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In a city 2000 years old, you'd expect to find some antiques. Istanbul certainly has them.

One of the favorite antique-hunting areas is the district called Çukurcuma in Beyoğlu (map). (The neighborhood's name is officially Firuzağa Mahallesi, but everyone knows it as Çukurcuma when it comes to antiques.)

From Istiklal Caddesi just east of Galatasaray Square, turn south down Turnacıbaşı Caddesi, pass the Galatasaray Hamamı Turkish bath and the Greek Consulate, then turn right on Faik Paşa Caddesi. If you get lost, just ask for the Çukurcuma Camii (mosque).

I hasten to draw the important distinction between antiques—objects up to a century or so old, interesting and perhaps pretty, but of no high cultural/artistic value—and antiquities, museum-quality objects more than a century old from Turkey's rich and deep past such as Hittite, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine, Selçuk and Ottoman artifacts, coins, statues, fine antique tiles and carpets, etc.

It's illegal to buy, sell, or export antiquities from Turkey. Penalties are severe. Don't do it! Stick to antiques. More...