Istanbul
Shopping Istanbul’s markets & bazaars
Markets & Local Finds • 3 hours
5.0
(15)
Shopping Istanbul’s markets & bazaars
Yeşilköy, Kapali Çarşi and perhaps a market whose name you can pronounce first time.
What makes this experience special
Key highlights
- Lose yourself (figuratively, not literally we hope) with 3-hours in Istanbul’s best shopping districts, with your host who will show you the ropes
- Get what you want from this private and personalized experience - we suggest browsing the Grand Bazaar then a smaller, more local market
- Get tips and tricks for the best shops to grab a bargain, and how to haggle like a local!
- Your experience, your pace! Stall hop around a few neighborhoods or emporiums which suits your tastes and preferences or find one place to try get it all
- Try some local street food along the way and visit a food market
What to know before you go
Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.
3 hours
Fully tailored to your preferences
English Other languages may be requested
What’s included
A private and personalized experience
3 hours with your host
Walking experience (if required, your host can suggest public transport or private taxi options)
Authentic local knowledge and insights
Hotel meet-up (available on request for central location)
What’s not included
Food and drinks
Tickets to any attractions
Transportation costs
Gratuities (optional)
Meeting point
Your hotel/apartment or any other central locationCancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experienceWhat to bring
- We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
- Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.
How your day could unfold
A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you mostWhat you’ll do
Imagine trying to visit 5000 shops in three hours? Game on. You’ll join one of our local Istanbul hosts who will help you get to grips with the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Çarşi) and its thousands of tiny shops and stalls.
Whether you’re in the market for silks, traditional hats, a rug or two, a Turkish tea set or you really do just want to soak it all up and lose yourself in these lanes, your host will make it happen - and help you negotiate a bargain or two.
Then head to Yeşilköy, which means ‘green village’, and is unsurprisingly a more tranquil bazaar. You can always choose to go for an altogether more low-key experience and let your host take you to an artistic neighborhood where the locals do their haggling.
There are all sorts of Turkish delights to be bargained over - pun intended, as of course, you can pick up some Turkish Delight along the way too. Or take things up a notch and ask your host to take you to a street food market where you can try flaky borek pastries or sesame encrusted fish sandwiches. Shopping is hungry work after all.
1. Select a date
2. Select start time
3. Tailor your experience
Answer a few quick questions to help your host craft the perfect day tailored to you.
1. What’s your preferred hosting style?
2. How would you like the pace of your day?
3. What’s your walking comfort level?
4. Are you celebrating something special?
Real Stories, Real Connections
See our hosts and guests creating memories
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What travelers think of this experience
Katharine,
Jan 2025
This tour was amazing. Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Answered all our questions and personalized the tour to our interests. Highly recommend.
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Katharine,
Jan 2025
Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Answered all of our questions. Took us to many great sites.
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Simon,
Dec 2024
Thoroughly recommend a few hours with Feruza especially when you first arrive in Istanbul. A wonderful insight in the daily life.
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Yanid,
Oct 2024
He adapted our itinerary to our preferences and priorities and helped us enjoy Istanbul at its best.
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Nurhayati,
Sep 2024
Tugba was friendly, flexible and knowledgeable.. had so much fun with her and managed to shop everything we wanted. She also went out of her way to secure a table in a restaurant we wanted to dine in but did not make prior arrangements. She’s amazing!!
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Bruce,
Sep 2024
Our tour guide Jamal saved the day by taking us to visit the Balat neighborhood when we decided that the Grand Bazaar was not what we were expecting.
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