Image credit: Damien RouéWhile being in Istanbul, you won’t find it hard to buy a unique, cultural gift for everyone on your list. Turkish tea for tea lovers, Turkish black soap for the beauty conscious, or Turkish spices for the culinary master. If all else fails, you can always buy the delicious Turkish delight which is a sure hit with everyone.
Read on to find out more options. This list features the 10 must-buy souvenirs with information on pricing and where to buy them included in.
Image credit: Bayan Al-sadhanTurkish tea, locally known as çay, is an integral part of Turkish culture. Throughout history, this was served to guests as a trademark of Turkish hospitality.
The original Turkish tea is a variant of black tea and consumed straight without milk. It is traditionally prepared in a special kettle, called a çaydanlık.
Over the years, variations of herbal tea have become popular in Turkey, especially among tourists.
You can find these teas sold in mounds alongside spices at the Turkish bazaars. Popular flavors include apple, rose hip, linden flower, pomegranate, and hibiscus.
Just like the spices, you can have the tea vacuum-packed by the vendors for easier handling.
Best gifts for: Parents, friends and co-workers who love tea
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: TRY7 – 27 (US$2 – 8)
Where to buy
– Spice Bazaar
– Grand Bazaar
Image credit: John LillisIt’s hard not to salivate over Turkish delight (lokum), which is a sweet delicacy made of starch and sugar added with nuts or fruits. Popular flavors include pistachio, rosewater, cinnamon, orange, and lemon.
These sweet bites are available in different sizes, shapes and flavors, but each promises to be a delicious and delightful treat.
Ask the sellers about the ingredients because some flavors, like the buffalo cream, spoil easily so they are not suitable for carrying around on a long journey.
Best gifts for: Anyone
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: TRY20 – 60 (US$5 – 18) per 500-gram box
Where to buy
– Haci Bekir outlets
– Spice Bazaar
– Arasta Bazaar
– Grand Bazaar
– Confectionery shops
Image credit: SpirosK photographyBlue Evil Eye, locally called nazar, is one of the most popular souvenir items from Turkey. It is easily recognizable through its eye shape and blue color.
The Blue Evil Eye was originally used as an amulet to protect the wearer from the bad curse. Today, it is used for aesthetic rather than superstitious reasons.
Celebrities, like Bard Pitt and Rihanna, have been photographed wearing the evil eye amulet.
Aside from the amulets, the blue evil eye design is also used in key chains, refrigerator magnets, bags, bracelets, and other souvenir items.
Best gifts for: Family, friends, co-workers
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: TRY3 – 175 (US$1 -50)
Where to buy
– Grand Bazaar
– Almost all souvenir shops
Image credit: Tord SollieTurkey is one of the countries that have distinct flavor in its cuisine, thanks to the spices that help enhance the aroma and taste.
If you have come to love Turkish cooking, then you should bring back some spices and cook your own Turkish meals that you can share with your loved ones back home.
Choose from a wide array of different spices at the Spice Bazaar or Grand Bazaar. You can buy them fresh and have them vacuum-packed by the vendors. The pul biber (red pepper flakes) is a constant bestseller.
Best gifts for: Cooking enthusiasts
Portable level: Easy to manage
Price range: TRY3 – 25 (US$1 – 7)
Where to buy
– Spice Bazaar
– Grand Bazaar
Image credit: ccarlstead Fallen in love with the beauty of Iznik tiles at popular tourist attractions like Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Rustem Pasa Mosque, and Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Mosque? You can’t bring these art works home but you can definitely buy yourself a piece of Iznik ceramic to remember your time in Istanbul.
While it is forbidden to bring antique Iznik ceramics out of Turkey, you can buy modern versions that are equally beautiful. Choose from various items like plates, bowls, and vases.
The vendors always wrap them in bubble wrap for better handling especially when you are traveling. If you buy in bulk, some vendors will ship the items for you.
Best gifts for: Spouse, parents, grandparents
Portable level: Hard to manage
Price range: TRY20 (US$5) and above
Where to buy
– Grand Bazaar
– Arasta Bazaar
– Spice Bazaar
Image credit: Ali EminovTurkish kilim rugs are among the most sought after souvenir items from Istanbul. These beautifully designed rugs can be hung on the wall or used for its original function.
The best, and more expensive, kilim rugs are the hand-woven pieces that often tell a story. Some carpet sellers can interpret the symbols on the rug for you. Machine produced rugs are also widely available at lesser prices. Check the quality of your wanted item and always haggle to get a better price.
If your luggage has limited space, you can opt for the cushion covers. These less bulky beauties can add color to your living room.
Best gifts for: Wife, mother, grandmother, boss
Portable level: Easy to hard to manage
Price range: From TRY1042 (US$300) for a rug and TRY173 (US$50) for a cushion or pillow cover
Where to buy
– Grand Bazaar
– Sultahnamet
Image credit: Girish GopiTurkish lamps can be a hassle souvenir to bring home. However, once you see their beautiful designs, you might find it hard to resist the idea of buying one and you will surely regret it if you pass up the opportunity.
You can find these Turkish lamps in most souvenir shops in different shapes, sizes and colors. Don’t let the vast display overwhelm you. They may all look the same at the shop but each Turkish lamp will definitely show off its unique quality once displayed in its new home.
Best gifts for: Family and friends
Portable level: Hard to manage
Price range: TRY25 – 100 (US$7 – 30)
Where to buy
– Grand Bazaar
– Sultahnamet
Image credit: Jared ZimmermanYou might be asking what is special about bath towels? Turkish bath towels are in a league of their own when it comes to quality and durability. They are extra soft and very absorbent. High quality towels are handmade and can weigh as much as 1 kilo per towel!
There are also cheaper machine-made towels that are of lesser quality. These are usually thinner and lighter. Always check the item you are buying to avoid paying a higher price for a lower quality towel.
Best gifts for: Family and yourself
Portable level: Manageable
Price range: TRY45 – 65 (US$12 -18)
Where to buy
– Grand Bazaar
– Arasta Bazaar
– Spice bazaar
– Department stores
Image credit: Trevor HuxhamTurkish black soaps are traditionally used in Turkish baths or hamam to exfoliate the skin and make it soft and smooth. They are made of natural ingredients and has a buttery texture.
The good news is that you can relive a part of your hamam experience by bringing home some Turkish black soaps. Why don’t you give them as gifts to share the experience with your family and friends?
Best gifts for: Family, friends, and co-workers
Portable level: Easy to manage
Average price: TRY45 (US$12)
Where to buy
– Grand Bazaar
– Arasta Bazaar
– Spice bazaar
– Health and beauty shops
Image credit: Roving-Aye!If you are bringing home some Turkish coffee, why don’t you get a coffee pot as well? Turkish coffee can be brewed using your coffeemaker at home but the taste pales in comparison with the coffee brewed in a Turkish coffee pot.
The traditional Turkish coffee pots, locally called cezves, are made of copper. Turkey has a long tradition of copper pot-making and if you buy from local artisans, you are assured of high quality handmade copper pots.
In Istanbul, copper coffee pots are found at almost all of the bazaars that sell souvenirs. Check out Çadircilar Caddesi near the Grand Bazaar and watch Turkish coppersmiths do their work.
Best gifts for: Coffee drinkers
Portable level: Manageable
Price range: TRY35 (US$10) and above
Where to buy
– Çadircilar Caddesi
– Grand Bazaar
– Spice Bazaar
– Arasta Bazaar
