Shopping festival in Istanbul dates. Shopping festival in Istanbul. In the footsteps of great civilizations

The Istanbul Shopping Festival was founded in 2011 with the aim of turning Istanbul into one of the world's leading shopping centers. For about a month, Istanbul turns into a shopping and entertainment center. During the festival, the largest markets in Istanbul, Mysir Charshisi (Egyptian Bazaar) and Kapalychirshi (Grand Bazaar), are open around the clock. They are joined by about 90 more shopping centers that organize promotions, parties and night sales. Most of them are located in shopping areas: Sultanahmet Square, Abdi Ipekci Avenue, Baghdad Avenue, Bahariye Avenue, Istación Avenue, Istiklal Avenue. The festival takes place on both the European and Anatolian sides of the city.

The festival is a great opportunity to purchase goods with significant discounts of 50% and above, and among the bonuses for shopping lovers are numerous promotions, prize draws, competitions, entertainment programs, fashion shows, and all kinds of parties. Every year, the opening of the festival and the parade of musicians through the city streets become a colorful show. During the festival, the city hosts various musical evenings, street performances, and receptions. The most active shopping participants are awarded lottery tickets, which can be used to win valuable prizes, including a car or an apartment.

Every year, the İstanbul Shopping Fest attracts crowds of shopaholics from all over the world to the city. Moreover, its timing coincides with the height of the tourist season.

We figured out whether it's worth going, what discounts you can count on and what stores to shop at at the shopping festival in Istanbul.

When does the Istanbul Shopping Festival start in 2019?

The Istanbul shopping festival usually starts in late May - early June and lasts from 14 to 40 days. The specific dates of the festival vary from year to year.

The 2019 Istanbul Shopping Festival will take place from June 8 to June 24. At this time, the sea is already warm enough, so you can not only shop, but also sunbathe.

During the festival, many different events are held in each of the shopping centers. The program will appear closer to the beginning of the festival; this year you will have to track it on the official websites of the shopping center.

During the festival the following events usually take place:

  • Fashion shows by local designers
  • Various master classes - from cooking to handicrafts
  • Dance and theatrical performances and much more

What discounts and promotions can you expect?

The festival in Istanbul is held under the control of the city administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey, so you don’t have to worry that the discounts will be fake.

In stores taking part in the festival, you can find discounts of up to 50%, and in some cases up to 70%, on some categories of goods.

In addition to discounts, some stores also offer various promotions:

  • Discount coupons for your next purchase - often available at Boyner, D'S Damat, YKM and H stores
  • Progressive discounts for a one-time purchase of several products - found in Intimissimi, Victoria's Secret, Sarar;
  • Promotions in the style of “Buy two products, get the third one free” and others.

In addition, customers of some stores can take part in drawings for cars, trips to Turkish resorts and other valuable prizes.

And, of course, don’t forget that Turks love to bargain; don’t forget to ask about additional discounts even in stores with fixed prices during sales.

To save even more, be sure to get some of your money back at the airport. To do this, you need to apply for a refund of part of the VAT. Read about how to do this in our blog:

Who is participating in the sales?

Officially, six largest shopping centers in Istanbul participate in the festival: Capitol, İstinyePark, Emaar Square Mall, Forum Istanbul, Akasya, Kanyon, Palladium, Venezia.

Addresses, telephone numbers and links to the official pages of shopping centers are on the official website of İstanbul Shopping Fest. It’s better to watch them on the English version of the site; the Russian version is updated less often.

Discounted products can also be found in the following stores:

  • in shopping areas - Nisantasi, Istiklal and Baghdad Caddesi;
  • at the traditional bazaars of Istanbul - Deri Merkez in Zeytinburnu, Grand Bazaar, Egyptian Bazaar.

What to buy at the shopping festival

The most valuable prize for a shopaholic during the shopping festival in Istanbul, in addition to leather and fur products, will be products from European and international brands at crazy discounts. The shopping centers contain boutiques of the brands Colin’s, Guess, Pierre Cardin, H&M, Victoria’s Secret and many others. For this reason, even Europeans often visit the festival.

Pay attention to local brands too. Türkiye is famous for its quality textiles and knitwear.


The Istanbul Shopping Fest begins every year in late spring or summer. For about two weeks, Istanbul turns into a global shopping and entertainment center. The festival is held under the patronage of very serious structures. These include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, the Istanbul City Hall, the Council of Exporters of Turkey, etc.

Unlike many world-famous exhibitions and events, the Istanbul Shopping Festival is a fairly young festival. The first such event took place in 2011.

Six years ago, buyers from literally all over the world came to Istanbul, attracted by a colossal discount program and assortment. Then the city's shopping centers welcomed guests in the spring, from March 18 to April 26. For all 40 days, goods in large stores and boutiques, the best retail outlets in Istanbul, were sold at 50% cheaper, and the absence of duties and taxes was a pleasant bonus. Additionally, numerous competitions and sweepstakes were held both in the retail outlets themselves and simply in city squares.

Guests were presented with the latest fashion trends and were invited to technological and gastronomic exhibitions. Adults and children were entertained by numerous concerts, performances and parades. The riot of discounts and entertainment was sponsored by: trading companies, the Council of Exporters of Turkey, and directly the Istanbul City Hall together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Turkish Republic.

Having died down brightly, the festival earned a good reputation. The organizers stated that if the first attempt was successful, the event would be made annual, everything turned out more than successfully. Additional advertising for future years included the lucky owners of Renault cars, who received a valuable gift in the drawing. Since then, every year shopping in Istanbul has become a bright and significant event. The festival was postponed until the summer holiday season, and true shopaholics do not miss the opportunity to get into Turkish shopping malls.

When does shopping start in Istanbul?

In 2017, the Istanbul Shopping Festival will take place from July 1 to July 16. A huge two weeks of shopping and promotions, discounts and competitions. In the center and on the outskirts, in small boutiques and huge shopping centers, discount coupons will be stuck on each tag. Music will begin to play in the central squares, and on July 1 the grand opening of the festival will take place with the pomp characteristic of the Turks. And then during the festival the city will not subside, thundering and bargaining, rewarding and exchanging. It will all end on the evening of July 16, when, to the roar of fireworks, the holiday will end.

Structure: rules and bonus programs

Bustling Istanbul is a place where you literally want to get lost during the festival. But in all this chaos of trade and concerts there is a clear structure.

In normal times, the city's retail outlets are open until 18-20 pm. During the festival, their working day continues significantly. On weekdays, shops are open until 23:00, and on weekends you can even shop until 2:00 am. The most desperate sellers close for just a few hours when it's time for dawn.

As for the discounts, they are truly impressive. Prices are lowered in different ways, depending on the product category, the newness of the collection and the status of the store. The promotional percentage starts from 10 and sometimes ends at around 70%. Large discounts usually apply to certain brands: Machka, Kığılı, Colin’s, Pierre Cardin and others.

In conditions of 40% or more, bargaining is considered inappropriate, despite the fact that in normal times Turkish sellers are not averse to bargaining and arguing with interest with the buyer, during the festival period bargaining is not the best idea. It goes without saying that you can try, but if you go to any of the forums and type “shopping in Istanbul reviews” into the search, you will find out that treating a buyer trying to get a price reduction when the discount is already 50% is considered inappropriate.

In some stores you can get a coupon worth 50 liras or more if you purchase goods for a certain amount. In past years, stores in the D’S Damat, YKM and H&M chains did this. Or you can simply find a promotion - 2 for the price of 1 and the like. In general, everyone attracts as best they can.

The festival organizers claim that taxes and duties will be removed from goods. But when paying at the checkout, a Ukrainian tourist may fall into slight dissonance. After all, the tax will still be charged on the check. Yes, that's right, taxes remain in stores. The administration of retail outlets simply does not consider it appropriate to change the charter of cash registers and the established trading system. But this does not mean that the festival organizers are lying. All taxes on goods purchased during the shopping holiday can be refunded when you leave Turkey. This usually happens at banks or cash desks around the airport. You can find out where exactly you can cash your taxes from any seller or even from the police officers who patrol Istanbul during the festival.

We have already said that every third event at the festival is a competition or a draw. Starting from small quizzes and ending with grand drawings of large prizes in the form of household appliances and even cars. Large gifts are usually awarded at the end of the festival, when buyers present their receipts and organizers count the total amount of purchases. The amount changes every year, so it is important to follow the information on the official website. Or just listen to presenters at concerts. They will definitely tell you how much you need to spend to win something especially valuable.

The list of shops and markets in Istanbul could take forever. It’s difficult to say which shopping centers in Istanbul are a must-visit and which ones you can skip; it all depends on your shopping preferences, financial capabilities and, of course, time resources. Ideally, it is advisable to go around the entire city during the festival. But if you cannot stay in Istanbul for a long time, then you will have to choose.

Experienced tourists and shoppers know that during the festival the best discounts in Istanbul are on Abdi İpekci Avenue, Sultanahmet Square and Istiklal Avenue.

In search of interesting goods, you can also look at Bahariyeh Avenue and Baghdad. The official website of the festival itself advises visiting the following retail outlets: City’s in Nişantaşı, Kanyon in Levent, Cevahir at Sisli station and Forum Istanbul in the Bayrampasa area.

The Asian district of the city is also very attractive, where it is worth paying attention to Baghdad Kadesi Street and the Palladium shopping complex in Atasehir.

What to buy in Istanbul?

The Turkish market is a global network of goods and services that is widely known throughout the world. Unfortunately, not all products lend themselves to emergency discounts. But even if stores do not fully participate in the festival sales, they do not miss the opportunity to make money from tourists. Even small retail outlets are inferior in their prices. Therefore, you can buy everything - from carpets and fur coats to souvenirs and hookahs. After all, there is a discount boom in the city!

  • Branded outfits and shoes are the first line of goods that are subject to favorable offers.
  • There are the biggest discounts on denim clothing, the legendary Turkish sheepskin coats and fur coats, because the Turks are well aware that these locally produced goods are popular all over the world, and at the same time cost an order of magnitude cheaper.
  • Jewelry - Turkish craftsmen are especially skilled in creating gold and silver jewelry of any complexity. And chain jewelry houses will be happy to offer pendants, rings and earrings to foreign guests at attractive prices.
  • Electronics here are much cheaper than in Europe or America, but are not inferior in quality.

Packing suitcases

Shopping in Turkey becomes even more enjoyable when, in preparation for it, you do not need to spend a lot of time on obtaining a visa. After all, this is not the first year that Ukrainians have been flying to any city in Turkey under a visa-free regime. This year, you will be able to cross the border using ID cards or a foreign passport, where an arrival stamp is affixed. You can stay in Turkey for up to three months, so there will be more than enough time to spare.

Getting from Ukraine to Istanbul is quite simple. Almost every day planes fly from the central airports of Kyiv, Kharkov, Zaporozhye and other regional centers to the Turkish city. But the Turks themselves are concerned about the comfort and convenience of their guests. During the festival, Turkish Airlines schedules separate flights that transport guests from the central airports of various countries at lower prices. And on the way back they provide the opportunity to transport up to 50 kilograms of luggage free of charge.

If you want to see the open festivals, then, of course, it is advisable to arrive by July 1st. But experienced tourists advise arriving by the end of the first week. It is on these days that the peak of celebrations occurs, and the discounts are simply amazing in their loyalty. This is especially true for jewelry and equipment.

There are almost no discounts on accommodation in Istanbul during the festival. And in central hotels, rooms are booked several weeks before the event, so it’s better to hurry up with your reservation. Visitors speak especially well of the following hotels: Muyan Suites, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus and Dersaadet Hotel Istanbul.

In Istanbul for the weekend - do it all! Shopping. Part 2

We continue Marina Belousova's story about the weekend in Istanbul. In the first part, she described in detail the traditions, local cuisine and interesting facts about the city, and in the second part we will find a detailed story about shopping. Tax free in Turkey is issued for purchases of 118 liras or more. The amount of VAT on certain types of goods varies.

Thus, the tax rate on clothing, shoes, leather, carpets, bags is 8%. For electronics, glasses, watches, dishes - 18%. At the airport, the system works very strictly - the officer actually looks through the purchased items, checking the labels with the documents. After checking, the suitcases are immediately sent to luggage, which eliminates the possibility of any fraud with things. Refunds are made under very unfavorable conditions. For the first time in my long “tourist career” at the box office, I received only 5 dollars and 4 euros as a tax refund for purchases made in Istanbul for almost 500 liras. Absolutely, it was not worth wasting time either filling out paperwork in the store or standing in line with an officer at the airport.

Almost all retail outlets in large centers and many shops in the city are connected to the Tax free system. However, if the seller refuses to provide you with tax refund documents, confidently ask for an 8% discount. This will almost always work and, as I found out after the fact, it will be more profitable.

Despite the fact that the entire city center is one large shopping center, where there is the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar, as well as many shops and shops, you need to go to shopping centers for quality things. Unlike Europe, Turkish hand-made and products from family factories are not always able to please with the quality of workmanship. Be prepared for an abundance of low-grade fakes of famous brands of bags and a variety of other haberdashery.

However, you definitely need to go to the Bazaar. This is a cult place, where there are always a lot of people, where there is a spirit of rivalry and competition between the seller and the buyer: to cheat or not to cheat? I'll make a deal or won't make a deal?

Although the rich spirit of spices also hovers there. I, as befits a true shopaholic, am a great lover of local flavors and exotics, a collector of dust-collecting trophies from all the countries I have visited, but I was able to resist all the temptations of the Grand Bazaar - I did not buy anything there at all. The reason is simple - the eyes run in all directions, and literally a second later the temptations are replaced by suspicion: isn’t this cheap for real handmade work? Is it really silk? But are these stones and metals definitely not fake? And kilometers of rows and display cases begin to evoke not only interest in the assortment, but a banal fear - not only losing track of time and money here, but also getting lost yourself.

The chic and splendor of the Bazaar

But if you still really want to bring something with you as a souvenir of the Bazaar, do not deny yourself sweets, nuts, dried fruits, spices - you can taste all of this to your heart's content. Are you interested in scarves, shawls, stoles, like me?

There are thousands of color options and hundreds of blends. Remember one thing: products made from real silk or cashmere here cost significantly more than 100 liras, and it will be very difficult for an inexperienced tourist in textiles to recognize the true material. It is much safer to buy a scarf in a nice color made of 100% cotton for 20-25 liras.

Typical assortment of the Bazaar

There are quite a few shopping centers in Istanbul, but the range of brands represented in them is identical: ZARA, Benetton, Guess, Mango and other global mass markets.

The Istinye park mall stands out in terms of its level, where luxury brands coexist with budget brands - Burberry, Chanel, Dolce&Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, etc.

I had the opportunity to visit personally and form my impression of two large shopping centers: Cevahir (Cevahir) and Mall of Istanbul, both of which I strongly recommend for shopping.

My interest in travel is traditionally attracted by local brands, so I gave priority to Turkish manufacturers. Most of them are known and popular only in their homeland, but there are also those who have appeared in the Russian arena: Hotic shoes and accessories, LC WAIKIKI children's clothing, Koton democratic men's, women's and children's clothing, SARAR business-style men's clothing, glamorous women's clothing Gizia things.

Hotic Boutique in Cevahir Mall

An unexpected and very pleasant surprise for me was a meeting with the perfect lingerie store Victoria's Secret. This American brand has long conquered the market not only in the States, but throughout the world. There is a lot of noise around the brand (one show with the participation of angel models of which worth it), but you can buy comfortable, beautiful and sexy panties, bras, home, sports and beach items only in the USA and literally in several countries around the world. Having traveled around dozens of European and Asian cities, I have not seen the treasured pink boudoirs there - in exactly this Victoria's Secret stores are in the same style. More precisely, I met them (including in Moscow), but was instantly disappointed - the assortment was limited only to cosmetics and accessories. And suddenly such unexpected luck in Istanbul! Out of confusion, it was difficult for me to navigate the huge assortment of basic, formal, extravagant and extra-sexy models of all colors - from plain classics to bright color-block.

A must-visit item on your Istanbul shopping list

The service at Victoria's Secret deserves special attention - the girls unobtrusively help you understand your size and choose a set. It's impossible to leave without buying - the only problem is not to buy too much. From personal experience, things last for years, justifying their quite affordable (in the USA) price. The Istanbul price tag seems higher than at home: 5 panties - 109 liras (if you buy one piece - 35 liras), a bra for 137 liras, there are offers - 2 pieces for 179, sports top - 180 lire But if traveling to the States is not yet in your plans, and you consider buying underwear without trying it on in the brand’s online store risky, then shopping in Istanbul may be justified.

Do you want to support a Turkish manufacturer? Pajamas, underwear, tights, socks and loungewear from the Katia&Bony brand in the store of the same name are cute and inexpensive items of good quality. There are no special frills in the design, but conservative cotton lovers will definitely find a product to their liking.

Orthopedic, indoor and simply comfortable shoes for those who value comfort more than style are sold at Ceyo. Children's slippers - 43 lira.

The Flo multi-brand store has an excellent selection of shoes from Turkish manufacturers. Here you can find both products made from leatherette or synthetics, as well as from natural materials. Those with feet larger than size 39 will face disappointment - almost all manufacturers run slightly small, the chances of finding a pair you like in size 40 are not very many, and size 41 - popular in Russia, Italy, Spain, Germany - is completely absent here. But it’s inexpensive and easy to put shoes on your husband or child here.

Flo store assortment

Children's demi-season Polaris boots will cost 95 liras, adult Kinetix lace-up sneakers - 70 liras, men's classic shoes - from 100 liras.

Adult clothing from the LC WAIKIKI brand is not of high quality, reminiscent of brands such as C&A and Mango. Children's - in the price category of Zara and H&M - is quite acceptable in quality. The cost of a little thing for a 3-year-old girl is 20-30 liras. Things are mostly small in size, so to avoid mistakes, you should immediately take 1-2 sizes larger.

Flormar cosmetics are sold in mono-brand stores and are positioned as professional. In its window design and product display, it is somewhat reminiscent of the Italian brand KIKO, but I did not decide to test this in practice, probably due to prejudice. Still, Türkiye is hardly a strong player in decorative cosmetics. However, the Flormar polish for 2.5 liras performed well, lasting on the nails for 4 days.

Turkish Otaci hair products - shampoos (from 10 liras), oils (from 35 liras), serums, sprays and much more - are sold in regular cosmetic stores. Quite decent local products and useful gifts for beautyholic friends.

Don't forget to go pick up some goodies for yourself and for gifts at a regular supermarket, for example, Migros. Firstly, here you can buy dried fruits and nuts in bulk with minimal chance of being deceived. Secondly, grab pomegranate sauce (on average 9 liras per bottle) - it can be used both as a marinade for raw meat and as a seasoning for ready-made dishes. Thirdly, pay attention to Turkish wines. Well, the fourth, fifth and so on - to your taste. The range of products differs significantly from the Russian range - how can you not be tempted by something exotic?!

Buy bagels! Only 1 lira!

Oriental sweets and Turkish delight are one of the hallmarks of Istanbul. You can buy boxes with beautiful pictures everywhere, but the nuts promised in the pictures will remain there - on paper. You are unlikely to find them in Turkish delight, thickly rolled in powdered sugar. There is only one way out - to taste and buy Turkish “delights” by weight. One of the most reputable establishments in the city is the chain confectionery shop Hafiz Mustafa 1864, where it’s nice to watch how the employees busily put your ordered sweets (one of them is not only sweeter, but also more beautiful) into boxes, and then sealed them hermetically for ease of transportation. The cost of Turkish delight is from 20 liras per kilogram. You can sit here in the cafe on the 2nd or 3rd floor, ordering something from the assortment on display or a delicious dessert from the menu.

Confectionery Hafiz Mustafa 1864 in Taksim Square

Showcase with sweets

Sweet temptations in Hafiz Mustafa

In the next part we will tell you about the attractions in Istanbul. Follow our publications!

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Shopping in Istanbul: a holiday of the soul for fashionistas and more.

This year will present guests of Turkey with another large-scale holiday. will take place June 8-24. And believe me, it will be grand!

Sales in Istanbul will be launched for the seventh time as part of the June ShoppingFest. Guests will be offered all kinds of promotions and discounts. Events are also planned that everyone can take part in. The organizers are announcing events that the ancient city has never seen before!

Tours to Istanbul in June 2018 will reveal to guests a stunning synthesis of rich culture, history and gastronomic traditions. There is entertainment for all age groups. You will be able to enjoy great shopping for almost a month. In the intervals between sales, take proper rest.

Shopping festival in Istanbul 2018- a unique chance to see the “city of contrasts”, immerse yourself in the mysticism of the East and the dynamics of the West. Pleasant surprises and a sea of ​​positive emotions await you. And also - the aromas of magic and the electricity of sensual pleasures.

Sales in Istanbul guarantee an exclusive opportunity to purchase models of legendary brands at affordable prices. Event visitors will be able to take part in lotteries, become prize winners, and receive pleasant surprises.

Tours to Istanbul in June 2018- time for competitions and concerts, presentations and fashion shows. Each shopping center offers its own entertainment program. This is a holiday you can't miss!

And yet, while immersing yourself in shopping, you should not forget about the splendor of the city itself. After all, Constantinople has an indescribable flavor of cozy corners and streets. Here, every stone can tell its own story. Pleasant shopping in the scenery of silent Antiquity is always an exciting experience. Try them out with TALORA!


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The Istanbul Shopping Festival is a large-scale event that combines the historical and cultural heritage of Turkey with modern entertainment. Since 2011, every year for a whole month, Istanbul turns into a festive platform where you can purchase goods with huge discounts, attend fashion shows and brand presentations, and take part in competitions and lotteries.

The shopping festival, or as it is also called, the Istanbul Shopping Festival, is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey and the city administration, as well as with the support of world trade associations and organizations, including: Association of Connected Brands, Association of Shopping Centers and Retailers .

Discounts and bonuses at the festival

The shopping festival in Istanbul is held annually, at the end of spring or in the first half of summer. The duration of the festival each year varies from 14 to 40 days.

The festival is deservedly considered one of the main shopping events of the year all over the world. Among the promotions and bonuses of the shopping festival in Istanbul:

  • Discounts from 10% to 70% in all participating stores of the Istanbul Shopping Festival.
  • The extended working hours of shopping centers are until 23:00, and on weekends some shopping malls are open until 02:00.
  • Discount coupons and promotions “2 products for the price of one” - mainly in stores in the lower and middle price categories.
  • Raffles for cars, tours to Turkish resorts and even apartments in one of Istanbul’s luxury residential complexes.
  • Turkish Airlines is introducing a special fare with free baggage allowance up to 50 kg on some international routes.

Participants of the shopping festival in Istanbul

Every year, the list of participants at the Istanbul Shopping Festival is replenished with new brands and trading platforms.

But there are regular participants who, year after year, provide discounts and gifts to guests and residents of Istanbul during the festival. Among them are shopping centers:

  • Capitol. Shopping and entertainment center with first-class service. If one of the center's boutiques does not have the color or size you need, employees will help you find suitable products in other stores.
  • İstinyePark. Istanbul's largest shopping center with an open-air brand street and 41 boutiques exclusive to Turkey.
  • Zorlu Center. The most expensive architectural project in Istanbul. Built on the border of Europe and Asia, Zorlu Center attracts tourists with a wide range of entertainment: from boutiques and mass-market stores to music halls and theater stages.
  • Venezia. The shopping center, designed in Venetian style, makes shopping feel like walking through an Italian city. Visitors can shop from the gondolas or dine on a replica of St. Mark's Square.
  • Canyon. The city within the city, as the locals call it, has 4 levels of shops (going down, like in a real canyon), both global and local brands, as well as entertainment areas for children and adults.

Traditional bazaars and markets:

  • Deri Merkez market in Zeytinburnu, which is famous for the best leather goods in the country.
  • Grand Bazaar- one of the largest trading platforms not only in Turkey, but also in the entire Middle East: more than 4,000 retail outlets on the territory of 58 streets. In local shops you can buy replicas of famous brands, leather and fur products, jewelry and watches.
  • Egyptian bazaar. This market has existed for several centuries. It was built as a place to trade goods from Egypt, but today has become Turkey's "tastiest" market. Here tourists can expect high-quality oriental sweets, everyday and luxury spices, local tea and coffee.

Shopping areas:

  • Nisantasi. On the streets of this area there are boutiques of top brands from France and Italy. The area itself is called mini-Europe. But Turkish designers also like this place. On the streets of Nisantasi there are fashion houses of famous Turkish designers: Bahar Kocan and Hakana Yildirim.
  • Istiklal. On Istiklal Street there are more affordable shops, as well as antique and jewelry shops.
  • Baghdad Jaddesi. The main street is home to the city's most expensive boutiques. And in the adjacent alleys there are small shops of local brands with more affordable prices.

In addition to the official participants, many stalls and small shops throughout the city organize themed promotions and discounts during the festival period. Don’t hesitate to ask about the possibility of a discount, and be sure to bargain at the markets!

Activities during the Istanbul Shopping Festival

The shopping festival in Istanbul is not only an opportunity to purchase goods at a profit, but also a way to get in touch with the culture and history of the city. The program of events includes:

  • Fashion designer shows in shopping centers.
  • Photo exhibitions - not only on the topic of fashion, but also demonstrating the cultural heritage of Turkey.
  • Workshops and public meetings with fashion market participants.
  • Dance and theatrical performances.
  • Culinary and design master classes.
  • Thematic excursions around Istanbul.

Experienced shopaholics advise arriving closer to the end of the festival - not only to get maximum discounts, but also to see the colorful closing ceremony with a light and music show.

How to get to the festival grounds

Most shopping malls and boutiques are located within the city center. They can be reached in a short period of time by public transport in Istanbul: trams, metro or buses. But it’s more comfortable to get back after shopping by taxi. Popular taxi services operate in Istanbul: BiTaksi and Uber.

Video: Istanbul during the Shopping Festival

This year's Istanbul Shopping Festival will begin on July 1 and will last until July 16 inclusive. Inquisitive tourists will probably be interested in the fact that the shopping fest in the cultural capital of Turkey has already become a regular annual holiday. It has been held here since 2011, and each new season the Istanbul Shopping Fest events become more and more interesting.

The 2017 Istanbul Shopping Festival will offer visitors, instead of the city's modern shopping centers, to go to one of the oldest markets in the world - the Grand Bazaar, which has more than 4 thousand stores, and will also open up the opportunity to get acquainted with the multifaceted cultural history of the city.

The festival program includes art and design events, competitions, and an introduction to the culture and art of Istanbul.

Shopping festival events will take place in nine shopping centers. In total, about 200 local and foreign designers will be presented to spectators and participants during the festival; fifteen art exhibitions, 150 seminars and discussions, 30 theatrical performances with music and dance are planned to be held during the festival.

As the results of past shopping festivals held in Istanbul show, the results of this kind of event are very successful - the volume of trade transactions during the festival increases every year by more than 20%.

In the future, it is planned to include excursions to unfamiliar historical places in Turkey on the famous Orient Express train into the program of celebrations.

Design exhibitions and competitions as part of the shopping festival will be shown in shopping centers throughout the city, including: Akasya, Capitol, İstinyePark, Emaar Square, Forum Istanbul, Palladium, Kanyon, Venezia Mega Outlet, Zorlu Center, etc.

Products on display will include jewelry, ceramics, accessories, textiles, furniture, books, graphic design, glass, lighting accessories, natural raw materials and products.

Find out more: 1. Istanbul in three days - an amazing acquaintance 2. Top attractions of Istanbul 3. Flight Moscow-Istanbul, low-cost news