Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is known as the first shopping mall ever built. Starting off as a warehouse commissioned by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, the building grew throughout the years to its current, truly grand size.

The bazaar's over 4,000 shops offer everything from silk wares to lanterns to jewelry, and of course Turkish delight and coffee. It's the ideal spot to score an authentic souvenir and brush up on your bargaining skills. So while you won't be alone in your visit — the bazaar sees more than half a million visitors on some days — you'll still be happy you got to participate in such a unique shopping experience.