12 Best Places to Shop in 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.

Everything in this homey store near Taksim Square—handbags, necklaces, key chains, baby booties, sachets, cards, natural soaps, bath sets, coasters, ornaments, and more—is handcrafted by women from across Turkey. The NGO that runs the shop, which also has a selection of vintage clothing for sale in the back, helps women in underdeveloped communities find a sustainable source of income through their handiwork. Profits support centers for women and children around the country.

Globe-trotting pair Zeynep and Emre Rende have devoted their design and photography talents to creating home accessories, gifts, furniture, and images “inspired by the world, created in Istanbul.” West African fabrics adorn lamps, pillows are made by local Turkish craftspeople, and Emre’s global portraits feature in framed prints and on iPhone cases.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

Jewelry, mugs, Turkish bath towels, notebooks, handbags, and other products by Turkish designers are for sale at reasonable prices in this friendly Kaleiçi store. It's in a century-old stone building, and it doubles as a tiny café serving coffee and pastries.