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Istanbul, which is sometimes called the “bridge between Europe and Asia,” offers a range of items that have Asian, European or Middle Eastern traditions and tastes. This unique shopping experience is strongly appealing for a trip to Turkey, and the two largest bazaars are in the old urban area of Istanbul. Grand Bazaar, which is called the “roofed market” in Turkish, was built in the 15th century. The streets are like a maze crammed with about 5,000 stores selling a range of goods from turquoise, gold and silver and other jewelry to carpets, Kelims, clothing and antique goods. The products on display fill the small shops to the ceiling. Hours 8:30-19:00(each store is different) Closed Sundays The Egyptian Bazaar was opened by renovating part of a mosque at the foot of the Garata Bridge in the 17th century and it has a more approachable atmosphere than the Grand Bazaar. Many of the 80 shops here sell groceries, household commodities, spices and many other daily necessities for local people. With the growing number of tourists in recent years, jewelry stores and souvenir shops are also on the rise. Hours 8:00-19:30(each store is different) Closed Sundays Many of the items on sale in bazaars, other than daily necessities, do not bear price tags which makes bargaining a necessary part of the sale. One should be aware of common rates for certain products by comparing prices at several stores. Since the sellers initially quote very high prices when dealing with tourists, it is important to barter persistently whilst enjoying the often provided complimentary spiced tea. If you pay cash or buy in bulk, you can get larger discounts. Should you encounter trouble with street hawkers, visit the police office inside the bazaar. Do not carrying large amounts of cash and always being vigilant with your belongings to avoid pickpockets.Decide what to buy first, and then go to banks or exchange counters inside the bazaar. Carpets and Kelims are the two most typical Turkish souvenirs. Carpets feature beautiful pattern and are handmade with a double knot system making them very hard wearing. Kelims are plain-woven wool carpets and traditional colors and patterns differ by area of production. Kelims are foldable, lighter and less expensive than carpets. Although carpets are made of various materials such as wool, silk or wool-cotton blends, it is difficult to judge the quality of carpets. It is important to develop an eye for high quality by looking carefully at a wide range of different carpets. Choose stores that handle carpets with regular price tags. From the reverse side of each product, check for irregular knots and holes, as well as color shading and uneven patterns. Also check to see if it makes a perfect rectangle by folding it by half. Turquoise is a common Turkish jewel and because of an old legend that states happiness descends from the blue sky, deep blue stones are the favorite of local people. Various designs of turquoise jewelry are less expensive than in Japan. Although valuable stones are sometimes priced at several hundreds of US dollars, simple necklaces are sold for around 20 US dollars. Tiles that adorn the Turkish palaces and mosques are made by hand from painting to finishing. Tiles colored with traditional Iznic blue and Armenian red are varied in pattern and design and can be purchased from around 65 US dollars.