I really cant say enough good things about the experience we had in this shop. We stopped in to…read moreshop on the way to the Bazaars as our hotel was in the Galata area. We were encouraged to look around and ask questions without being hassled or pressured in the slightest. the prices were very fair. We returned from the Bazaars excited to get our shop on and we were not disappointed! We were allowed to swap globes with different lamps, hunt for the "right" tea set, and I swear we looked at every single lamp....twice! The shop keeper was very patient and helpful and carefully wrapped everything in bubble wrap so well that it all made it home in our luggage with no breaks or cracks at all. The prices were much cheaper than the Bazaars and we didnt need to haggle to feel like we got a great value. The shop keeper also told us that they use WhatsApp to video chat with customers and ship internationally. I will say that they MUCH prefer cash over credit cards as do most merchants in Istanbul.

The street is closed to traffic and filled with Cafes and colorful markets. Many stopped to take…read morephotos with the tower in the background.

I mean, you have to visit here, right?! The sights. The sounds. The smells. The haggling…read more Plenty of selection to choose from, whether you are shopping for yourself or someone else. Prices seemed fairly reasonable, even with it being a high tourist area. You definitely shouldn't lack for a helpful guide to assist you with your purchases. Fun to try the samples they are giving out also. Turkish treats and teas a plenty.

This end of the Grand Bazaar is the spice market, and although it's surely worth a visit, it would…read morenot be your best bet for spices. One of our favorite souvenirs is a brass pepper grinder but I prefer to load it up with Penzey's Tellicherry peppercorns. The displayed spices are lovely to admire, but the aggressive sales people can grate on your nerves. Still, you'll be passing through here to visit other sites, especially the Rustem Pasha Mosque so plan for the time.