I was researching malls in Istanbul.... Here in the US malls usually open late at noon and  close early on Sunday at 6:00pm. Imagine my surprise when I researched that shopping malls in Turkey stay open from 10:00am to 10:00pm daily! Anyway it made me so happy as I will arrive on Sunday just in time to hopefully spend some Turkish Liras at a shopping mall...

My question is this...I am leaning to Metrocity as it seems not too posh or swanky. Because I surely won´t be dressed too swanky.  But Akmerkez does seem so inviting as do Kanyon. Does anybody have any information on the best mall for an ordinary tourist like myself?

Someone who lives in Istanbul would probably best answer this question..

 I spent few hours in Olivium mall, in this february, and I can say that was extraordinary...I found a lot of quality clothes at very lower prices - 5 times sales...I havent words to describe this nall. there are a lot of malls in my country, but Olivium seems the best. We can find here a list http://www.letsgoistanbul.com/malls.htm

Capacity and Carousel are cheap for shopping in Bakırköy

Cevahir has thousand of alternatives you can do at but it is a little expensive

If you are going to make shopping, never go to the Kanyon because you may have to spend your fortune

Malls of Beylikdüzü shine too, now they build new one to Avcılar, by the name of "Pelican"

If you are looking for cheap outlets, 212 at Güneşli community of Bağcılar is very appropriate,

Zeytinburnu´s Olivium is another good place for outlet

Note: I know istanbul since i was born, so you can trust at me

 But.. but .. but.. You´re a guy What do you know about it

Sorry couldn´t resist

For me the best shopping mall in Istanbul so far is "Istiye Park"

http://www.istinyepark.com/main_en.html

check it out

then i would prefer "Kanyon"

At Kanyon;

A sandwich: 25 TL

A hat appropriate to fashion: 125 TL

Subway Cost: 1.5 TL

But meeting and asking a sign from a movie star is beyond the prices 

Note: ForumIstanbul of Bayrampaşa is going to beat them all

There are shops from every range in Kanyon but the atmosphere and the open walking areas are giving a peaceful time to spend in there... everything is not the money

I am talking about the shopping here, not traveling inside the malls. If you want a mall to travel inside, you can travel Cevahir, it is like a maze

Kanyon is very unappropriate at winters, it snows and rains inside the mall

 Tastes differ but this never changes the fact that Kanyon is legend in not only in Istanbul but also in Turkey...

and i have answered you also about shopping with the sentece "there are shops from every range".  If you dont want to pay 25tl for sandwich or 40tl for a nice dish at NumNum, you can go McDonalds etc... If you dont want to buy from Vakko or HarveyNichols, you can visit MaviJeans, Levi´s etc.. etc..