Duration:  Full or half-day tour Istanbul / (from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

or from 09:00 a.m. to 01:00 p.m. or from 01:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.)
Tour summary: Caferaga Medresseh, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, Nişantaşı

Your private licensed tour guide will meet you at your hotel, airport or cruise ship and accompany you to to get familiar with shopping traditions of Istanbul.  You will make a real journey in time, by trying your bargaining skills at centuries-old bazaars and at modern high-fashion shops.

First you will visit historical Caferaga Medresseh (theology school) which was built by famous architect Sinan in 1559.  Later on the school was converted to Ottoman art & crafts center, which successfully continues the traditions of such crafts as marbling, miniature painting, calligraphy and jewelry-making.  At the center’s shop you may choose to purchase some fine examples of these crafts. 

Next you will walk to Grand Bazaar, which is perhaps the oldest shopping mall in Europe and which houses more that 4.000 shops, some of those date back to 16th century.  On your way there you will also pass elegant Nuri Osmaniye Street, where you can find Turkey’s trade-mark goods: carpets, golden jewelry, leather items, ceramics and many more. From Grand Bazaar you will proceed to Spice Market (built in 1664). 

As it follows from its name, you can find all kind of spices, dried fruits and vegetables there, and freshly ground Turkish coffee.
After exploring this quarter, you will continue to a modern shopping district of Nisantaşı.  Here you will find world-famous Turkish fashion-designers shops (such as Arzu Kaprol and Hussein Chalayan) as well as international fashion brands.