Buying a carpet in Istanbul – with a carpet expert at your side

A hand-knotted carpet is the most beautiful souvenir from Istanbul – and the one where it is easiest to overpay. On this day you learn in workshops, museums and selected dealers' houses what makes a good carpet, and in the end you buy only if you want to. I receive no commission.

Highlights

• Independent advice: no commission, no sales stops
• Knot density, wool, silk, vegetable dyes – check quality with your own hands
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts: the historic models
• Workshop and dealer visits in the bazaar quarter of your choice
• Negotiation, certificate of authenticity, shipping and customs explained
• No obligation to buy – you decide

Full description

Anatolian carpets, kilims, Hereke silk, nomad pieces from the east: the choice in Istanbul is huge, the price range even bigger. I show you how to check knot density and material, tell natural dyes from chemical ones, read origin claims and recognise a fair price.

We start in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts with the historic masterpieces, then visit a weaving workshop and two or three dealers of different character. If you want to buy, I negotiate with you – if not, it was a day full of craft and stories.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• 1 · Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
  Seljuk and Ottoman carpets as the benchmark.
• 2 · Weaving workshop
  How a knot is made, how long a square metre takes.
• 3 · Dealers in the bazaar quarter
  Anatolian village rugs, kilims, Hereke silk – comparison and negotiation.
• 4 · Grand Bazaar
  On request the carpet halls and the courtyards of the old caravanserais.
• 5 · Your purchase or your verdict
  Certificate, shipping home, customs questions.

Included

• 7 hours private, state-licensed guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Planning, coordination and time management of the day
• Headsets for groups of 16 or more
• Independent advice without commission
• Support with negotiation, certificate and shipping

Not included

• Entrance fees and donations
• Lunch and drinks
• Vehicle and transfers, optional
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

Choose your meeting point in the form: your hotel lobby, the Galataport cruise terminal or Sultanahmet at the fountain between Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Please arrive five minutes early; if you are late I wait up to 20 minutes.

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

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Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Budget – Tell me your price range in advance – then I choose the right dealers.
• Customs and shipping – Dealers ship worldwide; I explain your country's import rules before you buy.
• Time – Good buying decisions need time; we do not rush.