A great place for budget shoppers, and if you're a real shoppingholic free up your schedule for the day because you won't be able to go through the whole complex in just a few hours. The prices are low and the variety of choice is amazing. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did :)

Absolutely massive! It's one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5000 shops to choose from....you could literally spend days here. Lots of fun, and a great place to practice your bargaining skills! :)

The Gran Bazaar is a veritable city in the city. Mostly indoors, it offers virtually everything from expensive jewels to exotic spices. A little tip: local merchants believe that if they succeed in selling something to the first person visiting their shop they'll have good luck for the whole day. So rise early in the morning and make sure you are the first to step in the shop. If you barter a little, you'll probably manage to walk away with a good bargain. A second tip: locals know that for turists time is a precious commodity and often use it against them knowing that a visitor would probably prefer spending a few more liras and get a quick purchase. If you can, use time against them . When entering a shop grab a stool and sit down. Thus, you automatically become their guest. Oriental hospitality will 'force' them to offer you a cup of tea. Strike a conversation on various topics (family, weather, Turkish lifestyle, whatever). They'll realize you have time in abundance whereas they have a business to run ;-) Barter hard. Start offering half of whatever prize thay ask and keep on bartering. Usuallly the more you barter, the less you spend. Enjoy your shopping!

Don't even think you will be able to get out of there empty-handed even if you're not planning on buying anything. These sellers know their business. Allow at least few hours because once you stop in front of their shop they won't let you go until you buy something. European turists might feel intimidated but it has its charm. They will ask you to come inside, have a sit and will offer you turkish tea. Then they will show you all products you might be interested in, name their prices in every single language on earth and will feel offended if you won't bargain with them. Really unique experience!

Istanbul has always been an important city throughout the history. Located on the crossroads of trade routes, it surely enjoyed a great deal of international attention and its economy has always grown up. Since the beginning of the settlement here, commerce was heavily practiced and bazaars were filled with all kinds of items, buyers and sellers from everywhere. This commercial activity has left its mark on the city with its old bazaars, and today the tradition of shopping continues with many old and modern malls in this great city.