Which stores to check
As of 3 November 2026 we found no Black Friday 2026 programme published on the official sites of the stores named here. Dates, discounts and exclusions are set by each store: check Zorlu Center, İstinye Park, Kanyon a few days before. To plan the rest: store opening hours, shopping malls, what to bring back from Istanbul, Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar, Zorlu Center.
Opening hours on Friday 27 and Sunday 29 November
For Friday 27 November and Sunday 29 November 2026 we found no special opening hours published on the stores' official sites as of 3 November 2026. Check each store's site or app the day before, especially for Sunday.
The Grand Bazaar: getting there and opening hours
Istanbul has no outlet village comparable to those of the other cities: the main shopping destination remains the Grand Bazaar (place guide: Grand Bazaar), where entry is free. The tourist guides we checked on 3 November 2026 agree that it is closed on Sundays, so on Sunday 29 November, and give hours of roughly 09:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Saturday; we found no official source, so verify before you go. The shopping malls (Zorlu Center, İstinye Park, Kanyon) remain the Sunday option.
Tax refund for non-EU visitors
Türkiye: VAT can be refunded to non-resident visitors who export their purchases (the "tax free" scheme), but we could not read an official page from the tax administration (gib.gov.tr) giving the minimum purchase amount for 2026. Ask the shop whether it takes part and what the minimum is, keep the invoice and the goods with you until the check on departure, and confirm the rule with the administration before you buy. To choose what to buy: what to bring back from Istanbul.
Efsane Cuma, the Turkish Black Friday
In Türkiye, Black Friday is called "Efsane Cuma" (the "legendary Friday"). Turkish press, read on 3 November 2026, places it on Friday 27 November 2026, but notes that many retailers and online platforms launch their campaigns well before: some outlets report a start on 1 November ("Efsane Kasım"), others a peak week from 23 to 29 November. These are press expectations, not official announcements from the retailers: read each campaign's conditions before you buy.
Avoiding the crowds
A few habits that work everywhere: - Shop early on Friday morning or on a weekday: Saturday afternoon is usually the busiest time. - Keep your passport with you: the tax refund and some discounts require ID. - Note an item's price a week earlier: a crossed-out price is not always a real cut. - Read the return policy and the exclusions, and leave room (and weight) in your suitcase.
Booking the trip or the tour
To shop with a guide, we feature the GetYourGuide activity "Istanbul: Grand Bazaar Shopping Experience with a Local" (link in the booking box on this page). Check the departure point, duration and price on the activity page before booking.
