Top 10 Things to Buy in Istanbul | Complete Shopping Guide
Shopping in Istanbul is more than just a retail experience it’s a journey through centuries of culture, craftsmanship, and tradition. As one of the world’s most historic trade capitals, Istanbul offers everything from handcrafted treasures and designer fashion to authentic culinary delights. Whether you’re strolling through colorful bazaars or browsing modern boutiques, the city presents countless unique souvenirs to take home.
If you’re wondering what to buy in Istanbul and where to find the best gifts, this guide will help you choose wisely. From timeless Turkish carpets and ceramics to spices, jewelry, and local delicacies, we’ve curated a list of the top items that beautifully represent the spirit of Istanbul perfect keepsakes for yourself or meaningful gifts for your loved ones.
1- Ottoman Traditional Jewellery
Are you looking for a gift? Get your hands on the jewelry first. The unique designs of locally produced jewelry, inspired by authentic Ottoman pieces, are a beautiful gift. Turkish jewelry is easily available at the Grand Bazaar, where the 'Star-Jeweller' of Turkey is. Or 'King of Rings' is Sevan Bicakci. He is a world-famous jeweler located in the Grand Bazaar.
Also, you can visit Surmak Susmak; his designs are worth praising his exciting personality. These conventional pieces of jewelry are handmade and delicately crafted. However, you can find jewelry at other markets too.
2- Turkish Plates
Turkish ceramics are famous because of their vibrant colors and detailed designs. They are usually available for sale in Istanbul. Iznik artisans have designed it in their unique style and pattern to ignite the spark of pottery.
3- Water Pipes
These are beautiful decorative pieces that can be an excellent gift for your friends. The bottle is colorful, along with a metal pipe. These water pipes were popular during the rule of the Ottoman. They come in a variety of sizes and different designs. They are not so common now, but still, it shows the legacy of Turks. There are hundreds of shops in the Grand Bazaar and local markets to find good quality water pipes.
4- Backgammon Set
Backgammon is an attractive traditional game of the Turks and is mainly seen in cafes where people enjoy leisure. The Grand Bazaar has several gift shops with sets of backgammon; tourists like to buy them in Istanbul.
5- Turkish Coffee Sets
Turkish coffee sets consist of delicate cups which are beautifully crafted and sometimes even gold plated.
Beautifully decorated cups and saucers are served via metal tray as a symbol of hospitality in Turkish homes. When purchasing a coffee set, you must ask if it can be used to drink from or just for decoration. Some beautiful sets are painted and made of alloys just for decorative purposes. If you are searching for a coffee set for kitchen use, you can easily get one in 20 Turkish liras.
6- Turkish Sweets
Turkish sweets are available in large quantities in the local markets of Istanbul. Enriched with nuts and sweet taste, they are a nice gift for your family and friends.
The unique taste of Turkish sweets makes them worth purchasing. Everyone is familiar with Turkish Delight, known as "Lokum", the center of attraction for buyers.
7- Musical instruments
Every country has its conventional musical instruments, and so is Turkey.
Traditional Turkish music includes several instruments that can be easily taken with your luggage. For music lovers, the instruments are tremendous to play, and prices vary depending upon the quality of the instrument.
8- Beauty Products (Olive Oil Soap)
Among the beauty products of Turkey, Olive oil soap is quite famous. The Locally made Handmade olive oil soaps are part of Turkish tradition, represent the centuries-old tradition, and are used in all the hammams.
These soaps are suitable for all skin types and are made with natural extracts to make your skin beautiful and clear. These are available in most of the local markets.
9- Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffees originated in the Middle East, and the Ottoman Empire gave rise to robust cafe culture.
Turkish Coffee requires boiling fine grains of Coffee in a pot along with sugar. Then, after having Coffee, the Turks turn their cups upside down on their saucers and wait for them to cool.
Then, a fortune-teller comes and "reads" the coffee beans and predicts the drinker's future. Here, you can get steel, 4-cup Coffee for 8TL, depending on the cafe you have your Coffee in. This would be an incredible gift to give someone.
10- Turkish Carpets
Our list is incomplete without the famous Turkish carpets, kilims. Kilim is a woven carpet available in different designs. These are available in smaller sizes too. A rug can be a good gift and will be easy to carry in your suitcase.
How to Bargain in Istanbul
If you regularly go on trips to different cities of different countries and shop for your loved ones, you must have noticed that the salesperson tries to sell things at high prices to the tourists. However, there are some little tricks to get gifts at correct prices by bargaining. Istanbul E-pass provides you complete details on "How to Bargain in Istanbul."
The Final Word
We hope that this shopping guide will certainly assist you in shopping for gifts for your loved ones. Furthermore, we recommend you to visit the Grand Bazaar once as there are numerous gift shops there.