Shopping in Turkey & What to Buy

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Shopping in Turkey is great, with open-air markets, covered Turkish bazaars and chic boutiques everywhere.

Keep in mind that before or after your trip to Turkey, you can buy all sorts of Turkish products from Tulumba.

Here's how and where to shop in Turkey for:

Want some help navigating the labyrinthine bazaars? You may need the Screaming Shopper.

If you'd rather do it on your own, follow my Istanbul Bazaars Walking Tour.

Alabaster
The color, grain and light passing through this pretty stone is why you like it. More...

Antiques
Old stuff is found all over Turkey, but the best antique shops are undoubtedly in Istanbul. But don't buy antiquities! More...

Apparel
Turkey produces a lot of wool and cotton, and manufactures a lot of clothing from it. Quality varies from poor to excellent. You'll see many knock-offs (fake goods) bearing famous brands, names and logos. Should you buy them?

Books, Maps & Prints (Old)
Istanbul has the best places to shop. More...

Brass & Copper
They're attractive, decorative, useful and relatively inexpensive, but don't use copper items for cooking or serving unless the surfaces that contact food are completely covered in bright, silver-colored tin. More...

Carpets
Carpets and kilims were part of Turkish nomadic households a thousand years before the Turks settled in Anatolia and lived in houses instead of tents and yurts. Carpet shops are everywhere in Turkey, but their carpets may not have been made in Turkey (did someone say China?). More...

Ceramics
Turkey has been famous for excellent faience (colored tilework) since the 16th century, when the kilns of Iznik turned out some of the most beautiful work ever made. The classic Iznik pieces are now classified as antiquities and may not be exported, but the master potters of Kütahya are still making excellent plates, bowls, cups, tiles and other items in the traditional way. They're sold all over Turkey for prices from a few US dollars to several hundred, depending on the item and its quality. Back to Top

Evil Eye Beads: see Nazar Bonjuks

Jewelry
Turkey is a good place to look for big, bold, old necklaces, brooches, clasps, belts and other items, as well as finer, more delicate modern work. Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is good, as is the Egyptian (Spice) Market, but shops and bazaars in other towns will have interesting selections as well. When buying silver or gold, be sure to look for the maker's hallmark stamped into an inconspicuous part of the piece, certifying that it is genuine. Pewter and nickel-silver are sometimes passed off as sterling silver, though not by reputable dealers. Back to Top

Kilims
A kilim is a woven mat. Unlike a carpet, it has no nap. The bold designs and earthy colors so valued in kilims are a Turkish hallmark. A few decades ago kilims were seen as inferior to carpets, and were much cheaper, but today the bold, forthright kilim designs and colors are valued, and priced appropriately. Shop around for what you like, and compare prices. More...

Leather Apparel
Istanbul is the center of the trade, but all cities have shops soft leather and suede coats, jackets, skirts, dresses, vests, hats, gloves, handbags, wallets and many other items. More...

Meerschaum
This soft white stone is carved into cool-smoking pipes and cigarette holders, and also used to make necklaces, earrings and brooches. More...

Nazar Bonjuks (Turkish Evil Eye Beads)
Turkish evil eye beads are a delightful handcrafted item with a tradition stretching back at least 5000 years. Wear them for good luck, and decorate your house and car to keep away the "bad spirits!" More...

Personal Shopper
If you'd like help in finding exactly what you're looking for, at good prices (without exorbitant commissions), contact Marilyn Hill-Henderson.

Silk
Bursa has been the center of Turkey's silk trade for centuries. Silkworms are raised on mulberry leaves in nearby regions and brought to Bursa's Koza Han (Silk Cocoon Caravanserai) each May to be auctioned. The fine silk thread is unwound and woven into scarves, shawls, blouses and other items which are sold in Bursa's Covered Market and other shops and markets throughout Turkey. Back to Top

Wood, Inlaid
Items such as boxes, chess and backgammon boards, etc. make attractive and relatively inexpensive souvenirs. Look carefull to make sure you're really buying inlaid wood. Surprisingly accurate decals are sometimes used to give the look of inlay without all that work of cutting and fitting. Back to Top