Souvenirs from Istanbul: Take a piece of the east with you
After traveling, you always want to preserve pleasant memories for as long as possible. I love to anchor great moments with some kind of purchase. A magnet is certainly nice, but it's much more pleasant to remember a trip by picking up a beautiful diary or brewing tea in a painted mug bought at an eastern bazaar or in a foreign shopping center.
Istanbul is a city on the border of Europe and Asia, where east meets west, and history neighbors with modernity. Walking through noisy bazaars and cozy streets, it's hard to resist the temptation to take a piece of this atmosphere with you.
Despite the high level of inflation and constantly rising prices, I still advise coming to Istanbul with a half-empty suitcase. Everything here is so bright and alluring that something will definitely catch your attention.
I've compiled in this article options for souvenirs that will remind you of sunny Istanbul even during gray winter evenings. Let me give you some advice right away. Before buying, especially at the bazaar, ask the seller for the price. This way you can avoid unpleasant surprises.
Istanbul is a city on the border of Europe and Asia, where east meets west, and history neighbors with modernity. Walking through noisy bazaars and cozy streets, it's hard to resist the temptation to take a piece of this atmosphere with you.
Despite the high level of inflation and constantly rising prices, I still advise coming to Istanbul with a half-empty suitcase. Everything here is so bright and alluring that something will definitely catch your attention.
I've compiled in this article options for souvenirs that will remind you of sunny Istanbul even during gray winter evenings. Let me give you some advice right away. Before buying, especially at the bazaar, ask the seller for the price. This way you can avoid unpleasant surprises.
What you cannot export from Turkey
Before filling your suitcase with souvenirs, it's important to know which items are prohibited from export to avoid problems at customs.
🗿 Archaeological finds
It is strictly forbidden to export antiques, fragments of ancient mosaics, stones, shards and coins, even if they were found by chance or bought from a street vendor. These items are considered part of cultural heritage, and their export without special permission is a criminal offense. Note that anything produced before 1945 is considered an antique.
🎨 Items of historical and artistic value
This includes paintings, icons, manuscripts, antique furniture, old books and other objects that may be recognized as cultural property.
🌿 Certain types of fauna and flora
Rare plants, corals, stuffed animals are prohibited, especially protected species, for example, turtles or falcons.
💊 Medicines and supplements without prescription
If you buy medicines, including herbal or hormonal remedies, it's better to keep the receipt and instructions, and, if necessary, a prescription from a doctor.
❗️ Be careful with counterfeits
Counterfeit branded clothing, accessories and perfumes may seem attractive at first glance, but when crossing the border in some countries, by law they must be confiscated.
So what can and should you buy in Istanbul as a souvenir?
So what can and should you buy in Istanbul as a souvenir?
Kilim
A carpet hand-woven from various materials. These are not those expensive Persian rugs costing several thousand dollars. Kilim prices are quite budget-friendly, and the colors and sizes are limited only by the craftsmen's imagination. Such a small rug looks great in the bathroom or by the bed in the bedroom. Even a small handmade carpet will make an excellent gift for yourself or loved ones. Moreover, it won't take up much space in your suitcase.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Persona Carpets
📍 Carpetnhome by serkan Güney
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Persona Carpets
📍 Carpetnhome by serkan Güney
Soap
Local handmade soap is better than any shower gel because it's made from natural ingredients. My favorites: olive soap, soap with bay leaves, tea soap, with rose petal oil and with donkey milk. I recommend buying at bazaars in large, untidy but "charismatic" pieces. If you're not a fan of the bazaar atmosphere, you can go to a store where everything is beautiful, but the price is correspondingly higher.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Nab
📍 PureBeyaz
📍 Home Spa
📍 Noa Pure
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Nab
📍 PureBeyaz
📍 Home Spa
📍 Noa Pure
Cologne
Or Turkish eau de cologne. In our terms — antiseptic. Cologne was very popular in Turkey long before the coronavirus pandemic. Here they offer to wipe your hands with it in restaurants, in stores, in transport. Everywhere! You can bring home an unusual scent from Turkey, for example, lavender or orange.
Where to buy?
📍 Rebul Karakoy
📍 Madame Coco
Where to buy?
📍 Rebul Karakoy
📍 Madame Coco
Voyage in Istanbul with Courage-Voyage
With Courage-Voyage, you can see Istanbul from the water, admiring its main attractions from a unique perspective. Choose from a 2-hour Bosphorus voyage to a full-day adventure to the Princes' Islands, and finish your journey in the colorful Kadıköy.
Learn more
Turkish cosmetics
Turkish cosmetics based on olive oil are distinguished by their natural composition and pleasant aromas. Rose water is also popular, used for skin care and in cooking. Just be careful! Rose water for cooking and for facial beauty have different compositions. The first should be looked for in supermarkets, the second — in cosmetics stores.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
Pestemal
Pestemal is a traditional Turkish towel for the hammam. Despite the thin cotton fabric, it absorbs moisture excellently. Pleasant to the body. Such a towel takes up much less space than the terry towels we're used to. You can take a small-sized pestemal for face and body or choose a larger one. Pestemal will serve as an excellent picnic blanket. It can be spread on a yacht deck to sunbathe during a sea trip.
Where to buy?
📍 Home Spa
📍 Noa Pure
📍 Morganiks
Where to buy?
📍 Home Spa
📍 Noa Pure
📍 Morganiks
Ceramics
A couple of hours' drive from Istanbul there's a small town called Iznik. It's famous for its ceramic products, which began to be produced here in the distant 15th century. Topkapi Palace, numerous Istanbul mosques, the tombs of Sultan Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan are decorated with ceramic tiles produced in Iznik and painted by hand. Ceramics are still produced there today. They're painted in the old-fashioned way, by hand. In Istanbul you can find many products: mugs, plates, tiny bowls, ashtrays, glass coasters, vases. Such a souvenir will definitely become a decoration for any home.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Arasta Bazaar
📍 İznık Classics
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Arasta Bazaar
📍 İznık Classics
Tableware
You don't necessarily have to chase after Iznik ceramics if you're not a connoisseur. You can simply go to any chain home store and buy something from there. Some brands make entire souvenir collections with Istanbul themes. You can buy tulip-shaped tea glasses with painted saucers, small cups for Turkish coffee. Anything your heart desires!
Where to buy?
📍 Paşabahçe
📍 Madame Coco
📍 Porland
📍 Karaca
Where to buy?
📍 Paşabahçe
📍 Madame Coco
📍 Porland
📍 Karaca
Metal mugs and pans
In Turkey, in various establishments, you'll often encounter metal dishes. They serve scrambled eggs, salads, sweets and even bring drinks like ayran in them. Want to feel like a sultan while eating? Buy tableware in Turkey.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
Silk scarves
The city of Bursa is not only the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. It's famous for its silk products. Bursa is located not far from Istanbul, so you can easily find all the variety of silk products in the city on two continents. Silk scarves are decorated with traditional Ottoman patterns, eastern paisleys and tulips.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Arasta Bazaar
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian and Grand bazaars
📍 Arasta Bazaar
Notebooks with carpet covers
Notebooks with covers that look like carpets are not only beautiful but also very pleasant to the touch. Taking such a notebook in your hands, you'll instantly remember the atmosphere of a noisy eastern bazaar. Such notebooks can be used as a sketchbook or diary.
Where to buy?
📍 Sahaflar Bazaar
📍 Souvenir shop on the territory of Topkapi Palace. Entry there is free.
Where to buy?
📍 Sahaflar Bazaar
📍 Souvenir shop on the territory of Topkapi Palace. Entry there is free.
Fragrances from Atelier Rebul
Atelier Rebul is the most famous perfume shop in Istanbul. The company produces a fragrance called İstanbul, which has gathered all the best scents of the city. The assortment includes not only perfumes, but also creams and candles.
Where to buy?
📍 Atelier Rebul stores
Where to buy?
📍 Atelier Rebul stores
Jewelry with your design
On the Grand Bazaar there's an entire "quarter" where they sell silver. In one of the numerous small shops there's a service for making items according to your wishes. Maybe you want a ring like Hürrem Sultan's, or earrings in eastern style? Choose a stone you like, a shape and tell the craftsman what you want to get as a result. In a couple of days your jewelry will be ready.
Where to buy?
📍 Ali Güleç Silver & Genuine Stone at the Grand Bazaar
Where to buy?
📍 Ali Güleç Silver & Genuine Stone at the Grand Bazaar
Eastern lamps
Colorful lamps, as if straight from the pages of Scheherazade's tales, will fill the room with magical light, even when it's cloudy outside. By the way, you can make such a lamp yourself. Lately, more and more stores offer master class services for creating lamps.
Where to buy?
📍 Grand Bazaar
Where to buy?
📍 Grand Bazaar
Bed linen
Turkish textiles are known worldwide. If you have enough space in your suitcase, buy a bed linen set, you won't regret it. High-quality and exquisite, it will serve you for many years.
Where to buy?
📍 Linens
📍 Karaca
📍 Madame Coco
📍 LC Waikiki Home
Where to buy?
📍 Linens
📍 Karaca
📍 Madame Coco
📍 LC Waikiki Home
Turkish teapot
Such a souvenir will definitely please your mom. Because it's not just kitchen utensils, but a real work of Turkish art! All because the teapot is two-tiered. The small one on top is for brewing, the large one below is for boiling water. Teapots come in electric and regular versions that can simply be placed on a burner.
Where to buy?
📍 Madame Coco
📍 Paşabahçe
📍 Karaca
Where to buy?
📍 Madame Coco
📍 Paşabahçe
📍 Karaca
Electric cezve
Can't imagine your life without coffee? Then an electric cezve is simply necessary for you! It will very quickly brew a strong Turkish drink. You just need to plug it into an outlet.
Where to buy?
📍 Karaca
📍 English Home
Where to buy?
📍 Karaca
📍 English Home
Turkish sweets
Sweet souvenirs are always the most desired. Baklava, Turkish delight, pismaniye, chestnuts in chocolate and sugar syrup, Dubai chocolate. It's better to buy baklava in specialized cafes, just ask to pack it in vacuum. The same goes for Turkish delight. Many tourists most often prefer factory Turkish delight in boxes, but I recommend buying the sweet by weight. It will be much tastier and more authentic.
Where to buy?
I wrote about this in the article about Turkish sweets.
Where to buy?
I wrote about this in the article about Turkish sweets.
Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee is tart, strong, like eastern love shown in TV series. Probably coffee is one of the most popular souvenirs from Turkey. I recommend buying freshly ground coffee, its aroma will permeate your entire suitcase!
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian Bazaar. Mehmet Efendi shop offers coffee beans and ground coffee. Different weights. The coffee is immediately packed in craft paper. You can reach the pier at the Egyptian Bazaar as part of a Bosphorus and Golden Horn cruise.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian Bazaar. Mehmet Efendi shop offers coffee beans and ground coffee. Different weights. The coffee is immediately packed in craft paper. You can reach the pier at the Egyptian Bazaar as part of a Bosphorus and Golden Horn cruise.
Tea
Besides Turkish tea, which is distinguished by its richness and strength, in eastern bazaars you'll find many varieties of herbal teas. Caring sellers will definitely tell you which blend to take for which ailments.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian Bazaar
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian Bazaar
Spices
The East is famous for its spices and seasonings. Saffron, cinnamon, turmeric. Moreover, you don't necessarily have to go to the bazaar to buy some seasonings. It's enough to drop by the nearest supermarket. I recommend taking various types of peppers and Sumac seasoning.
Where to buy?
📍 Any supermarket
📍 Egyptian Bazaar
Where to buy?
📍 Any supermarket
📍 Egyptian Bazaar
Rose petal jam
You'll agree, a jar of rose jam is quite an unusual gift. It will be so pleasant to spread the jam on pancakes or add it to tea.
Where to buy?
📍 Koska
Where to buy?
📍 Koska
Dates and pistachios
In Turkey, pistachios are added to almost any dish! From desserts to kebabs. They're also brought in bars as a snack with alcoholic drinks. Turkey proudly claims that its pistachios are the most delicious in the world! In the city of Gaziantep there's even a monument to this nut. Be sure to take several hundred grams of pistachios by weight. Dates are also better bought at the bazaar. There are varieties for every taste and wallet.
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian Bazaar
Where to buy?
📍 Egyptian Bazaar
Pomegranate sauce
When ordering a salad in Istanbul, be sure it will be dressed with pomegranate sauce. The sauce is also often added to meat and vegetable dishes. It will definitely enhance any meal and add a sweet-and-sour note even to the most ordinary food. Taking it with you as a souvenir is a great idea. Pomegranate sauce will help diversify familiar flavors at home.
Where to buy?
📍 Migros and Carrefour supermarkets
📍 Oses Çiğ Köfte
Where to buy?
📍 Migros and Carrefour supermarkets
📍 Oses Çiğ Köfte
Grilled olives
I think you've tried local olives more than once at breakfast in the hotel or in a restaurant. I suggest taking an unusual variant with you: grilled olives. Your family and friends will surely be surprised.
Where to buy?
📍 Migros and Carrefour supermarkets
Where to buy?
📍 Migros and Carrefour supermarkets
Istanbul is not just a city, it's a special mood that you want to take with you. Every souvenir from Istanbul, whether it's aromatic tea, exquisite ceramics, eastern-style jewelry or sweets from the Grand Bazaar — carries a piece of its centuries-old culture and unique atmosphere. Let these things become not just a reminder of the trip, but real guides to the world of the East, where history and modernity intertwine at every step.
Ekaterina Kosova
- author of the article
I moved to Istanbul before it became mainstream. I love exploring the eternal city and discovering interesting and delicious places. I write texts, professionally stroll and travel, and freeze moments through photos and videos.
