17 Best Places to Shop in The Central and Southern Aegean Coast, Turkey

Established in Turgutreis in 2013, this charming small shop is now beside the Gümüşlük jetty and Myndos Art House selling handicrafts and other homemade wares by the 18 members of a local women’s cooperative: beautiful hand-woven textiles, wood decorations, stained-glass artworks, jams, jewelry, and more. As a co-operative, hours are subject to members' availability, but they try to remain open as much as possible.

A small shopfront with towels and shawls out front disguises a veritable bower of authentic treasures inside: textiles, one-off designed clothes using silks and cotton in Ottoman-influenced styles, hanging colored lights, china tea cups, gemstones set in silver jewelry, and brass ornaments. The owner, Hatice, is happy to let you explore the shop, and to explain items.

Striking jewelry pieces; pretty plates, bowls, and mugs; and quirky sculptures, all made out of clay, are on display and for sale at this small ceramic workshop and store, in a side street of Bodrum leading to the Harbor.

Artful and original silver and metal jewelry is offered by a quartet of Turkish designers who take their inspiration from natural shapes such as fish, coral, and olive leaves and branches, as well as ancient symbols. Prices are surprisingly reasonable, especially considering the prime thoroughfare Bodrum location.

A gorgeous kaleidoscope of colored objects and textiles is arrayed in front of and inside this small shop, collected by the owner couple who bring a choice of authentic Turkish cultural objects. From cushions to wall hangings, Ottoman-style colored lights to ceramic dishes, jewelry, soaps, towels, and scarves, there is a great choice of gifts to take home.

The open-air street market held on Wednesday in the Bostanlı neighborhood of Karşıyaka features the usual array of fruit and vegetable vendors but is also known for its good-quality inexpensive apparel under the market roof. The earlier you go, the better the selection.

Watching the ancient art of the glassmaker in his workshop, and creating unique glass dip pens and other objects, is something quite different to the surrounding choice of crafts and gifts in Alaçatı.

The scent of natural soaps ushers visitors into Cemile's shop and workshop where she displays artistic objects of porcelain and wood for other artists, her handmade natural soaps and cosmetics, and the handmade batik and block printed fabrics of the Gümüş Kediler label, by designer Sukran Uyar, and the gorgeous paper mache objects by Uta, formerly of Kikkula. It is a small paradise for shopping for natural gifts, and is also on several online sites. Workshops are available by request. The shop is inland but walkable from the beach on the Turgutreis road junction and on the minibus routes.

Designer Şükran Uyar, previously a longtime fixture at the Gümüşlük handicrafts market, is now sharing space in Cemile's Soaps shop area, still making cotton beachwear and other textile goods, mostly with her colorful block-printed designs.

The comfortable seats of the cafe take up the central courtyard space, but the real joy of walking through the old doorway of the Haci Molla Han (built 1771) is discovering the small shops of genuine handmade art and crafts, ideal for gifts, tucked into the alcoves around the courtyard. Ceramics, clothes, paintings, woven textiles, costume jewelry, leather, natural soaps, and even Turkish delight, can be found here. Enjoy a shisha if you want to try, but no alcohol is served.

This large shop on a residential street a few blocks back from the Türkbükü shorefront is filled with all kinds of natural, often regional, products: jams, olive oils, dried fruits and vegetables, sauces, soaps, and gift baskets, plus laboratory-developed health and beauty products. A delight to walk into as it is richly scented with these herbal products and is perfect for natural gifts to take home. It has a sister shop in Yalikavak Marina.

Since 1977, the generations of the Kilimci family ladies have presided over a vast collection of silver and gemstones they make up into wonderful necklaces, bracelets, earrings, prayer beads, and anything else you may request. It's easy to find on the mini square opposite the small jetty, or they may be sitting at the cafe tables opposite observing the comings and goings in Gümüşlük.

All of the colorful linens, beachwear, jewelry, bags, and household accessories at this small boutique on Türkbükü's main waterfront road are designed by owner İpek Özdoğu and her team.

Niko presides over his variety of locally produced loose or packaged herbs, jams, health-giving molasses, and other culinary treats, and offers herbal advice. He has all sorts of small housewares like olive-wood coasters, textiles, sponges, and more for sale in this cornucopia of a shop on the southwest corner of the traffic and pedestrian access to central Alaçatı, opposite the Design Hotel. Prices are surprisingly good in this expensive town, and he can mail out orders.

Just back from the Turgutreis seafront, in the jumble of laneways, this lovely shop is a scented wonderland of beautiful hand-made soaps, Turkish bath towels, bath accessories, and other textiles, including beach towels and shawls. The owner has an Etsy shop, too.

Bodrum's handmade leather sandals are renowned, and this is a prime example of the family-run workshops that have been turning them out, in both basic and decorative styles, since 1967. Lightweight and made from specially worked leather, they're very comfortable for the Mediterranean summer and aesthetically pleasing as well. Sur have added a room of authentic international brand shoes for trekking and casual wear, and have an active online shopping website.