http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18426 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18426 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13762
The imported vodka, whiskey, wine etc is equally exorbitant in price due to high taxes.

Just a word of warning in case people think Istanbul is like one of the resorts!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13762 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13083 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13083 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5111
There are many cafes and little shops in which to poke around but they are a little more expensive than the norm.

Despite this you can sit with a drink, watch the boats glide past, and admire the bridge which is lovely by day or night. Heaven!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5111 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5073
If you want to buy coffee to take home with you I would recommend Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi (Tahmis Caddesi 66, very near the Spice Bazaar). Smells lovely and tastes even better.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5073 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5071
The stalls and shops sell a mixture of different books from tourist guides, textbooks to bestsellers and magazines. There are also some fantastic places to buy prints, pictures and calligraphy.

The clientele seems to be a mix of students from the nearby university, locals and tourists.
A great place to wander and browse.

Please note that all prices are fixed so no haggling.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5071 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5069
If you enjoy shopping and bargaining you'll love it. If you find bargaining and being approached by people a little uncomfortable then the Grand Bazaar is probably not for you.

Yes, it's very touristy. There are endless shops selling apple tea classes, Turkish coffee cups, belly dancing outfits etc. However you can also buy beautiful jewellery, fine fabrics, good value leather goods and, of course, carpets and kilims.

The shop keepers can be persistent but are always hospitable. Often an invitation into a shop will be accompanied by an offer of apple tea or Turkish coffee. If you don't want to buy anything just politely refuse. If you do, then get set to bargain. Offer about half the asking price, or below, and work from there. Have in your mind what you want to pay and stick to it.
Remember, always be polite. And if you do get exhausted with haggling there are plenty of little cafes to sit down in, have a drink and admire the bargains you've bought.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5069 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5068
A good place to shop for gifts to take home. Or some apple tea to accompany the tea glasses you buy at the Grand Bazaar.

The streets around the Spice Market, particularly leading up to the Grand Bazaar, are a crowded, vibrant noisy, confusion of people, shops, stalls and carts.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5068 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5058 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5058 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5036 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5036 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5008
Here you can buy practically any type of merchandise from authentic rugs, to leather goods and jewellery. Haggling is obligatory of course, but beware of pickpockets.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5008 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4199 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4199 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2760 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2760 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5137
That said, a little advice picked up from the experts in the business might be useful.

When looking for carpets, be sure to look around and compare before committing (a little home study before arriving is great too). Try to look for shops with serious tradition (family-owned is a good sign) and an attested reputation; such firms are keen to keep up their business and good name and enjoy repeat business- another good indicator.

Further, you'll be wise to demand Turkish rugs only, with certification. The last few years have seen a proliferation of cheap, mass-produced carpets from Afghanistan and Pakistan passed off as the real thing.

Third, avoid the touts and well-attired persuaders strategically located nearby the prime tourist sites; they are working on commission and not particularly scrupulous.

Now that you know what to look out for, where to go?

The Grand Bazaar is of course the prime place for shoppers (though not the only), teeming with over 4,000 shops of all kinds. Although there are many excellent carpet dealers, one unique and rather hip one is Ethnicon, a small but now quite well known outlet offering unique “fusion” rugs and wall hangings, or "kilims."

The vision of the company was to cater to an emerging market (the modern urban interior of varying degrees of minimalism) while at the same time addressing an acute need: the increasing scarcity of antique carpets coming from Anatolian family collections, which have gone from a flood to a trickle over the past 20 years.

To get around this lack, Ethnicon decided to use what was to be found from damaged antique partial carpets, nomad tent coverings, soft casings, scraps and so on, patching them all together through a 15-step process. The result is alluring rugs and wall decorations that combine old ingredients with modern deco tastes. With widespread media attention, the Ethnicon style has become a brand in its own right.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5137 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5116
On the other hand, in the Tahtakale market district, workers shout and make jokes with each other. You can find a variety of fantastic objects here.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5116