Where to buy souvenirs and gifts in Istanbul (jewelry, soap, sweets)?

Souvenir shops in central Istanbul commonly sell plain olive oil soap — greyish or milky-white bars with an olive branch sticker, the most common and inexpensive option.

Plain candies in cellophane wrap (not Turkish delight, just regular hard candy/caramel) are sold in local grocery stores and markets, not only in tourist souvenir shops.

Some niche souvenir items are hard to find in Istanbul's online stores — if a search turns up nothing, it's better to look for it in person in small craft shops rather than rely on online search.

In the jewelry section of the Grand Bazaar it's fine to buy gold and silver — travelers report no major scams there, but check the purity stamp and negotiate the price.

Everyday items like super glue are sold in regular hardware or stationery stores in Istanbul — look outside tourist areas, in local shops.

For costume jewelry, head to Istiklal Street — it has a huge number of jewelry shops, so you're sure to find something you like.