Shopping in Turkey is a wonderful experience for those who love bargains and something more exotic than the average High St purchase. Being outside of the Eurozone means that prices are a lot lower than in Western Europe and those in search of retail therapy will find that apart from cheaper brand names, they can also scour the bazaars for bargain furnishings, designer fakes, unusual spices and silk.Shopping for Basics
Shopping in Turkey offers those in search of retail therapy a rich encounter. If you are self catering you can find all of your food basics at the bakkal, a small grocers, the kasap or butchers, the manav or green grocer and the balikci or fishmongers. All of these small privately owned stores sell fresh, locally made produce. Another place to visit for a real Turkish shopping experience is the weekly bazaar, a kind of outdoor market held in all towns. You will find live produce here – like chickens along with home grown fruit, vegetables, free range eggs, dried fruit, herbs and spices. Of course the supermarket giants now dominate Turkey’s towns and cities and offer most of the produce available in the West – they’re just not as colourful and exciting as the local experience!
Turkey’s Best Malls
All Turkish cities offer a choice of malls and department stores, where you can shop away from the heat of the sun for hours on end. They all contain food halls and entertainment floors with cinemas and games. Malls open seven days a week from 10:00 until 22:00. They are home to many international brands but you will find that prices are a lot less than you may pay at home. One of the best malls in Turkey is Akmerkez in Istanbul. It is home to 246 stores and has a cinema and food hall. Over a million people shop here every month. Armada in Ankarahas 155 stores, 11 cinemas including a 3D movie theatre, 17 restaurants and a children’s play area. There are frequent concerts, dance shows and exhibitions organized here. Migros Alışveriş Merkesi in Antalya is a three storied mall dominated by Migros supermarket. There are a total of 104 stores, 8 cinemas and a fast-food court. Konak Pier in İzmir is an historic building originally designed as the French Customs House by the legendary Gustave Eiffel. Today it is Izmir’s most esteemed mall packed with cinemas, restaurants and plenty of famous brand name shops. M1 Tepe in Adana Alışveriş Merkezi is the largest shopping mall in Turkey with its own Praktiker DIY store on the premises as well as the Real Hypermarket and an entertainment centre. Brand names common in Turkish malls are Gloria Jeans, Starbucks, Fcuk, Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, Nike, Benetton, Replay, Diesel, Toys R Us, Zara, Mudo City and Mudo Concept.
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Gift Stores
Most people want to take home a little gift for themselves or for friends and family and Turkey offers plenty of choice. Some of the best choices are the unusual handcrafted items like wooden statues and glassware. Paşabahçe is Turkey’s oldest glass manufacturer and has 26 stores in 9 cities. Each season it brings out new collections with traditional Anatolian and Ottoman designs. Mudo Concept is a great store to find interesting and novel souvenirs like picture frames, candlesticks, lamps, jewellery boxes and ornaments. If you prefer to buy more natural products to give as gifts check out the range at Bunsa, which is renowned for its herbal teas, toffee mixtures and herbal tablets. Kirkambar another shop selling natural produce focuses on vegetarian food and ecological products like natural cosmetics, pickles, canned food and honey. Ucuzcular has a history spanning 160 years and is owned by a pharmacist and phytotherapist. It sells herbs, spices, soaps and scented body oils as well as the purest sesame seed and almond oils. They also have an interesting range of products to cure hair problems.
Authentic Items
Turkish Delight or Lokum is a good buy but you should buy it fresh rather than in pre-packed boxes. There are a variety of flavours in addition to the traditional rose-water or lemon flavours with pistachio being a particular favourite. Turkish tea or chai is the national hot drink made from leaves grown on the steep, verdant mountain slopes of Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast. It is usually brewed in a small pot, which sits on a larger vessel of boiling water and is a lot stronger than most European teas. It is served with a cube of sugar and no milk. The most popular blend is apple tea, which is like drinking hot apple juice. Rugs and Kilims make great soft furnishings for any home and come in a wide variety of colours and designs. Haggle over the price to get the best deal. Look out for Ottoman and other antique metal ware like copper bowls, jewellery, jugs and pots; they are very practical and make great ornaments. Raw silk and cotton clothing can be commissioned by local tailors and will last a lifetime. Out for stores selling natural stones and gems; many stores will make them into a piece of jewellery of your choice.Hand painted pottery is also a good investment if you have the room to take it home. It is made from earthenware and hand painted in brightly coloured traditional designs.
