With the holiday season approaching, there is time to discover different areas for strolling and shopping in Istanbul. Turkey's Daily Sabah newspaper reviewed 6 charming areas of Istanbul, highlighting the shops and the places to stop for lunch or coffee.
Sultanahmet and the Grand Bazaar
You can wander the streets of the old city and enjoy its historic sites, visiting Hagia Sophia, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, and the wonderful exhibition held in the famous cistern. You can also enjoy a cup of coffee at the cafe in the garden of the Archaeology Museum, before moving on to Topkapı Palace and stopping at the museum shop for wonderful, one-of-a-kind gifts.
The Grand Bazaar is also a great place to buy gifts, and with each section devoted to different products, such as textiles, carpets and jewelry, it is easy to find something to suit everyone. The best place for a special gift is the Old Bedesten, where you can find antiques and jewelry, then sit down for tea.
Tahtakale and the Spice Bazaar
The colorful Tahtakale neighborhood lies behind the Spice Bazaar, where you can wander a maze of streets each devoted to a different theme, with wholesale and retail shops selling everything from baskets to woodwork, beads to toys, and cooking supplies to fishing gear. The neighborhood offers a wealth of unexpected ideas for gifts and souvenirs.
The Spice Bazaar also has a wide selection of shops selling accessories, bags and shawls, alongside a varied spread of spices, teas, dyes, nuts, dried fruit and sweet snacks. A trip to Tahtakale pairs easily with lunch at Hamdi Restaurant, which is as famous for its views as for its daytime snack service.
From İstiklal Avenue to Galata
Take a stroll from Taksim along İstiklal Avenue, browsing all the big-brand shops and stopping at any of the area's many restaurants, which range from street food to home cooking to international cuisine. A famous stop in the middle of the pedestrian street is Ara Cafe, with a wonderful international menu and photographs by Turkey's most famous photographer.
From there it is easy to head down toward the Galata Tower area, with musical instrument shops, small art galleries and colorful jewelry stores lining the way. Taking in the sights from the top of the tower is always an inspiring experience, offering a view of the city in all its glory.
From Karaköy to Tophane
Taking the ferry or the Tünel to Karaköy and walking through the maze of streets lined with upscale restaurants and cafes leads you to the famous Gaziantep baklava shop Güllüoğlu, which also serves chocolate baklava.
If you stop for coffee at Usturlab, be sure to visit the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture, if only to buy gifts from its shop, because memorable and original holiday gifts are found only there. You can then have lunch at one of the wonderful restaurants in the unique Galataport complex, such as Populist, Big Chefs or Roka for Japanese food.
Charming Moda
The most popular neighborhood on Istanbul's Asian side is undoubtedly Moda, in Kadıköy, packed with shops, restaurants and cafes bustling from morning until night. Head to Ali Usta for a wonderful salep topped with a scoop of ice cream, followed by a cup of coffee at any of the neighborhood's new cafes and bakeries, and you will have gathered countless flavors and pleasures.
Wandering the streets and browsing the artisans' shops, T-shirt stores, art supply shops, second-hand book stalls and antique-lined streets is another pleasure that is hard to describe, especially on a sunny autumn day.
You can then head to Bahariye, a fully pedestrianized shopping street with its own tram. There are many brand-name stores mixed with independent clothing shops and some shoe stores. While passing along this street, be sure to stop at Saray for a warm meal of traditional Turkish dishes, such as soups, stews and su böreği, or "water pastry," or desserts such as supangle and kazandibi.
Bağdat Avenue
Bağdat Avenue has long been the most popular shopping area on Istanbul's Asian side, a one-way street lined with shops and restaurants running parallel to the seafront. For the full adventure, start from Kadıköy or any point along the way to Suadiye, walk along the scenic coastal road until you reach Suadiye, then head to Bağdat Avenue and start walking west.
Shops line the avenue all the way to Göztepe, offering a wonderful view, while a mix of brand names and independent retailers offer unrivaled selections of clothing, accessories, shoes, perfumes, cosmetics and more.
There are also many bookstores, as well as plenty of restaurants and cafes on the corners of the main road and on almost every side street. This is a special time of year, as many of the shops are decorated for the holiday season and the New Year.
