Experiences
Shopping In İstanbul Is The New Cool
In Galata, you’ll find funky one-offs from local designers, retro collectibles like comic books, and quirky handmade jewellery and crafts. The hilly, cobblestone alleys that stretch around the Galata Tower are filled with small boutiques and concept stores selling fashion, accessories, and products from young İstanbul designers.
Here you will find quirky, original street fashion and stylish homewares that echo traditional Turkish design. There is a vibrant café culture in this area, with many lovely, independent cafés (some of which double as craft shops), so there are plenty of opportunities to stop for a coffee and cake after shopping.
For contemporary arts and crafts, Tophane is the place to go if you like to decorate your home. Many boutiques and craft shops offer handmade rugs, cushions, ceramic items, special home décor items, and other handmade furniture. Tophane keeps the tradition of handicrafts alive and offers a colourful ambience with a modern flair, yet built on traditional foundations.
The narrow alleys of Tahtakale, west of the spice bazaar, are full of stalls selling traditional basketry, textiles, handmade wooden kitchenware and tableware, and cheap household goods. Locals might buy cheap pillowcases, brushes, and pots and pans here, but the handmade wooden spoons, pestles and mortars, rolling pins, and chopping boards make excellent souvenirs, as do some of the baskets, if you know how to get them home without crushing them.
Üsküdar is the Bit Pazarı (flea market). There are 40 shops in the covered bazaar selling everything from bric-a-brac to special statement pieces like the intricately carved marble basins, special ironwork, woodwork, and stonework. There is even a small shop selling antique locks and keys.
Çukurcuma is an artisan’s paradise, a thriving, bustling neighbourhood known for its many restaurants, ranging from breakfast-only cafés to vegan and organic options. The neighbourhood offers a variety of shops, including antique shops and vintage clothing dealers, as well as art exhibitions in various galleries and the Museum of Innocence, based on a book by the famous author Orhan Pamuk.
The labyrinthine streets of the Çukurcuma district are home to some of the best and most charming little antique and junk shops. The winding Faik Paşa Caddesi and Çukurcuma Caddesi, the two main streets, are peppered with tiny antiques and junk shops overflowing with ephemera. Finding antiques here takes some effort and hard bargaining, but hidden forgotten masterpieces can be found in all corners here.
Çukurcuma also offers a different kind of handmade craft. There are a few shops specialising in handmade terrariums, pots, and vases in which small cacti and other lush plants thrive, providing botanical inspiration for your living space. The geometric glass terrariums come in all shapes and sizes, and the tiny scenes have quickly become one of the most popular items for your home.
