Best ways to fly to Istanbul for shopping

If you live in Northern Cyprus and want to fit everything into a single day without an overnight stay, the most convenient format is a morning flight from Ercan Airport and an evening return on the same day. There are two options: fly into Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Asian side of Istanbul) and shop near the airport (for example, Viaport Asia Outlet 5 km away), or fly into the New Istanbul Airport (European side) and go to shopping centers along the M7 metro line (for example, Cevahir via a transfer at Kağıthane). During sales and with early booking, tickets can sometimes be found starting from approximately 960 TL, but the price depends on the date and demand, so check the cost at the time of purchase.

It is no secret that Northern Cyprus does not have a very large selection of goods and brands. Therefore, it sometimes makes sense to fly to Istanbul for shopping.

Moreover, considering that clothing is more expensive on the island than in Turkey, it can also be economically viable: flights from Ercan to Istanbul can sometimes be found for 1000 TL.

We will tell you about one-day shopping routes because if you are ready to spend the night in Istanbul, you can easily visit many shopping centers. But without an overnight stay, with a morning arrival in Istanbul and an evening flight back to Northern Cyprus, it is realistic to do some quality shopping in one or two shopping centers near the airport.

• One-day shopping route to Sabiha Gökçen
• One-day shopping route to the New Airport
• Frequently asked questions about shopping in Istanbul

One-day shopping route to Sabiha Gökçen

For such a route, you will need to fly early in the morning from Ercan with Pegasus or Anadolujet airlines — they are the ones that fly to Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) in the Asian part of Istanbul.

Viaport Asia Outlet

Next, you should leave the airport and head to Viaport Asia Outlet Shopping — it is located just 5 kilometers away. You can walk, take the UM73 bus, or take a taxi — it will be inexpensive via the app.

This is a huge open-air outlet center with many shops, including brands such as Escada, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Mango, Lacoste, Adidas, Under Armour, Reebok, Puma, and many other clothing and footwear brands.

Anatolium Marmara

If you have a desire to furnish your home, it is better to go to this shopping center. The choice of clothing there is not as wide as in the previous outlet, but there is everyone's favorite IKEA. To get to Anatolium, you need to go down to the metro without leaving the airport and ride a few stations to the Hastane-Adliye stop; it will take about half an hour.

Maltepe Park

Located at the same metro station as Anatolium. It makes sense to go there for electronics; the following brands and retail chains are represented in the shopping center: Media Markt, Bosch, LG, Samsung, Siemens, Teknosa, and others.

If you want "neighborhood shopping" rather than just shopping centers

If you are ready to add 3–6 hours to your trip (or stay overnight), "shopping districts" are popular in Istanbul, where there are many shops of a certain profile. For example, Osmanbey is often chosen for textiles and clothing, Laleli for wholesale streets (sometimes they sell retail too), and Zeytinburnu for leather and fur. A detailed review of districts, shopping centers, and outlets can be found in a separate guide: Shopping in Istanbul: popular places, where and what to buy.

One-day shopping route to the New Airport

In this case, you will need to fly in the morning with Turkish Airlines (all flights) or Pegasus (less frequent, but such flights exist) — they land at the New Istanbul Airport (IST) in the European part of the city.

The simplest option is to shop right in the Duty Free zone, where more than 100 boutiques of world-famous luxury brands in the Bosphorus Zone offer the opportunity to discover the latest fashion trends and a privileged world of luxury, but only upon departure from the New Airport (IST).

Cevahir

Getting to this Istanbul shopping center from the New Airport is quite easy by public transport: by metro with a transfer at Kağıthane station (the transfer is above ground, be careful), and then two stops along the M7 line to Mecidiyeköy station. As for the shopping center itself, it needs no introduction; it has almost everything: 6 floors, 420,000 sq. m., and 343 stores.

Kanyon and Metrocity

From the already familiar Mecidiyeköy station on the M7 line, you need to transfer to the M2 metro line (it will be called Şişli) and ride a few stations to the Levent stop. Here, almost next to each other, are also very famous Istanbul shopping centers — Kanyon and Metrocity.

Another option on the European side: Venezia Mega Outlet

If the goal is outlets rather than just classic shopping centers, Venezia Mega Outlet is popular in Istanbul. It is located near the Karadeniz Mahallesi metro station (M7 line) and the Kiptaş-Venezia tram stop (T4 line). This is convenient because you can fit it into a day when you are already using the M7.

Shopping centers: Istinye Park, Zorlu Center, and EMAAR Square Mall combine not only mass-market stores but also represent most famous brands, including: Armani, Bottega Venetta, Brunello Cucinelli, Burberry, Cacharel, Cartier, Celine, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Dior, Dolce&Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Hugo Boss, Karen Millen, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Miu Miu, Moncler, Prada.

Frequently asked questions about shopping in Istanbul

Is it possible to fly out from a different airport on the same day?

Yes, it is possible, and if you arrive in the morning and depart late in the evening, you might even have time to visit one of the shopping centers. We have a detailed guide on how to change airports in Istanbul.

Which airlines fly to Istanbul from Ercan?

Turkish Airlines fly to Ercan from Istanbul (from the New Airport), as well as Pegasus and Anadolujet (from Sabiha Gökçen).

Can two people use one transport card?

In Istanbul's public transport, the Istanbulkart is often used. In typical scenarios, people pass through the turnstile one by one by tapping the same card several times, so for a couple, this can be a convenient option for a short day.