Tourists who come to visit Istanbul usually stay in Sultanahmet, Beyoglu (Taksim), Besiktas and Kadikoy. Especially Taksim Square and its surroundings stand out among these accommodation areas. For this reason, one of the most curious things for those who visit Istanbul is the shopping malls near Taksim Square.
There are many shopping centers that you can easily reach from Taksim Square. The closest of these is Demiroren Shopping Mall, but there are other places where you can go in a very short time by public transportation or taxi.
Of course, when it comes to Taksim, shopping malls are not the only option to go shopping. Istiklal Avenue, which is only a walking distance from Taksim Square, and the historical passages in the streets surrounding it also offer many options.
There are many traditional passages such as Beyoglu Is Merkezi (Beyoglu Business Center), especially for those who want to shop for cheap clothes.
I had previously written an article on this site detailing the passages on Istiklal Street. If you are going to shop in the passages of Istiklal Street, which has a history of more than a hundred years, the article on the best shopping places in Istanbul can guide you. However, in this article, we will focus more on modern shopping malls around Taksim Square.
Shopping Malls near Taksim Square
Most of the shopping malls around Taksim Square are not within walking distance. However, if you take the metro from Taksim Square, you can easily get off at one of the Mecidiyekoy, Sisli, Gayrettepe and Levent stops and reach the shopping places I have listed below.
1. Demiroren Shopping Mall
Demiroren Shopping Mall is located on Istiklal Avenue. This shopping center, which is only a 5-minute walk from Taksim Square, offers you reasonable options.
If you are in a hurry about shopping and want to buy souvenirs quickly without leaving Istanbul, I can recommend Demiroren Shopping Mall. However, when you compare it with the other shopping malls on our list, this is a small place.
There are some shops of famous local fashion brands in this shopping center. However, I recommend you to take a tour of Istiklal Street after shopping here. If you walk in the direction of Galata Tower after leaving here, you can find many other options.
Especially Galip Dede Street, which starts at the end of İstiklal Street and extends to Galata Tower, is very popular these days. Recently, many boutique hotels, cafes and gift shops have opened on this street. You can buy many souvenirs about Istanbul in Galata area, which has become a touristic center.
2. Cevahir Shopping Mall
Cevahir Shopping Mall is among the biggest shopping centers not only in Istanbul but also in Europe. Cevahir, which is the most attractive place among the shopping malls near to Taksim Square, has more than 200 stores.
Cevahir Shopping Center, where you can find the most popular local clothing brands, was designed not only as a shopping center but also as a culture and art center. There are some of the best movie theaters in Istanbul in Cevahir, in addition, there is a stage of the Istanbul State Theater.
In order to get to Cevahir Shopping Mall you can take the metro from Taksim Square and get off at Sisli/ Mecidiyekoy station. If you follow the Sisli exit while exiting the metro station, you can get right in front of Cevahir.
3. Kanyon Shopping Mall
Kanyon Shopping Mall is one of the first open-air shopping centers in Istanbul. Kanyon, which has a wonderful design, is home to shops of quite luxurious brands.
Kanyon does not only appeal to shoppers, but also to those who are fond of their taste buds. You can also have a nice lunch or dinner in Kanyon, which has branches of many famous restaurants.
You can take the metro from Taksim Square to reach Kanyon, which is located in Levent. When you take the metro from Taksim, you can get off at the 4th stop, Levent, and from there you can walk to Kanyon Shopping Mall.
4. City’s Nisantasi
City’s Nisantasi is one of the small shopping malls in Istanbul. The reason we recommend this mall is because it has excellent options for those who love to shop around. Because Nisantasi neighborhood is a paradise for those who want to shop for clothing in Istanbul.
City’s Nisantasi is located in the middle of Nisantasi, one of the most luxurious districts of Istanbul. City’s, a mall preferred by celebrities, also offers rich options for eating and drinking. The mall, which has many famous restaurants on the food floor, manages to attract the attention of gourmets.
After shopping in City’s Nisantasi, you can also visit Nisantasi’s boutiques. Because designers who closely follow the fashion developments in the world are usually located in this district. In this sense, Nisantasi is an ideal place to shop for women’s clothing.
5. IstinyePark
IstinyePark is among the most luxurious shopping malls in Istanbul. IstinyePark, the most popular option in our list of shopping malls close to Taksim, is a place that has been awarded the “Best Shopping Center” several times in the past.
You can find the stores of the world’s most famous clothing brands at IstinyePark. Attracting attention with its proximity to the most luxurious districts of Istanbul along the Bosphorus, IstinyePark is a place frequented by many famous names.
IstinyePark has many options for shopping, dining and sports enthusiasts. This shopping mall is located 12 kilometers from Taksim Square. Although it may seem remote at first glance, it can be easily reached from Taksim by public transportation.
If you take the metro from the metro station in Taksim Square, you can get off at the 8th stop (ITU-Ayazaga) and walk to IstinyePark. Although it is a bit further away than other shopping centers on our list, it will be worth the trouble with the shopping experience it promises.
Other Shopping Places Around Taksim Square
There are many shopping places around Taksim Square besides shopping malls. Among these, we can mention Istiklal Street, Galata and Karakoy as well. For example, Serdar-i Ekrem Street, near Galata Tower, is one of the popular shopping streets of recent times.
If you descend to the sea level from Yuksek Kaldirim Street following Galata Tower, you can reach Karakoy. There are many shops in Karakoy that sell especially outdoor equipment. Thus, you can buy brands such as North Face, Columbia and Jack Wolfskin from Karakoy at outlet prices.
In addition to these, there are many beautiful antique shops on Cukurcuma Street in Cihangir. Cukurcuma, one of the few places where you can shop for antiques in Istanbul, is also home to Orhan Pamuk’s (Nobel laureate writer) Museum of Innocence. In addition, there are fine clothing boutiques on Bogazkesen Street, which runs between Cihangir and Tophane.
If you like walking, you can cross the Galata Bridge and go to Eminonu (Istanbul Old City). Thus, you will leave Beyoglu, but you can find very cheap clothing items in Eminonu, the most important shopping area of the Historic Peninsula. Mahmutpasa Bazaar, starting from the back street of the Spice Bazaar, is the ideal address for cheap clothing shopping in Istanbul.
Further Reading About Shopping Malls
If you are curious about other shopping centers that are not close to Taksim, you can also take a look at our article on the best shopping malls in Istanbul. In this article, the most important shopping centers in Istanbul’s European and Asian sides are listed.
Shopping Near Taksim Square by Serhat Engul
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