Turkey Shopping

Tourists visiting Turkey can shop for souvenirs and local specialities at old shops, open-air markets, covered bazaars and malls. There are around 256 shopping malls in Turkey and the number is increasing every day.

The Grand Covered Bazaar of Istanbul is the most famous place for shopping in Turkey. Built in 1701 by Sultan Mehmet, this bazaar comprises 65 streets that have nearly 3,300 shops. In this bazaar, tourists can splurge on antique jewellery, metalware and woodwork furniture.

Apart from Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar in Eminonu, shops at Sultanahmet, Nisantasi district and Turnacibasi Sokak are also frequented by tourists. Housing branded stores like Emporio Armani, Beyman and Mudo, Nisantasi is a famous fashion street in Istanbul.

The market district of Kemeralti and Kizlaragasi Han are amongst the best bazaars in Izmir. Traditional shops at Konak Pier and Karsiyaka Carsi shopping centre are also popular. In Ankara, Kizilay is one of the most famous shopping areas. Other shopping areas in Ankara are Weavers' Road, Ulus and Tunali Hilmi Caddesi.

While shopping in the city of Antalya, lots of souvenirs can be purchased from the kiosks in the Kaleici and large market at Dogugara. For branded goods, Antalya has shopping malls like MMM Migros. Several market areas can also be found near resorts like Bodrum, Marmaris and Kusadasi.

Turkey is the world's biggest producer of leather. Istanbul is considered best for buying leather items like coats, handbags and dresses. Shops at Kurkculer Bazaar and Laleli districts of Istanbul are famous for their leather. Some of the shops at Beyazit and Mahmutpasa districts are also famous for leather products.

Handmade Turkish carpets and kilims are famous for their designs and durability. Two kinds of carpets are made in Turkey; knotted and flat woven. One can easily find shops specialising in carpets and kilims at key tourist areas and the Sultanahmet area.

Tourists can shop for gold and silver jewellery as prices are much lower than other international destinations. The main reason for the cheap prices of jewellery items in Turkey is the low labour cost. For jewellery, shoppers can also go to Istanbul's Grand Bazaar and Egyptian (Spice) Market.

Another speciality of Turkey is silk that can be bought from Bursa, which is Turkey's centre of silk trade. Tourists can find innumerable shops in Bursa's Covered Market that sell silk items like scarves and shawls. Silk can also be purchased from Harbiye (Daphne) that is a traditional silk-weaving centre near Antakya.

Visitors can also purchase famous handmade Cappadocian pottery. This earthenware is made using salty clay that is taken from the Salt Lake in Central Anatolia. Furthermore, tiles and porcelains that are made in Kutahya, Iznik and Istanbul are also popular for their Ottoman engravings.

Items like pipes, cigarette holders and jewellery made from Meerschaum are also popular. This soft white stone is resistant to heat and can be carved into several items when wet. One can buy Meerschaum items from any where in Turkey but it is more popular in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.

Tourists can also buy pine honey from Marmaris, which is a port city on the Mediterranean coast. Honey from Macahel valley is also famous but is found rarely. Handmade olive oil soaps and other cosmetic products can be bought from the street markets in the Aegean Region and southern Marmara Region.

Other regions in Turkey also produce some special soaps like laurel soaps that is made in Antioch. Isparta is famous for producing soaps that are rich in rose oil. Furthermore, bittim sabunu, a soap made from oil that is extracted from the seed of the pistachio tree can be brought from south-eastern region of Turkey. Several fruit based soaps can be purchased in Edirne.

Some of the other best buys in Turkey are Alabaster, Evil Eye Beads that are commonly known as Nazar Bonjuks, antique items made of brass and copper as well as inlaid wooden items.

Bargaining is a common practice in Turkey, and except for food items, negotiations can be done on everything. Shopkeepers in Turkey keep bargain margins between 10% and 40%.

On purchase of anything, VAT that is known as Katma Deger Vergisi (KDV) in Turkey needs to be paid. Presently, 18% KDV is charged on every purchase. However, items like food products, medicines and book are liable for 8% KDV.

Foreign nationals can claim a VAT refund on expensive things like Turkish rugs and carpets. One just needs to submit the bill to the bank at an airport for getting the VAT refund.

Shops in all the tourist areas are open daily from 9:30 am to 7 pm. Some shops remain open till midnight and the shops in the markets outside the tourist areas are closed on Sunday. Covered markets in Istanbul are open from Monday till Saturday from 8 am to 7 pm.