Who wouldn’t want to embark on a magical journey among the shelves that store time, breathing in the scent of old books! A poetry book that you heard about from a friend but is out of print, or that novel you read in your childhood and were very impressed with it but lost it over the course of years… Chasing after such special books is like building an emotional bridge with the past. Second-hand booksellers are the places where memories that connect the past and the present breathe. Moreover, visiting these places is not only a means for book lovers to reach rare second-hand books but also one of the best ways to protect memories that have been put away in chests. We have compiled the most beautiful second-hand booksellers of İstanbul, one of the first cities that comes to mind when you think of a second-hand bookstore, for book lovers.
At the Heart of History and Literature: Turkuaz Sahaf
Opened in 2001 by Emin Nedret İşli and Püzant Akbaş, both graduates of the Faculty of Letters, Turkuaz Sahaf is one of the most visited second-hand booksellers in Beyoğlu. In addition to being a second-hand bookseller, İşli is also a successful author who has written books such as Kitaphaneden Yayınevine Babıâli and Sahafname. This special second-hand bookseller is a frequent destination for book lovers, researchers, academics and collectors.
The collection of Turkuaz Sahaf includes various books in Ottoman Turkish, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, French, Turkish, English, Italian and German. Home to nearly 40 thousand works, the second-hand bookseller’s quality collection is not limited to history and literature; it is also possible to find books in areas such as bookbinding, medicine and law. Turkuaz Sahaf invites its visitors to a nostalgic journey by opening the doors to a completely different world.
A Corner from Wonderland: Beyoğlu Second-Hand Book Market
Beyoğlu Second-Hand Book Market, which has a deep-rooted history, is located on Sahne Sokak, right next to the historical Çiçek Pasajı on İstiklal Avenue. The reason why this place has become more remembered in recent years is the second-hand book market scene in the famous director Çağan Irmak’s film Issız Adam, which left its mark on a certain era.
There are so many things in this market. Such as rare books, old movie posters, magazines in almost every language, old records and cassettes… Statues, antiques, ethnic jewelry, brooches and watches are waiting for you at the side door of the market, which brings together many second-hand bookstores. If you would like to experience the second-hand bookshop culture and go back to the past while breathing in the historical atmosphere of Beyoğlu, you should definitely visit Beyoğlu Second-Hand Bookstore Bazaar.
A Place That is Scented with Tranquility: Heybeli Sahaf
Known as the “Zaman Satan Dükkân (The Shop That Sells Time)”, Heybeli Sahaf opened its doors as a small and charming shop in Beyoğlu in June 2011 under the name Sahaf Nazım Hikmet. It later moved to Heybeliada in 2016. This magnificent shop, which is visited by many visitors from outside the island in the summer, has also become a friendly meeting point for the islanders.
Owned by Sahaf Nazım Hikmet Erkan, this bookseller also has a fascinating story: Heybeli Sahaf purchases books from the flea markets, junk dealers, second-hand dealers and sometimes even from homes and carefully delivers them to book lovers. In addition to current books, the bookseller’s archive also includes Greek, English and French books from the 1800s. If you go to Heybeliada to tour the island, you should not leave without taking a step into this nostalgic world.
The Address of Nostalgia: Aslıhan Pasajı
Aslıhan Pasajı is one of the most well-known and busiest arcades in Beyoğlu Sahaflar Bazaar. With its old books of different genres, posters, comics and records, Aslıhan Pasajı is among the places that have not lost their spirit. Here, it is possible to find valuable classics, rare editions and almost every kind of old book that you can think of. You can see Aslıhan Pasajı when you enter the street right across from Galatasaray High School on İstiklal Street and you can evaluate every moment here as a journey of discovery.
End Your Literature Trip at Pera Palace Hotel!
Pera Palace Hotel, which wins the admiration of its visitors with its magnificent architecture and historical atmosphere, also has a very special place in the world of literature. This hotel, which has hosted many important writers in the past, includes famous writers such as Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway. Agatha Christie, the author of Murder on the Orient Express, frequently stayed in room 411. Pera Palace continues to be the apple of the eye of art and literature enthusiasts today.
After visiting the most beautiful second-hand bookstores in İstanbul, you can choose Pera Palace Hotel for a comfortable accommodation experience. You can taste the unique flavors in the elegant restaurants of the hotel, then browse through the books that you purchased from the second-hand bookstore while sipping your drink on the Orient Terrace. You can contact us right away and make a reservation to add value to your time by staying at Pera Palace Hotel.
You might also be interested in these articles:
• 10 Must-See Locations for Literature and Art Travelers in İstanbul
• World-Famous Author Agatha Christie and the Mysterious Story of Her Lost 11 Days
• Famous Guests of Pera Palace Hotel: Ernest Hemingway
• Passage Culture and Passages in Beyoğlu
• Top 8 Books Pera Palace Hotel is Mentioned In
