Where to Stay - Turkey

80|discoverTURKEY
Shopping
İstanbul is a great place to shop. Whatever you
want to buy, you can find the whole range – from
souvenirs in the Grand Bazaar to designer labels
in exclusive malls. The same rules apply as in the
rest of Turkey ie fixed prices in ‘normal’shops
and bartering in and around the bazaars.
Shopping in the Grand Bazaar, Kapalı Çarşi
is an unique experience. Although some find
the atmosphere overwhelming, if you get into
the spirit of it, it is fun. The salesmen’s banter
is lighthearted and they are experts at guessing
nationalities from a distance and choosing their
language accordingly. Some of the lines are sure
to bring a smile to your face even if you are not
interested in buying. Feel free to browse – the
shops selling similar wares tend to be grouped
together, which makes it easier to see what’s
on offer before committing yourself. It is usual
to be offered a glass of apple tea, elma çayı,to
ease the bargaining process. The best advice is
simply to decide how much you want to pay for
something, start the haggling a bit lower and
then move up to your original price. You will
soon get an idea of prices if you ask around.
Bir bira lütfen
A beer please
discoverturkeyatwww.gototurkey.co.uk
The Bazaar has thousands of shops, together
with cafes, banks, a post office, police station
and even a mosque – in fact a self-contained
community. They sell everything here from
cheap textiles to fine gold jewellery. Leather
goods are excellent value as are ceramics, silver
and, of course, carpets. It is worth a wander
around the İç Bedesten, the oldest part of the
Bazaar at its very centre, where they sell an
eclectic range of antiques and bricabrac.
The Spice Bazaar, known in Turkish as the
Mısır Çarşi or ‘Egyptian Bazaar’ is also well
worth visiting for dried fruit and nuts, spices,
including saffron, Turkish delight and cotton
goods. You can even find stalls where they will
custom-make a perfume for you. If you have
time, the walk between the Spice Bazaar and
the Grand Bazaar is interesting. To keep your
bearings, just head uphill through the maze of
streets where street vendors sell their wares at
rock bottom prices.
Those who are more interested in looking
at the other end of the scale, should head to
the area of Nişantaşı for designer shops, the
modern mall of Akmerkez or İstiklal Caddesi.
If you are in İstanbul over the weekend you
should take a trip to the area of Ortaköy, just
under the first Bosphorus Bridge to visit the
atmospheric Sunday market which takes place
on the seafront.
Eating outandEntertainment
Nightlife in İstanbul is an unique mix – you can
find the latest clubs, which are some of the best
in Europe or a café with cushions on the floor,
where you can smoke a hookah pipe or nargile.
Wherever you choose to eat, whether you want
a quick snack in the midst of sightseeing or a
romantic dinner for two you are likely to find
delicious food made from fresh ingredients, and
can expect good value for money. If you want
traditional street entertainers and musicians
head to the area of Kumkapı near the Sea of
Marmara, in the old town, famous for its fish,
or the Flower Passage Çiçek Pasaji off İstiklal
Caddesi. You can find excellent restaurants
with views and many in historic buildings,
as well as some very fashionable restaurants
serving international cuisine. İstanbul is famous
for its fish and seafood so you should try to
eat fish at least once during your stay. There
are some excellent fish restaurants along the
Bosphorus.
For an idea of where to go and what to do
there are two English language publications,
Time Out Istanbul, (www.timeout.com/travel/
istanbul) and The Guide Istanbul (www.theguideturkey.com/istanbul/)
which are available in
hotels and shops locally.