Even though Euro and US dollars are used in travel
industry and by tourist hotels as price indicator,
official currency is Turkish Lira in Turkey. Major
credit cards and cash payments in Euro and US
Dollars are accepted in most shops and restaurants. You
are still advised to exchange small amount of currency
into Turkish Lira for minor daily shopping. It is wise
to change your money during office hours in day time at
the foreign exchange offices, available abundantly in
central districts.
You can see the live exchange rates vs 1 Turkish
Lira in below chart. You can change the each currency
amounts there as you wish.The exchange offices would
apply slightly higher rates when you sell a foreign
currency, lower rates when you buy it.
.
HairCenter
Web :
Haircenter.com.tr &
Facebook &
Instagram
Address:
Bagdat Caddesi, No 498, Bostancı,Kadıköy / Istanbul
LGBT+ friendly hair implant, transplantation and
treatment center. It is located on the Asian side of
Istanbul, roughly 5 minutes walking distance from
Bostancı station of Marmaray subway line, to which you
can get on from Yenikapı or Sirkeci stations near the
city center on the European side." (added on March
21st, 2022)
Sun Vital Solarium
Address: Valikonagi Caddesi
Sair Nigar
Sokak No.1, Kat 2 Nisantasi / Istanbul
Web:
Facebook.com/sunvitalnisantasi
A modest LGBT friendly solarium
center in upscale Nisantasi district. The prices are
reasonable (around 10 $ per session). It is located on
the 2nd floor and entrance is from the Sair Nigar
side-street at the connection of famous Valikonagi
street.
There are are many erotic
shops (Erotik Shop, in Turkish) around Taksim district where you can also find most
adult products gay men would need. Although they
are not explicitly gay-friendly, you can feel
comfortable in erotic shops if you need anything. They
are easy to find on Google map if you
search as
"erotik shop" .
Istanbul
has been a shopper's paradise for more than 1,500 years,
famed as the trading point connecting the Silk Road from
China with Europe. Here are major shopping spots of
Istanbul
Grand Bazaar
The Grand bazaar (called Kapali Carsi-Covered
Bazaar in daily local language) is a labyrinth of hundreds of streets
accommodating thousands of shops near the old city. Main
entrance of the bazaar is from Beyazit district. Grand
Bazaar could mainly be recommended for tourist shopping
or buying souvenirs. Shops selling same kind of products
are gathered along the same street usually. For example,
there are streets composed of shops selling only
leather, carpets, jewelers, silver, tourist souvenirs,
handcrafts, textile products, bags, belts, pottery etc.
Sultanahmet
Sultanahmet is the district at the heart of the old city
housing the most famous tourist attraction of Istanbul.
Sultanahmet is also famous with many carpet shops
exhibiting the best selections of hand made Turkish
carpets, rugs and kilims. Traditional Turkish carpets
are most famous in the world with their designs
reflecting the pure and innocent feelings of the eastern
people. Some of these carpets are masterpieces of art
competing with the paintings of Renaissance painters.
Istiklal Caddesi
The central street of the town of Beyoglu, starting from
Taksim square, ending at Tunel district. This street is
closed to the traffic all the way and divides the night
life area into two, where most of the gay venues are
also dotted around. The shops along the street are
mostly dress shops selling fashion products of different
kind and quality. There are also various restaurants, a
few leather shops, bookstores, music shops along the
street. The night life is mainly on the narrow side
streets connecting to Istiklal.
Nisantasi
The up-market shopping district of Istanbul. You can
find the most famous brand names of the world such as
Mango, Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss as well the most trendy
local fashion shops competing with them in quality and
style in this area. Neighborhood of Tesvikye / Nisantasi
is where Turkey’s top designers have their outlets. Good
streets to try are those around Valikonagi Caddesi and
Abdi Ipekçi Caddesi. Turkey is a major textile producer
and exporter in the world. Many of the international
brand-names are also being produced in their factories
in Turkey.
Cukurcuma
Cukurcuma is a part of Beyoglu district that sometimes
fell prey to time but always regained its popularity.
Even if it is known as a center where old objects of the
Ottomans are collected, it is actually the meeting point
for antique lovers While walking around Cukurcuma you
see that each antique shop has a different style.
Designs of shops and objects reveal inner worlds of
their owners. At the same time periodical changes in
Cukurcuma cause changes in objects that are purchased
and sold. Click here for Google map locating Cukurcuma
street
Tahtakale
A maze old traditional shopping streets, manly inhabited
by Turks from allover the city. Tahtakale, Uzuncarsi and
Kasircilar streets are the ones you must see aligned
with shops selling turned wood, kitchen items, new and
used clothing, toys, backgammon sets, and everything
imaginable. The streets are very busy with human traffic
(no cars allowed) filled with shoppers, porters carrying
huge loads, cars and trucks trying to deliver goods to
the shops, which sell beads, fire arms, luggage, mosque
decorations, apparel—anything and everything.
There are
many shops and fashion boutiques at different malls in
several districts. In these malls you can easily find
modern shopping items at very attractive rates besides
well-known brands from fashion centers of the world.
Demiroren Istiklal
The location of this mall makes this one a unique mall.
Though the building seems to be in-line with the other
original buildings in that street, a shopping center
does not fit the wind of Istiklal avenue where there are
already many independent shops selling similar products.
In Demiroren you'll find around a dozen of dress shops,
a couple of fast food-chain restaurants and a huge
techno market at the basement floor. There is a cinema
at the top floor, and the entrance is designed very
creatively.
Cevahir
Opened on October 15, 2005, Cevahir is a modern shopping
and entertainment center located in the Mecidiyekoy
district of Istanbul, Turkey. Cevahir Mall is the
largest shopping mall in Europe, and the second largest
shopping mall in the world.1. It has a direct connection
from the second subway station (Mecidiyekoy / Sisli)
when you depart from Taksim. Cevahir is attracting the
middle class and younger people, more.
Istinye Park
Istinye Park is a deluxe shopping center
over international standards, located in the Istinye
quarter of Istanbul, with 291 stores, 85,250 sqm of
retail area, and four levels of underground parking. The
center includes an authentic Turkish food bazaar- a
traditional market place, inspired by Turkish
architecture and history. Istinye Park is comparatively
far from city center. The nearest metro station
ITU / Ayazaga is about 1 km away; from where you can
take a taxi, public bus or walk a while.
.
City's Nisantasi
City's Nisantasi, opened in 2008, is a Saks
Fifth Avenue style shopping mall which aims at the
high-end consumer group and is mostly dedicated to the
famous fashion brands.
Kanyon
Kanyon Shopping Mall is located at 4. Levent
quarter. Fourth Subway station from Taksim. Right at the
heart of Istanbul’s hustle and bustle, a new concept has
awakened, turning heads, inspiring gasps of wonder, and
changing notions of what contemporary urban life can
look like. Kanyon’s four winding retail levels offer
unique views of a shifting landscape as well as a
passageway to some of the world’s best brands. It is
defines as modern Grand Bazaar by some people.
Metro City
Metrocity, opened on April 30, 2003, is a
modern shopping mall in the finance and business quarter
of 1. Levent in Istanbul, Turkey with a direct
connection to 1. Levent subway station. (4th station
from Taksim) The complex is comprised of a 24-storey
office tower and two residential buildings, each having
26 floors. Metrocity features 140 stores offering
international and domestic labels, variety of
restaurants and cafeterias on 4 floors with a covered
area of 60,000 m²
The popular gay and lesbian friendly hotel in the past few weeks
Read More
A private gay guide will accompany your first nights in Istanbul
Read More
