Istanbul is one of the best shopping cities worldwide.
Its vast and attractive Grand Bazaar, located in west of Sultanahmet, is a rewarding experience for shoppers. It is a huge complex comprising 61 streets which have 4,400 shops, cafes, banks, hammams and mosques.
Bazaar has been active since 1461 and shopkeepers have gradually decreased their arguing habits. Vendors do not hassle much to avoid driving away tourists, thus securing sales. Bargaining in the bazaar can get prices lowered by 30 percent.
Products on sale are Ataturk tat, ceramics, embroidered footwear, cobalt glass evil eyes, leather items, silver jewellery, silk towels and textiles.
Antiques including furniture, carpets and art objects are available at A la Turca at Faikpasa 4 which is a four floored Ottoman house in Cukurcuma district.
For a spiritual experience, Rustem Pasha mosque situated behind Egyptian Bazaar above some stores on Hasircilar Caddesi can be visited.
Antique Iznik tiles are available for $280 (£148) per tile and the ceramic is produced using a labourious process. Istanbul laws do not allow export of Iznik.
Even though the quartz is not ground manually nowadays, the process from handmixing of jewel coloured pigments to the final firing takes 72 days.
Kanyon Mall, located in upmarket north-lying Levent district, showcases latest designer homeware, jewellery and fashion accessories of Turkey.
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