- Closest big mall
- Cevahir, one M2 stop from Osmanbey
- Most upmarket
- Zorlu Center and İstinye Park
- Opening hours
- Usually 10:00 to 22:00, every day
- In the neighbourhood
- City’s Nişantaşı, on Teşvikiye Street
Four of Istanbul’s best-known malls are within 5 to 30 minutes of Nişantaşı (Nisantasi). Cevahir is one stop north on the M2 metro and has mainly mid-range brands. Kanyon, at Levent station, and Zorlu Center, near Gayrettepe, are more upmarket, and Zorlu has its own performing arts centre. İstinye Park, the furthest away, has the widest choice of luxury brands and is easiest by taxi. Most malls are open every day from about 10:00 to 22:00.
Which mall should I go to?
| Mall | Style | From Osmanbey | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| City’s Nişantaşı | Small, upmarket | On foot, in the neighbourhood | A cinema, a quick meal or a rainy hour |
| Cevahir | Very large, mid-range | M2, 1 stop to Şişli-Mecidiyeköy | High-street brands, a big food court, families |
| Zorlu Center | Upmarket, with a performing arts centre | M2, 2 stops to Gayrettepe, then a walk through the tunnels; or 10 to 15 minutes by taxi | Luxury and premium brands, restaurants, concerts and musicals |
| Kanyon | Upmarket, partly open-air | M2, 3 stops to Levent, connected to the station | Architecture, premium brands, a relaxed lunch |
| İstinye Park | Large, luxury, with an open-air street | About 20 to 30 minutes by taxi | The widest choice of luxury labels under one roof |
| Galataport | Waterfront shopping street | M2 to Taksim, F1 funicular to Kabataş, T1 tram to Tophane | Shopping with a Bosphorus view, combined with Karaköy |
Travel times are typical for the middle of the day; in the evening rush hour, the metro is quicker than a taxi. Hours change on public holidays, so check a mall’s own website before a special trip.
Cevahir: the big all-rounder
One of the largest malls in the city, directly at Şişli-Mecidiyeköy station, one stop north of Osmanbey. It has mainly mid-range Turkish and international high-street brands, a large food court and a cinema. It is the easiest choice for an afternoon of everyday shopping, and busy at weekends.
Zorlu Center: luxury, food and shows
A modern complex between Gayrettepe and Zincirlikuyu with luxury and premium brands, a long list of restaurants and the Zorlu PSM performing arts centre, which stages concerts, musicals and festivals. Pedestrian tunnels link it to Gayrettepe metro station and the Zincirlikuyu metrobus stop. The mall is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. For a show in the evening, book tickets in advance.
Kanyon: open-air architecture at Levent
Kanyon takes its name from its design: a curving, partly open-air “canyon” of shops and terraces on several levels. It is directly connected to Levent station on the M2, three stops north of Osmanbey. The mix is upmarket but less formal than Zorlu or İstinye Park, and the terraces are pleasant for lunch on a dry day.
İstinye Park: the widest luxury choice
A large mall in İstinye, in the north of the European side, with an indoor section and an open-air shopping street. It has many international luxury houses and a market-style food hall. There is no metro station at the door, so a taxi is easiest: about 20 to 30 minutes from Nişantaşı outside the rush hour. On the metro, ride the M2 north to İTÜ-Ayazağa and take a short taxi from there.
Galataport: shopping on the water
Not a mall in the usual sense, but a waterfront promenade of shops, cafés and the Istanbul Modern museum, next to the cruise port in Karaköy. It is a good way to combine shopping with a Bosphorus view, and with lunch in Karaköy. From Nişantaşı, take the M2 to Taksim, the F1 funicular to Kabataş and the T1 tram two stops to Tophane.
Tips for shopping in the malls
- Tax-free: most international and many Turkish brands in these malls issue tax-free forms. Ask before you pay and keep the receipts together. See tax-free shopping.
- Security checks at the entrances are normal: bags go through a scanner, like at an airport.
- Sales usually run in January and from late June or July, with discounts around Black Friday in November. See the best time to visit.
- Taxis home: there are taxi ranks at the main entrances. Our taxi card has Nişantaşı addresses in Turkish to show the driver.
For the boutiques and designer streets in Nişantaşı itself, see shopping in Nişantaşı.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest mall to Nişantaşı?
City’s Nişantaşı, a small upmarket mall on Teşvikiye Street inside the neighbourhood. The closest large mall is Cevahir, one M2 metro stop away at Şişli-Mecidiyeköy.
How do I get from Nişantaşı to Zorlu Center?
Take the M2 metro two stops north from Osmanbey to Gayrettepe and follow the signs through the pedestrian tunnels, or take a taxi for about 10 to 15 minutes outside the rush hour.
Which mall in Istanbul has the most luxury brands?
İstinye Park and Zorlu Center have the widest choice of international luxury labels. In Nişantaşı itself, many luxury houses have street boutiques on Abdi İpekçi Street.
Are Istanbul malls open on Sundays?
Yes, the big malls are open every day, usually from about 10:00 to 22:00. Hours can change on public holidays.
Is Kanyon connected to the metro?
Yes. Kanyon is directly connected to Levent station on the M2 line, three stops north of Osmanbey.