Shoping in Istanbul
Explore Istanbul’s Shopping Scene
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) is a vibrant and historic marketplace that offers an impressive variety of goods, including jewellery, carpets, antiques, and traditional Turkish handicrafts. Visitors can explore countless shops selling embroidered textiles, leather items, inlaid objects, and colourful kilims. The bazaar is open Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
For a more modern shopping experience, Nişantaşı features internationally recognised boutiques and designer stores, making it a popular destination for high-end fashion and luxury brands.
Shopping malls throughout the city are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Most independent shops operate Monday to Saturday, generally between 9:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Akmerkez – Etiler
Phone: (212) 282 01 70 Website: www.akmerkez.com.tr
Located in the upscale Etiler district of Istanbul, Akmerkez is one of the city’s most iconic shopping destinations. Since its opening in 1993, it has grown to host around 250 stores, attracting 2 to 2.5 million visitors each month.
Akmerkez offers a wide variety of products and services, including fashion for women, men, and children, textiles, toys, stationery, sportswear, eyewear, electronics, and gifts. Additional services include a supermarket, currency exchange office, dry cleaner, tailor, hair salon, shoe shine, car care, orthopedic goods, and travel agencies.
The mall is also home to the internationally renowned Italian restaurant Paper Moon, with sister locations in Milan and New York.
To accommodate tourists, Akmerkez provides free shuttle services to and from nearby business centers and hotels. Visitors typically spend an average of 3.5 hours exploring the shopping center.
Akmerkez has earned prestigious international recognition:
- Best Shopping Center in Europe (1995) – by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Best Shopping Center in the World (1996) – also by the ICSC
- Recipient of the International Design and Development Award, making it the only mall globally to win all three top ICSC honors.
Cevahir Mall – Şişli
Phone: (212) 368 69 00 Website: www.istanbulcevahir.com
Cevahir Shopping Centre, which opened on 15 October 2005, is a modern shopping and entertainment complex located in Istanbul’s Şişli district. It is the largest shopping centre in Europe and the sixth largest in the world.
The mall features 343 shops, including a number of international brands making their debut in Turkey. Visitors can choose from 34 fast food outlets and 14 upscale restaurants. Entertainment options include a large stage for performances and events, 12 cinemas (including a private theatre and a children’s cinema), a bowling alley, a small roller coaster, and other attractions.
Located in the business district on Istanbul’s European side, between Şişli and Mecidiyeköy, Cevahir Mall is easily accessible by metro, with three floors directly connected to the metro line for convenient entry.
In addition to international brands, the mall offers local shops and Turkish restaurants serving traditional dishes such as milk-based desserts and kebabs.
Kanyon – Levent
Phone: (212) 281 08 00 Website: www.kanyon.com.tr
Kanyon is a distinctive mixed-use complex located in the heart of Istanbul’s Levent financial district. The development includes a modern shopping mall, a 30-floor office tower, and a 22-floor residential block, combining lifestyle, work, and leisure in a single dynamic space.
The shopping mall features around 160 retail stores, along with cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Kanyon is also home to 179 residential apartments and premium office spaces, offering a blend of convenience and modern urban living.
The mall has direct access to the Levent metro station, making it easily reachable by public transportation.
In 2006, Kanyon received international recognition by winning the Cityscape Architectural Review Award in the “Commercial Built” category, presented at a ceremony held in Dubai.
Metrocity – Levent
Phone: (212) 344 06 60 Website: www.metrocity.com.tr
Metrocity is a modern shopping center located in the 1. Levent business district of Istanbul. Opened on April 30, 2003, it offers direct access to the 1. Levent metro station, making it easily accessible by public transportation.
Spread across four floors and covering an area of 60,000 square meters, Metrocity features 140 stores, including a mix of international and Turkish brands. The mall also offers a variety of restaurants and cafés, a spacious food court, and popular anchors such as a MMM Migros supermarket and a major department store.
Additional amenities include a large underground parking facility with a capacity for 2,500 vehicles, making it a convenient choice for both local shoppers and visitors.
Istinye Park – Istinye
Phone: (212) 345 55 55 Website: www.istinyepark.com
Istinye Park is a premium shopping destination located in the Istinye district of Istanbul. The mall features 291 stores spread across a retail space of 85,250 square meters, along with four levels of underground parking.
The center offers a blend of enclosed and open-air shopping areas. Its open-air section includes a green central park and a street-side shopping experience that reflects the charm of a traditional high street.
A unique highlight of Istinye Park is its Turkish Food Bazaar — a marketplace inspired by traditional Turkish architecture and culture, offering a wide range of authentic local products and flavors.
For entertainment, the mall also houses a cinema complex with 12 screens, providing a complete shopping and leisure experience for visitors.