If you are planning your first visit and want to know what to buy in Turkey, this post has you covered! I love wandering a bazaar or a souq or a gift shop to find the best thing to buy as a memento of my trip, especially if it is a unique Istanbul souvenir. After arriving to Turkey by boat and visiting Pamukkale, I decided it was best to write all about the souvenirs you should buy in this vast country!

If you have read my post on what to buy in Egypt, you know that I am always on the hunt for something unique in my travels! This post on what to buy in Turkey is frames in much the same way! It offers a list of things to keep your eye out for as you visit the country and if you have kids like me, some ideas for them to buy too! I always let my kids pick out something to remind them of their travels, and Turkey was no exception!

What to Buy in Turkey for Souvenirs

Turkish Delight

Turkish delight, locally known as “locum” has got to be one of the popular things to buy in Turkey. Even if you do not take it home as a souvenir, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul has plenty of vendors offering sweet samples outside of their shops! If you are in other parts of Turkey, such as Cappadocia, you will easily find it there too!

My kids loved the mini gummy cubed style, but I prefer the flavourful nut-filled ones. If you are buying in bulk, you are likely able to negotiate quite a bit on the per kilo price! 

If you are looking for a taste of Turkey, but the locum is long gone, do not despair, you can get plenty online here.

The Evil Eye

The Evil Eye is something you will see EVERYWHERE in Turkey.

I think it is one of the must buys in Turkey as it makes a great visual reminder of your visit. The Evil Eye is typically made from glass and circles or tear drop shapes in blue, white and black.

You can pick these up almost anywhere in Turkey and in various sizes from bracelets to large wall hanging pieces. If you are looking for a small Turkish souvenir, this is my top suggestion!

If you are looking to buy one online, check it out here.

Tea & Tea Glasses

While you may not think of tea as one of the best souvenirs from Turkey, it is one that should not be overlooked!

While in the Grand Bazaar, check out the aromatic flavours of teas in the shops. A popular one is Apple tea! You can get it in tea bags, but I also like the crystallized (sweetened) version that has dried apples and spices in it!

This makes one of the great gifts from Istanbul to take home and share with your friends! You will also see plenty of vendors that sell the cute glass tea cups that are synonymous with tea in the region!

If you are not in Turkey, but want to own your own style of glasses, check out these ones or these ones.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish Coffee is not only something that you should try in Turkey, but also one of the things to buy in Turkey to take home to your friends and family! ( That is, after you ask how to properly prepare it! haha ).

I take mine with lots of sugar and also bought a small turkish coffee pot to easily make it after I had returned home! Try it with and without cardamom to decide which one you prefer!

If you did not pick up a pot to brew your own Turkish coffee, check out one here or a traditional stove top style here. 

While you are into coffee, while you travel check out the best coffee shops in Istanbul!

Knock offs and Luggage

The Grand Bazaar is arguably the best place for shopping in Istanbul and is well known for its knock off merchandise. It is also great if you have not included the right clothing in your Turkey packing list. While some have said it has died down a lot, I sure noticed plenty of purses, shoes and clothing.

While I was not looking for more “higher end” knock offs, you know, the ones that sell for almost a hundred bucks for the knock off version, I am sure they are there, just not in plain sight!

One of the other really great things to buy in Istanbul is luggage! It is sooooooo cheap for hard case spinner luggage! So bring your old suitcase and take a nice new one home with you!

A note about the Grand Bazaar: It is not always the “cheapest” place to buy things, but its labyrinth of stores, its indoor decor and the ambiance of street vendors is what makes it one of the best places to shop in Turkey. You will for sure be able to find what to buy in Turkey from the Grand Bazaar.

You can read more tips for Turkey here.

Spices

If you ask someone what to buy in Turkey, they might start with spices. The bazaar’s in Turkey have an amazing array of spices making them one of the popular things to get in Turkey. But just like anything, you need to pay for the good stuff, so don’t be fooled by the cheap saffron. Opt for the better quality ones!

Carpets

If you want to know what is famous in Turkey, it has got to be carpets. If you want to bring home a beautiful one, most companies are able to ship them for you.

But beware of cheap knock-offs and go to a quality shop.

There is plenty of manufacturing in Turkey that there is no need to get them in from China, but some shops have started doing that in order to cut costs. (Which surprises me as Turkey makes a LOT of its own goods VERY cheaply).

When we spent some time on the coast, one of the fun things to do was to shop for carpets in Bodrum.

Nargile Pipe

A common sight outside coffee shops and in store fronts are tobacco pipes, known in Turkey as “nargile” pipes. Whether they are “shisha” or “nargile” or “hookah” pipes, they come in many different shapes and sizes.

Tourists often think these are one of the things to buy in Turkey that makes a great decorative souvenir back home. The hardest part about shopping for one of these in Turkey, is finding the luggage space to bring it back home with you!

Further Reading for Later: Things I wish I knew before visiting Turkey for the first time

Mosaic Lamp

If you want to know what to buy in Istanbul, just take a few minutes to browse the Grand Bazaar for the beautiful mosaic lamps illuminating the shops.

Various sizes are available; pay attention if they plug-in or are hardwired. Also make sure that when you make your purchase, they wrap it up well, you do not want a shattered lamp when you arrive home!

Tops

If you have kids in your life, one of the best things to buy in Istanbul is a top to bring home for the kids! My kids picked up one each on our first day for less than USD2 and they played with it every day on our trip! It was for sure a great value for money!

The tough part for me is that there are DOZENS of kids selling these tops.

While I really try to stay away from buying things from children, this was one that I could not avoid as I never saw adults spinning the tops. I also found it to be a learning opportunity for my own children, that these kids have to help provide for their families, while my kids get to play after school!