Demiroren Istiklal

Located on Istiklal Caddesi, the commercial artery of modern Istanbul, Demirören is a shopping mall that’s designed in a lot of ways to bring Istanbul’s image into the 21st century, especially among foreign visitors. When you first enter, you’re immediately surprised by the eye-catching spiral escalators and the beautiful undulating glass atrium. As far as the stores go, there is a mix of big-name international chains like MediaMarkt, The Gap, and Guess Jeans as well as some interesting Turkish chains I had never seen before (and which come in handy if you’re looking to pick up a different souvenir). The real reason to visit Demirören, however, is for its luxurious 3-D cinema and its food court with balconies looking out over the street.