shopping in this street is a great experience. The staff is very helpful and you rarely have to wait for a seat in the fitting room. The offer is simply so enormous and the shopping times are so wide that the crowds are well spread over the street and throughout the day. Exclusive shopping Exclusive shopping is of course also possible in Istanbul, both on the European and Asian side. In the luxurious district of Nisantası, in European Istanbul, are the Abdi Ipekci Caddesi and the Atiye Sokak. Both streets are filled with beautiful shops from luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton. Exclusive shopping is of course also possible in Istanbul, both on the European and Asian side. In the luxurious district of Nisantası, in European Istanbul, are the Abdi Ipekci Caddesi and the Atiye Sokak. Both streets are filled with beautiful shops from luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton. In between this international offer, various Turkish top designers also have their own shop. On the Bağdat Caddesi in Kadıköy, on the Asian side, it is at least as exclusive as on the European shore. Ladies and gentlemen, who are groomed to perfection, are driven around in their cars with a driver, or walk along the beautiful street in their beautiful outfits. Good to know: some stores only open by appointment.
To the market
Then the Grand Bazaar is an excellent starting point. Narrow streets, thousands of shops, and curving domes… A stroll through the Grand Bazaar is an unforgettable experience. The covered market is almost six hundred years old but has hardly changed in all those years. Lanterns sparkle at you, carpets are offered in all languages and jewelry, leather goods and fabrics are also in abundance. If you like shopping, you can absolutely indulge yourself here. It is useful to remember the name of the entrance you take – it is above the gate – so that you can find it again. It is very easy to get lost between the more than 4000 shops. It also helps to pay attention to the merchandise, most things are sold in clusters (rugs by the rugs, clothes by the clothes) so provide a good landmark. Bargaining is definitely part of it, see it as a fun challenge. Of course you can also just watch. There are also stalls in the area, which sell clothing, electronics and household appliances, among other things. The Egyptian or Spice Bazaar is a little further away, near the waters of the Golden Horn. It is a bit less hectic, with local people who come to do their shopping and have a nice chat. The market is not difficult to find, the pungent smell of spices greets you long before you enter. Strolling around between the colorful stalls full of mountains of herbs is a nice, oriental experience. By the way, this bazaar is also a good place to buy Turkish tea, coffee and Turkish delight. The offer is huge and many sellers find it no problem to let you taste it.
Shopping Malls
In a city the size of Istanbul, the shopping possibilities are endless. In addition to beautiful shopping streets, the city also has a variety of modern shopping malls, with the latest additions Zorlu Center and Istinye Park. Here you will find absolutely everything under one roof, from shops to spas and from restaurants to cinemas. In a city the size of Istanbul, the shopping possibilities are endless. In addition to beautiful shopping streets, the city also has a variety of modern shopping malls, with the latest additions Zorlu Center and Istinye Park. Here you will find everything under one roof, from shops to spas and from restaurants to cinemas. A visit to the mall is an outing in itself and especially on weekends it is pleasantly busy. Groups of friends meet for a movie or to eat something, friends go to the spa together and tough men watch football in a sports bar. There is so much to do that you would almost forget that you can also shop there. Istinye Park is quite a bit outside the center of the city and the other malls are often a short journey away. The easiest way is to take a taxi, the driver is guaranteed to know the names and locations of the major shopping centers. Besides Istinye Park, which is located in the north of Istanbul, Akmerkez in Etiler, Cevahir in Sisli and Galleria in Ataköy are also nice shopping centers to spend an afternoon or evening. They are the new ‘Grand Bazaars’ of the city and just like in the old one, you will quickly forget the time here due to the huge range on offer. In fact, you almost always stay longer than planned, if only because you wanted to watch the latest movie in 3D after the spa. Design for home For design lovers there is another nice stop to make in the city: Addresistanbul. This interior design shopping center is located in Sisli. In addition to hip interior shops, there are exhibitions and of course cafes and restaurants. Local architect Emre Arolat has also made the mini mall itself the epitome of hip design: glass on all sides, spacious walking paths of shiny concrete and smart lighting. Design from Italy and Scandinavia is interspersed with that from Turkey.
History
Istanbul has been conquered, demolished and rebuilt many times over the centuries. The city was founded in the 7th century BC by Byzas Megaron. The city was conquered in 193 AD by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus and in 330 AD the city officially became the new capital of the Roman Empire. The name of the city became Constantinople, named after Emperor Constantine who became the first emperor of the new or Eastern Roman Empire. Constantinople remained the capital of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years. Several empires wanted to conquer Constantinople. The city withstood attempts at conquest by the Arabs in the 7th and 8th centuries and Bulgarians in the 9th and 10th centuries, but could not resist the Crusaders who sacked the city in 1204. The city became Byzantine again in 1261 but remained weak and was 1453 conquered again, this time by the Turks. Constantinople became the new capital of the Ottoman Empire and the Ottoman sultan, Mehmet the Conqueror, changed the name of the city to Istanbul. In the 16th century, Istanbul again became one of the most powerful cities on Earth. After the Ottoman Empire, Atatürk founded modern Turkey in 1923. Ankara became the new capital, but Istanbul remains the commercial and cultural center of Turkey to this day. Want to know more about the history of Istanbul? Additional information can be found at www.howtoistanbul.com.
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