Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

NEED TO KNOW

Opening Hours The most common shopping hours are from 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, but this is by no means always the case. We have indicated specific hours in most reviews. Taxes & Refunds Turkey has a value-added tax (VAT), known as the katma değer vergisi (KDV). This means that a tax of between 1% and 60% is included in the price of most goods and services. Rates vary wildly – eg alcohol is taxed at 18% (producers also pay a tax of 50%), whereas food and books are taxed at 8%. If you buy an item costing more than ₺ 118 from a shop that participates in the national ‘Global Refund: Tax Free Shopping’ scheme, you are entitled to a refund of the KDV at your point of departure. At the airport, remember to have customs inspect your purchase(s) and stamp your tax-free form before you go through immigration; you can then collect your refund near the food court in the departure lounge. A Sultanahmet & Around Top-notch ceramics, rug and bath-ware stores are found in and around the Arasta Bazaar. A Bazaar District Options galore in the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar and streets between the two. A Beyoğlu Galata, Cihangir, Karaköy and Çukurcuma are bursting with fashion boutiques, designer homewares stores and antique shops. A Beşiktaş, Nişantaşı & Ortaköy International and local designer fashion can be sourced from the upmarket boutiques in Nişantaşı. Lonely Planet’s Top Choices Shopping by Neighbourhood

Hiç Designer homewares made by local and international artisans.