Nişantaşı is Istanbul's answer to Fifth Avenue or the Champs-Élysées. The neighborhood is the center of Turkish fashion and design, with international luxury brands sharing the streets with local Turkish designers. It also has some of the city's best cafés and restaurants, plus rows of Belle Époque buildings. If you want a polished, unhurried side of Istanbul, this is where to find it.

Trade here has connected Europe and Asia for over 500 years. The Grand Bazaar alone holds about 4,000 shops. Haggling is expected at most stalls, so take your time and compare prices.

Shoppers can find handmade crafts alongside standard souvenirs. The buildings themselves have housed merchants for centuries.

First-time visitors and solo travelers both manage easily here. The area is walkable, and staff at most sites are used to tourists.

Nearby bazaars sell Turkish crafts and souvenirs. Tea houses in the side streets are a good place to rest between sights.