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Admit it, you can’t leave a place without buying something to remind you of your trip either. But the typical keychains or fridge magnets, while inexpensive, are somewhat lacking in imagination. Allow Türkiye to inspire with some more unique alternatives you won’t want to leave without. Here are some of the best souvenirs from Istanbul I found on my trip.
How expensive is Istanbul?
Don’t worry, you can likely fill a suitcase with cheap wares from Türkiye. Of course, there are more luxurious items for sale but the best souvenirs from Istanbul are more or less affordable.
And with any item, there are varying degrees of quality out there, giving options for cheaper alternatives. But don’t worry, cheap in Istanbul doesn’t always equate to poor quality.
All in all over a few days in Istanbul I spent around $300 on items to bring back home with me. And for that I did manage to get more than I thought I would.
Below, I’ll tell you about some of the most expensive souvenirs, but for every one of those there were 5 others that were really cheap to buy.
Where to buy the best souvenirs from Istanbul
I found stores I’d never be able to find my way back to myself, never mind tell anyone else where they were. But, there’s no shortage of places to buy souvenirs from in Istanbul.
Of course the markets and bazaars are some of the best places. You can even try your hand at bargaining – something you can’t do in a lot of other shops.
The Grand Bazaar or the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar are two of the top locations. I found the Arasta Bazaar, close to the Blue Mosque, a lot quieter and with a lot of great options.
After that, there are some wonderful unique shops around the Galata Tower district. I found I was pressured less there than in some of the shops close to Sultanahmet.
But honestly you’ll find a lot of the same items in all the neighborhoods in Istanbul that you’re likely to visit. The only variance is usually the price, and sometimes the quality. For that reason, I recommend you don’t buy everything on the first day.
10 Best Souvenirs From Istanbul
From small items to larger purchases, typical souvenirs with a unique Turkish twist, and lots of bargaining. There are so many places to buy gifts for friends or yourself while visiting Istanbul, and lots of different items that you’ll be spoiled for choice.
But these are some of my pics for the best souvenirs from Istanbul that have a little more local flair.
TEA AND SPICES
Türkiye is all about spices, so much so that in Istanbul you can visit the Spice Bazaar. In fact, this is one of the places to shop for the best souvenirs from Istanbul. Every other stall seems to sell spices and teas, pre-packages or ready to weigh.
Shop around, see what you like and breathe it all in. There’s an aromatic air to Istanbul as you are never far from a spice merchant. And alongside the spices you’ll find some interesting teas made with real flowers and herbs.
Stock up on more kinds of peppers than you knew existed, sumac and Turkish saffron before you leave. Avoid pre-packages spices if you can help it – you never know how long they’ve been around.
THE EVIL EYE
Fear not, for the eye is intended to ward off evil as opposed to attracting it as the name may make it sound. This talisman’s real name is Nazur, but it is often referred to as the evil eye or Turkish eye.
Buy one, buy ten – they’re everywhere and they’re good luck so you can never have enough of that. They sell everything from magnets to keychains, hanging charms to jewelry.
There are eyes everywhere in Türkiye, and these are one of the best souvenirs from Istanbul you can buy. They are often inexpensive, unless you go for an elaborate or rather large design, and everyone sells a variation of them.
TURKISH DELIGHT
Speaking of best souvenirs from Istanbul – you’ll make your friends very happy if you bring home some fresh Turkish Delight. It’s one of my favorite sweets and you will find it everywhere.
Not only are there the standard little cubes of dusted candy at markets all over Istanbul, but also fancier varieties. Edible flower encrusted, nut filled and fruit infused Turkish Delight comes in every color imaginable.
TOP TURKISH TRAVEL TIP: Buy from places where you can see them making the Turkish Delight fresh if you can, and don’t be afraid to ask them to box up a selection rather than buying a pre-made package. Many sellers will also vacuum seal the treats to keep them extra fresh for the trip home.
TURKISH CARPETS
Maybe you’ve got endless suitcase space, or are happy to have something shipped home. Either way, Turkish rugs are a popular choice, despite their size. Intricately woven high quality material produces distinctive designs on rugs and carpets of various sizes. If you’ve got money to burn this might be the gift for you.
If you don’t have money to burn, or the baggage space to accommodate a costly carpet habit, there are a couple of cheaper options. Many of the carpet shops, use leftover materials to create unique woven handmade every day items. One I found created little zipper bags, the kind you might use for toiletries.
With earth tone colors, they were simple in design but actually a wonderful gift. Also, very reasonably priced. At the markets you might find them for closer to 200 Turkish Lira, but shop around as the carpet shop we bought ours for they were only 100 Lira and the store owner kindly gifted us a handmade heart he used scraps of material to make.
TURKISH LAMPS
Colorful, intricately made, conversation starting. Everything you want a lamp to be. Say goodbye to your basic Ikea lamp, and trade it in for one of the most unique lamps you’ll probably own.
Stand up or hanging, large or small, metal or colored glass. Each lamp is fantastic to look at. How I didn’t buy seven of these to bring home I’ll never know.
Prepare to be given a hard sell for one of these amazing lamps – and get your bargaining hat on. But oh, are they worth it. Having made my own in a Turkish Lamp making class I can appreciate the effort that goes into making one that looks that good.
TOP TURKISH TRAVEL TIP: I’d recommend you leave the main markets behind and instead saunter through the tiny streets in search of some lamp makers rather than just lamp sellers. They’ll be way better quality.
FRESH BAKLAVA
As if Turkish Delight isn’t enough, it wouldn’t be a trip to Türkiye without some freshly made sticky baklava. Layers of pastry and nuts soaked in the sweetest honey and syrup, this is a treat I never say no to.
Even more so than with Turkish Delight, I recommend only buying from a place where you can see them making the baklava fresh. You’ll taste the difference, I promise.
Order a selection of everything and then buy a box or two to go. You can never have enough baklava.
UNIQUE ARTWORK
I like to buy pictures and artwork on my travels as a reminder of the places I’ve visited. Istanbul is a great place to find some unique (and mass produced) artwork. All you have to do is look around the tiny shops in small streets weaving in and around some of Istanbul’s oldest neighborhoods.
There you can find everything from hand painted scenes of Istanbul and the Bosphorus, to the less serious quirky paintings. Both types of art have their place in my house, but there’s probably something for most tastes.
I found some of the best shopping in Istanbul – other than the bazaars – to be around the Galata Tower. The hilly streets around it kept me entertained for hours, and I discovered some truly magical finds.
HANDMADE SLIPPERS
Turkish slippers are about as colorful as the lamps, and with such beautiful designs. Some handmade slippers will be one of the best souvenirs from Istanbul you can bring home.
The hand woven or embroidered designs are so stunning. In some places you can have them made for you, in others you can shop off the shelf.
Either way there are lots of slippers to choose from. While they don’t run cheap, you have to admit the work put in to create them is a lot.
CERAMIC ITEMS
In and around the Grand Bazaar you can find lots of household items, as there are also plenty of locals shopping here. But for me some of the best souvenirs from Istanbul that I brought home were the ceramic bowls and trivets adorning many stalls.
Like many Turkish items, color is used liberally, and an eye-catching display can suck you in no matter where your intended destination.
Shop around as there is always one more place to buy these, but I found the best deals in the Arasta Bazaar with items from as little as 50 Turkish Lira each.
Believe me when I say everyone I know ended up with some ceramic coasters, trivets or bowls from Turkey. And my kitchen is full of them too. The designs are so pretty, and don’t worry, the shopkeepers will no doubt wrap them up carefully so you can be sure to get them home in one piece.
TURKISH TOWELS
My spending got a little out of hand when it came to Turkish towels. The stores just invite you in with a multitude of colors, stacks of towels rowed up from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. In my opinion these are some of the best souvenirs from Istanbul you can buy.
While you can find tea towels or lower quality towels and scarfs in many store fronts for only a couple of dollars, I urge you to buy with quality in mind.
Our favorite store was Jennifer’s Hamam in the Arasta Bazaar. We even got a tour of the warehouse so we could find even more towels to choose from. My friend and I spent a few hundred dollars between us but I feel like it was worth it.
Buying The Best Souvenirs From Istanbul
Without a doubt you won’t be spoiled for choice, or for people asking you what it is you’re looking for, when shopping for souvenirs in Türkiye. I’ve started to become a little more particular about the quality and amount of souvenirs I bring home from a trip. Istanbul had my willpower wavering a little.
The best souvenirs from Istanbul are the everyday items that are practical and can be used in your home to remind you of your trip. Only way more colorful and just a little different from what you find at home.
The ceramic trivets to use around your kitchen, Turkish towels for your bathroom or small colorful bowls that will spark conversation while you’re entertaining guests for movie night. Oh, and the sweet treats to fill those bowls with, of course.
Whether you’re a shopaholic, or a traveler with immense self-control, there are a couple of souvenirs that are perfect to remind you of a wonderful trip to Istanbul. Just remember to shop around, to bargain, and not to get pressured into buying anything you don’t want.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What are the best souvenirs from Istanbul you’ve bought on your travels to Türkiye? Which of these souvenirs would you not leave without?
It would be so hard to decide what to bring home. I love bringing spices and food back to re-experience my trip, so that’s a must. I also like to bring something to display in my house – so not sure if that would be a lamp, rug, or evil eye. Decisions decisions. That’s good to know that the eye wards off evil, I saw one once and was creeped out haha.
Istanbul would be hard on my self-control and budget! I would spend too much on spices, art, and slippers. I’d likely want a lamp or two as well! Good advice on waiting to buy to allow time to learn about quality and prices available. Moving away from the main tourist corridors is essential.
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
Nice collection of artisanal souvenirs from Istanbul, I can relate when you say the spending got a bit out of hand. There’s quite the interesting offering on individual souvenirs here. The tapestry and spices would be very quintessential and I guess also a good deal, given how expensive spices in the regular supermarket are and having them fresh and in a bigger quantity here in Istanbul? What do you reckon? The Turkish sweets e.g. baclava are a tat too sweet and sticky for me, so they would get a pass for taking them home.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
Let’s pause for a bit and be like Imelda Marcos – horde all the shoes we can get our hands on – in this case, our feet could wear 😉 It’s a delight to bring something meaningful back home from a trip aside from memories. A token or souvenir locally made is the best! Now let’s filled that other suitcase! #flyingbaguette
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/
I have seen all of these items on my travels through Istanbul and Turkey in general and have so wanted to bring one of everyone of them back with me.
I know I’d never get a carpet in my baggage and usually I end up buying nothing, due to the the small suitcase I take on travels.
The only exception was a box of Turkish Delight for a friend in the USA who adores it. I did buy some for myself too, a loose box of mixed varieties …. but they were gone in minutes as I continued wandering around the city n using them as my snack of the day!
We haven’t visited Istanbul but would very much like to. And it looks as though there are loads of great souvenirs to bring back! From a foodie perspective, we are particularly interested in the tea and spices, and wouldn’t say no to Turkish Delight and baklava either. Great tip about not buying pre-boxed Turkish Delight and to ask for a selection that is also fresher! I also like the purses made from carpet offcuts – practical in terms of using unwanted material and also pretty.
Incredibly, I’m the traveler who never brings back souvenirs from her trips around the world. But if I had to, Istanbul would undoubtedly be one of the places where I would lose my mind shopping 🙂
Istanbul has such a wide range of souvenirs that you can bring back that it’s really hard to choose, sort through them and not end up with a suitcase bursting at the seams!
Between you and me: I didn’t bring any sweets because I ate them all while I was in Istanbul 🙂