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SHOPPING
It is impossible to think of a holiday without the thrill of shopping. Shopping in Turkey is irresistible for the wide range of unique and beautiful crafts available there. Once you see the variety of products with this "very different" and unique Turkish style, you will want to take some home to share with your friends and family. In this article, we will give information and tips on shopping in Turkey.

Shopping in Turkey is both entertaining and satisfying. You gain in terms of experience along with possessing some of the most prized items in the world. Therefore, go prepared for big spends when you visit Turkey.

Your trip to Turkey is incomplete if you do not come home with a Turkish carpet as a keepsake. Turkish carpets are either knotted or flat woven. It is a form of craft prevalent in Turkey since ancient times. Originally woven as utility items, they soon became known for their beauty and durability. A Turkish carpet is a rare piece of art that will decorate your house as well as bring a slice of Anatolian tradition into your drawing room. Today they are the most popular shopping item for foreigners.
br /> An exquisite piece of gold and silver jewelry, with or without stone setting, is something you should look for. Surprisingly, although the prices of gold and silver are fixed internationally, jewelry items in Turkey are cheaper than in other places. This is due to the low labor cost. A wide variety in design is available to meet the demands of various tastes. The craftsmanship is usually good, but you must inspect each piece to pick the best.

Turkey is also famous for its leather goods. In fact, some of the finest leather items manufactured in Turkey often find their way to shops in Italy. Premium grade leather is selected. This is then designed by fine craftsmanship into beautiful leather goods that speak of style and elegance.

Another unique souvenir that you can pick up from Turkey is a Meerschaum pipe. Meerschaum is a type of heat resistant sea foam. When wet, this becomes soft and pliable enough to be carved into pipes. These pipes are so interesting that you will easily be enticed to buy one even if you are not a smoker.

Traditional hand painted ceramics and porcelain made in Iznik, Istanbul and Kutahya, make attractive gifts items to carry back home. Similarly, copper vessels - which were common during the Ottoman Empire - make for a good collection of antique. Of course, you cannot cook in them unless the inside is lined with tin.

The most famous place for shopping in Turkey is the Grand Covered Bazaar of Istanbul. It was built by Sultan Mehmet and has undergone many changes until 1701. It is worth visiting the Grand Bazaar just for the experience it provides. It covers 65 streets with around 3300 shops. A mosque, 21 inns and 7 fountains also fall within its area. The Grand Bazaar has been damaged five times by fire. Each time it was repaired and restored.

You must visit the exclusive shops along Kapalicarsi Caddesi leading up to the Nuruosmaniye entrance. The shops located in Arasta Bazaar and Avrupa Pasajiin Beyoglu`s Balikpazari are more modest. If you are an expert in shopping, you may pick up good bargains at the stores in the back streets, as the shopkeepers here are more likely to relent on the prices.

Your shopping tour must definitely include the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. Though originally a market for exotic Eastern spices, today you will find everything here from T- shirts to Turkish Delights.

Across the Blue Mosque, The Istanbul Handicrafts Center sells ceramics, handicrafts and gift items against the backdrop of an ancient Medrese. Fine hand painted silks, Anatolian dolls, and local handicraft are displayed in a courtyard surrounded by old classrooms.

If you move to Istiklal Caddesi you will find cafes, clothing shops, record shops and book stores - a sight common in any major city of the world. From there, a taxi ride to the north east of Taksim takes you to Nisantasi - a high fashion street with boutiques stocking brands like Mudo, Emporio Armani,Vakko and Beyman.

Apart from this, there is a myriad of busy outdoor flea markets in Turkey selling everything you can think.

Shopping hours
Daily 0930-1900 in tourist areas. Closing hours vary, with some shops staying open until midnight. Outside tourist areas shops may close at lunchtime and on Sundays. Istanbul Grand Bazaar: Mon-Sat 0800-1900 (closed Sunday).

Shopping in Turkey is best done in the morning when the salesmen have more time. Do not begin your shopping until the third or the fourth day of your visit. You will need some time to know the currency and browse the shops. Try to be one of the first customers because Turkish shopkeepers believe that the first customer is sent by their Gods and pleasing him or her brings good luck throughout the day. You may strike a good bargain here.

Bargaining for everything except food is quite customary in Turkey, but make sure you know the price of the article before you begin to get more information about the article as the shopkeeper often become irate when after trying to sell an item for some time the customer decides it is beyond his budget. You may be offered water, soda coffee or tea to drink at the shop. Do not hesitate to accept this without a sale, but if alcohol is offered, the shopkeeper generally expects a sale.

Bargaining is a skill you must master for shopping in Turkey. Be careful as the shopkeeper may hike up the price knowing you may bargain. As a thumb rule you should start with 25% of the price you are willing to pay for an article. You must hold back your real offer for as long as you can.

Another strategy is to select two items and snub the first choice. Start bargaining for the second one, which should be more expensive. Once it is obvious that it is out of your price range, reluctantly accept the first one, which should be by then readily available at a lower price. Of course, the responses will vary with each incidence, but with time and practice, you should get the hang of it.

Shopkeepers in Turkey are largely honest and will not try to pass off an imitation as the original, but it is always good to ask for a certificate of guarantee for expensive items like carpets or jewelry. While making the payment, you should know the rate of exchange that applies. Ask for a calculator and work out the amount in your own currency.

Currency
Turkish Lira (TRY; symbol TL) = 100 Kurus (kr). Notes are in denominations of YTL 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of YTL 1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 New Kurus.

Currency Exchange
Cash can usually be exchanged commission free in currency exchange offices (döviz bürosu). Banks usually charge commission. Traveller's cheques can only be exchanged in banks with a passport.

Travelers planning to exchange currency back before leaving Turkey, or making a major purchase which may need to be declared to customs, must retain transaction receipts to prove that the currency was legally exchanged.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Visa is the most popular, closely followed by MasterCard. American Express is accepted in top-flight hotels, restaurants and some gift shops. ATMs are widely found in most areas.

Traveller's Cheques
Traveller's cheques can only be exchanged in banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars. Credit cards are far more convenient.

Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1330-1700. Some banks in tourist areas and large cities are open daily.
 
 
   
 
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