5 Best Shopping in Sultanahmet, Istanbul

Just behind the Blue Mosque, the Arasta Bazaar is a walkway lined with shops selling items similar to those you'll find at the Grand Bazaar (primarily carpets, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and other handicrafts), at sometimes lower prices. The atmosphere is also considerably calmer, and, unlike the Grand Bazaar, the Arasta is open on Sunday and stays open later (until about 9 pm).

If you're looking for books about Turkey, this is the place to visit. The two Galeri Kayseri shops (the storefronts simply say "Bookshop") are across the street from one another, and between them you'll find an outstanding collection of nonfiction books about Turkey in a variety of subject areas, as well as a selection of Turkish and Turkey-related novels and elegant coffee-table books on Islamic art, architecture, and culture. Number 58 is the main store, No. 11 is across the street.

The collection at Gallery Aydın includes high-end antique Turkish, Persian, Georgian, and Caucasian carpets dating from as early as the 16th century. Dealer Adnan Aydın seriously knows his rugs and also specializes in repairing and restoring antique pieces.

If you are looking for handwoven pestamels (thin, flat-woven towels), blankets, bedpsreads, curtains, or upholstery material, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better source than this inviting shop in the Arasta Bazaar behind the Blue Mosque. There's a larger showroom nearby ( Ogul Sok. No: 20).

You can find carved meerschaum pipes in many shops in the Grand Bazaar, as well as in many antique shops, but the collection here is extensive. The shop, founded by Bilal Donmez, is now run by his son, Bulent Donmez, and has a very helpful staff and reliably good wares, including other high-quality handicrafts.