The annual Istanbul Shopping Fest (ISF) will hold its sixth festival from July 1 to the end of the month, hosting well-known organizations and entertainment venues. Several stores are already gearing up to welcome guests with fun activities for the kids and shopping discounts of up to 50 percent for visitors from all around the world.The shopping fest will attract fashion lovers from around Turkey and abroad, offering world brands from a variety of sectors, ranging from food and clothing to electronics and entertainment. Shopping halls will feature various entertainment venues and local shopping malls around Istanbul will keep their doors open until midnight during the fest. The famous İstiklal Avenue in Taksim will be included in the program, along with malls in Nişantaşı, Kadıköy and Maltepe, as well as historical shopping hotpoints such as the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar.Spice BazaarThe festival will have main venues on both the European and Asian side of Istanbul; namely, at Zorlu Center, the Akasya Mall, the Cevahir Mall, the Akmerkez Mall, the Palladium Mall, Bağdat Avenue, Forum Istanbul, Özdilek Park and the Akbatı Mall.Foreigners will find unique souvenirs and plenty of other surprises from world famous brands at the Grand and Spice Bazaars which will give their homes a touch of Istanbul.Performances, activities and shows which promote Ottoman and Turkish culture will be held in the Grand Bazaar, one of the best spots to experience the city's architectural history and cultural richness. Delicate displays of Turkish craftsmanship will attract foreigners with ceramic art, unique rugs and carpets along with textiles, fabrics, accessories and jewelry in the Grand Bazaar. On the other hand, the Spice Bazaar offers authentic spices and desserts in every color of the rainbow as well as handcrafted textiles that offer visitors a glimpse into Ottoman culture. If you're looking for luxury shopping, İstinye Park and Zorlu Center are ready to satisfy the cravings of shopaholics with special discounts on world famous brands and other treats. Stores offering name-brand apparel will offer customers serious discounts on products from the previous season as well as the new season. Numerous concerts, panels, children's shows, parties, fashion shows and competitions will be held and cafes and restaurants in the shopping malls will spice up their menus by preparing different treats throughout the festival. Mövenpick Hotel will provide quick and easy transportation to many shopping malls, including discounts on accommodations as well as discounts on metro transportation during ISF.Stressing the fest's significance as an international project, Hicran Özbük, the general manager of the festival, said: "We have the advantage of being in a city with one of the world's most deep-rooted shopping cultures. Serving as one of the most important commercial spots throughout history, Istanbul is home to one of the world's oldest shopping centers, the Grand Bazaar, at its center. The ISF serves to revive a tradition that dates back to ancient times and has penetrated the heart of the city in Istanbul, deserving of distinction as the capital of commerce and shopping for centuries. Our goal is to make Istanbul the shopping center of the region by bringing Istanbul to the fore as a world brand with its history, culture and gastronomy. We aim to strengthen Istanbul's position as a worldwide shopping center. For that, the ISF is the best instrument we can use. The ISF is a festival that promotes Istanbul not only economically but also culturally and hosts many international guests. With these features, it keeps making the city a world brand in shopping and fashion."The opening ceremony will be held on June 30 in Eminönü. There will be DJ events, traditional shadow play Karagöz and Hacivat performances, concerts, open markets, art workshops for children and open air cinema days at participating shopping malls. With around 120 malls around the city, countless brands and services will be offered. Shopaholics are bound to find everything they are looking for at Istanbul malls with thousands of products and countless brands for every age group, discovering the latest in world fashion and styling trends.