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City Guide - Istanbul - Shopping | ||
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Shopping Istanbul has been a shopper's paradise for more than 1500 years, famed as the trading point connecting the Silk Road from China with Europe. Visitors tend to flock to the famous Grand Bazaar in Beyaz?t (open 0700-1900, Monday to Saturday), with its Ottoman atmosphere and cool covered streets (see the Further Distractions section). It is a good place to get an overview of the goods available and the variety of prices, but rents are quite high in the Bazaar complex, and sometimes better bargains can be found in the smaller shopping areas of Sultanahmet and Beyaz?t. Likewise the famous Spice Bazaar in Eminönü is a must-see. Outside of the state-owned markets, most shops stay open as long as there are customers, although the official standard is Monday to Saturday 0900-1800. Even at midnight, however, there are traders on the main pedestrian thoroughfares selling toys, socks, black market CDs and even antiques laid out on the ground. As a designated tourist quarter, the Sultanahmet area is perhaps the most competitive in terms of price and variety of specialised goods, such as carpets, kilims, silver jewellery and collector's items. But for a more authentic atmosphere, Istanbul's many street markets are well worth a look, from the farmers' market to the right of the Spice Bazaar, where you can taste the cheeses and olives, to the enormous Kadiköy market on Tuesday, near Fenerbahçe Stadium. There is also a flea market here at the weekends. On Sundays the restored harbour area at Ortaköy is taken over by a craft and antique market. Çukurcuma (follow Turnac?ba?i Sokak off Istiklal Caddesi) is the heart of the antiques district. Istiklal Caddesi in Beyo?lu and Ba?dat Caddesi on the Asian side have the most fashion boutiques and department stores, and the old-money neighbourhood of Te?vikye/Nisanta?? is where Turkey's top designers have their outlets; good streets to try are those around Valikona?? and Abdi Ipekçi Caddesi. Huge shopping malls tend to be found in the suburbs, such as Galleria in Ataköy and Akmerkez in Etiler. Value-added tax (KDV) can be from 8 to 15%, but foreign passport holders are exempt in specially designated tourist shops, which issue a special invoice that can be presented at customs for refunds. In most cases, however, it is taken right off the bill. Always make sure to get an invoice for items that could be considered 'antique' as the penalty for smuggling antiquities is very high and customs officials are often poorly informed as to what constitutes an antique. |