71 Best Places to Shop in Turkey

With two shops in the Grand Bazaar, İgüs offers one of the widest selections of scarves and pashminas found anywhere in Turkey, along with reasonable prices.

Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir founded his sweets business back in 1777 and is considered the inventor of Turkish delight. Today, the Hacı Bekir stores run by his descendants are still among the best places to buy the delicacy, which comes in a variety of different types—including such uncommon flavors as pomegranate with pistachios—and is sold fresh by the kilo or prepackaged. The original location is in Eminönü, on a backstreet just east of the Yeni Cami, and there is also a branch on İstiklal Caddesi.

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.

In the back wing of the Spice Bazaar, Hayfene (previously known as Ucuzcular Baharat) not only has great prices, but it's also just about the friendliest and most hassle-free shop in the bazaar. It's run by the energetic Bilge Kadıoğlu, a U.S.–educated, fifth-generation spice purveyor who is the bazaar's first (and still only) female shop owner. Kadıoğlu prides herself on the shop's extremely fresh spices and specially prepared mixes—which she is happy to have you taste—as well as pure, alcohol-free essential oils and a variety of Turkish sweets.

Walking into this shop feels like walking into a sleek apothecary, with wooden shelves lined with bottles and porcelain. The fragrant essential oils, soaps, creams, and more sold here are made by hand, using all-natural ingredients and a mortar and pestle. There are two other branches in Kuzguncuk and Kanyon Mall.

One of Istanbul's best bookstores carries an impeccable selection of English-language books, especially ones dealing with the politics and history of Turkey and the Middle East.

If you are looking for handwoven pestamels (thin, flat-woven towels), blankets, bedspreads, curtains, or upholstery material, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better source than this inviting shop in the Arasta Bazaar behind the Blue Mosque. There's a larger showroom nearby ( Ogul Sok. No: 20).

As is traditional, each section of the Kapalı Çarşı, behind the Ulu Cami, is dominated by a particular trade: jewelers, silk weavers, antique dealers. The Koza Han (Cocoon Kerrvansaray) section next to the Orhan Gazi Mosque by the east entrance is the center of the silk trade. It has a lovely courtyard with a tiny mescit (prayer room) and a 150-year-old linden tree under which you can sip your tea. The Emir Han, behind the Ulu Cami, in the southwest section, is an interesting combination of jewelers and a religious book market; it also has a fountain and a courtyard tea garden. Antiques and souvenirs can be found in the small Eski Aynalı Carşı section, between Koza Han and Emir Han. Try Karagöz for traditional shadow puppets and other interesting items.

This decades-old shop in the Eski Aynalı Çarşı sells Turkish Karagöz shadow puppets, traditional costumes, and other interesting antique and folkloric items. Owner Şinasi Çelikkol has done much to keep the art of shadow-puppet theater alive in Bursa and may oblige you with a brief performance in his shop.

The upscale district of Kavaklıdere is home to an array of Turkish and international brands and designer labels, particularly along the lower end of the main drag, Tunalı Hilmi Caddesi, and its continuation, İran Caddesi. Just north of Kavaklıdere, the stretch of Atatürk Bulvarı heading toward Kızılay has more midrange shopping options.

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.

Just south of Mevlâna Caddesi and west of Aziziye Caddesi, Konya’s traditional bazaar quarter experienced a total reconstruction and renovation in 2021, and its pedestrian streets are now lined with nearly identical-looking merchants stocking an array of goods of interest to both locals and tourists, including jewelry, clothes, textiles, and household items. East of Aziziye Caddesi, the tiny alleyway known as Bostan Çelebi Sokak has so far escaped the face-lift and is home to several interesting shops selling carpets, antiques, and handicrafts. Farther down Aziziye near the intersection with Karaman Caddesi lies the Kadınlar Pazarı, an indoor food bazaar with vendors of spices, dried fruit and nuts, produce, cheeses, olives, and more.

On a backstreet just outside the western entrance of the Spice Market is the tiny flagship store of Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, Turkey's oldest coffee producer (founded in 1871), whose finely ground coffee—which can be seen being ground on the premises—is legendary. You can buy whole-bean or ground coffee, which makes a good souvenir of a trip to Turkey.

Turkey's homegrown jeans company, Mavi (which means "blue" in Turkish), has come a long way since its founding in 1991, with stores now in dozens of countries. The flagship Istanbul store near the top of İstiklal Caddesi (there are two other, smaller, branches farther down the avenue) carries the brand's signature jeans and casual wear, as well as a collection of hip Istanbul-themed T-shirts created by different guest designers.

This shop specializes in game boards and boxes, including a collection of one-of-a-kind backgammon boards. From wooden hand-carved boards from Armenia to ornate mother-of-pearl inlaid options from Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and Iran, there are options for a range of price points and styles.

The shop and office of one of Cappadocia’s most in-demand interior designers is on Ürgüp’s main road. Medrese Kapadokya offers a range of pieces from artworks and antiques to handcrafted ceramics and furniture. Consistent among many of the pieces are designs and motifs from the civilizations of Anatolia.

You can find carved meerschaum pipes in many shops in the Grand Bazaar, as well as in many antique shops, but the collection here is extensive. The shop, founded by Bilal Donmez, is now run by his son, Bulent Donmez, and has a very helpful staff and reliably good wares, including other high-quality handicrafts.

On a side street off İstiklal Caddesi, Mor displays the work of a brother-and-sister team who incorporate antique and ethnic elements into their bold, modern jewelry designs. The chunky pieces, mostly made using bronze and stones, are affordably priced.

One of the most unusual stores in the Grand Bazaar—indeed, anywhere—is Nick Merdenyan's tiny shop. The artist produces intricate calligraphic works and miniature paintings incorporating motifs and themes from major world religions, as well as universal nonreligious messages. Each small masterpiece is done on dried Dieffenbachia leaves, which he calls "Nick's missionary leaves of tolerance and peace."

Go past the first floor of ceramics and souvenirs to reach the real gems in this shop: Hamza’s collection of carpets and kilims. He gathers and sells beautiful specimens from all over Anatolia and central Asia, with many from as far east as Afghanistan.

One of the major streets leading to the Grand Bazaar, Nuruosmaniye Caddesi has a pedestrian boulevard section lined with some of the Old City's most stylish (and high-end) shops, with an emphasis on fine carpets, jewelry, and antiques.

This is more of an atelier and private showroom than a conventional store, but it's worth stopping in to check out designer Özlem Tuna's delightful collections of jewelry and delicate ceramic and metal tableware that put a contemporary twist on traditional Turkish designs and motifs.

One of Turkey's premier booksellers for more than two decades has a good selection of English-language books and carries an impressive selection of books in all genres, with a particular emphasis on nonfiction. The store also carries nice stationery and small gifts.

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.

This vibrant shop primarily features the whimsical ceramic and tile work of Bengi Kayra Artuç and the colorful contemporary kilims of Studio Potato, along with a rotating inventory of other local Turkish artisans.

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.

The İrfan Medeniyeti Araştırma ve Kültür Merkezi, better known as the IRFA Center, offers an authentic look at the traditional arts of the region. The building is styled like a madrassa, with 10 small workshops surrounding an open-air courtyard. Each room is dedicated to a traditional Konya handicraft, so you can watch local artists making ebru, instruments, books, felt items, and other things. Some artists offer workshops. The building also has an indoor amphitheater dedicated to sema, with free performances on Friday and Sunday.

This Beyoğlu institution, now associated with the local arts institution SALT, stocks a well-chosen selection that includes fiction and nonfiction in English, with a focus on the arts, architecture, and urban culture. Specialty magazines and journals are also available.