Of course the Grand Bazaar is the top attraction of most tourists and I have to say the same for locals for shopping. If you are shopping oriented you cannot say that its fulfilled unless you have a stop at the Grand Bazaar. Its deep, narrow pathways resemble an Eastern labyrinth with Western touches. It comprises a dozen of hundred shops all with various products. It’s said by the locals that you need to be stupid not to find what you are looking for in the Grand Bazaar.

Anyway my topic is obviously not the Grand Bazaar but a shop I often visit within the complex. Its called ‘Dervis’ like the dervish swirling in a Sufi ritual. It specializes in handcrafted products from textiles, to soaps, to accessories. It offers products all over Turkey that have been hand-made by artisans living in villages.

Dervis is the gateway or a bridge for the villagers to show off their products to the rest of the world. Whenever I need bath accessories, soaps or even traditionally knitted toys I have a stop at Dervis. They have been around for the last 5 years and have been sustainable with all their products.

It’s like the off-the-beaten-path shop for me in the Grand Bazaar. Once you enter you cannot stop shopping. I would especially insist that you buy some hand made soap. And if you are looking for an ethnic present this is your stop.