Istanbul
Shopping Istanbul’s markets & bazaars
Markets & Local Finds • 3 hours
5.0
(22)
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
Lowell
May 2025
We had the very best day of our trip so far thanks to our amazing guide, Ipek. Communication leading up to our visit was friendly, excellent, and thoughtful. We were able to share about our interests which resulted in a beautifully curated tour of the Bazaar and fine shopping sites. Ipek helped us navigate the always busy and loud Bazaar with confidence. Her knowledge and professionalism aided us in finding lovely gifts for friends as well as some fabulous gifts for us. We found everything we hoped to buy, and ended our day at a spectacular ceramic gallery which included an educational and fascinating overview of pottery making and history. We highly recommend this private tour for anybody visiting Istanbul and we absolutely recommend our wonderful guide, Ipek.
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Stephen
May 2025
Great tour and visit with Ipek. She tailored the tour to our interests and the weather. She was very knowledgeable and helpful providing useful advice. Definitely recommend this company and tour
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Lowell
May 2025
We had the most fun, memorable, and informative day of our travels so far with our wonderful guide, Ipek! Her communication with us leading up to our visit was excellent and consistent, and she skillfully curated our tour to align with our goals and interests. Exploring the Bazaar together was fun - Ipek was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and we could not have navigated the bazaar without her expertise and professionalism. The highlight of our day was a visit to learn about traditional pottery making and fine art pottery pieces. This was everything we hoped to experience and so much more!!! I highly recommend City Unscripted and our guide, Ipek, and we cannot wait to return and explore more with her.
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Gina
May 2025
Ipek was my guide. She was lovely and very engaging. She showed me around the grand bazaar and we sampled street food. We had great conversations and a lot of laughs especially over the six rugs. She will know what I’m talking about. I would have been completely lost without her as my guide. I highly recommend her. Thank you.
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Bobbi
May 2025
We asked to modify our itinerary and he was totally flexible and cooperative with what we wanted to do. He was wonderful!
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Cynthia
Mar 2025
As a woman traveling solo, having a guide to take me to the places I wanted to see was wonderful. Emir narrated beautifully and even worked out a route that ended back at my hotel. Pro tip: when exploring the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market, go early in the day. They get more crowded as the day progresses.
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