A shopaholic's dream street

Noteworthy for: Rental charges make it the most expensive street in Turkey and one of the top 20 most expensive streets in the world.

Talk of the town: Formerly known as Emlak Street, its name was changed after Turkish journalist Abdi Ipekçi was assassinated there in 1979.

First-time visitors to the city often overlook the upscale Nişantaşi/Teşvikiye neigbourhood, mainly because it lacks history. But the area, and particularly the ultra-European Abdi Ipekçi Street, is a shopaholic’s dream where international luxury brands – among them Chanel, Prada and Gucci – rub shoulders with high-end Turkish designers, such as Vakko, Arzu Kaprol and Atil Kutoğlu. On special occasions, they even roll out a red carpet along the street.