Beşiktaş Saturday Market

The Beşiktaş Saturday Market (Cumartesi Pazarı) is one of Istanbul's largest weekly street markets, held every Saturday on the streets around the Beşiktaş ferry terminal. It's less famous than the Kadıköy Tuesday market but is conveniently located on the European side and accessible directly from Kabataş (one ferry stop or one tram stop north of Taksim).

The market has two parallel halves: a produce-and-fish half with seasonal vegetables, fresh herbs (the Turkish markets do fresh herbs exceptionally well), cheese, olives, dried fruits, honey, and fish straight off the boats — and a textiles-and-household-goods half with clothing, linens, kitchenware, shoes, and the cheap-but-surprisingly-decent Turkish towels and cotton dresses.

The market is at its peak around 10:00-12:00, then begins winding down by 14:00. Combine with a walk to the Dolmabahçe Palace or the Çırağan Palace Kempinski waterfront afterwards. Best for visitors who like real, working markets and are willing to navigate the prices with the vendors (they speak some English and the prices are genuinely local).

Saturdays only, 08:00-16:00. Free.